On this episode of the podcast, Terry and Bob discuss where the healthcare measures in the stalled Build Back Better plan go from here. They highlight the innovation-killing Medicare negotiation provision and explain how comprehensive drug supply chain rebate reform can do more to lower prices for those patients with rare or chronic diseases.
They discuss the ongoing problems with Covid-19 testing availability as well as new Covid-19 treatments. And they point out the problems with Medicare’s plan to limit a new Alzheimer’s treatment to just those in clinical trials. Namely, this restriction worsens health equity for protected classes who often lack access to clinical trials.
Dr. Joel Zinberg, MD, a senior fellow at the Competitive Enterprise Institute, joins the show to discuss states’ efforts to limit Covid treatments by race. He explains that this racial method of apportioning treatment is not backed up by science. Race alone is not a factor in Covid outcomes. However, chronic diseases that disproportionately affect some races do lead to more severe cases.
Dr. Zinberg argues that public health officials should focus on these preexisting conditions when determining treatment, not race. The most lasting way to overcome health equity problems is through personalized medicine, where doctors treat patients based on their individual characteristics.
Kate Pecora talks with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis patient advocate Diane Talbert, who previews an upcoming collaboration to create a community space for patients with psoriatic arthritis. She explains her new app to support new layers of engagement and education to get psoriatic arthritis patients more advocacy tools. She wants to bring new ways of looking at patients, including traditionally underserved communities, and empower these patients to take control of their healthcare futures.
Listen HERE.
