Payment Reforms, Prescription Drugs, And More

Dementia Care: More Than Just Prescription Drugs.

In this issue of American Family Physician, Dr. Epperly and colleagues review therapies for managing the cognitive and functional symptoms of Alzheimer disease.1 Although the review discusses nonpharmacologic therapies, it focuses primarily on medications that are widely used in practice. Indeed, prescriptions for medications to treat cognitive impairment have increased worldwide as much as six...

More nonelderly Americans face problems affording prescription drugs.

More children and working-age Americans are going without prescription drugs because of cost concerns, according to a new national study by the Center for Studying Health System Change (HSC). In 2007, one in seven Americans under age 65 reported not filling a prescription in the previous year because they couldn't afford the medication, up from one in 10 in 2003. Rising prescription drug costs ...

Prescription drugs and driving

Factors affecting fitness to drive include:  The particular medications being used, their effects and duration of action, and interactions between medications used in combination.  Dose and time of administration in relation to driving.  Whether use is regular or occasional – regular use will result in some tolerance but possibly also withdrawal. The effect of tolerance depends on the type o...

Basing Prescription Drug Payment On Economic

Developing payment refinements and reforms under Medicare for excluded hospitals

Four classes of specialty hospitals (children's, psychiatric, rehabilitation, and long-term) and two types of distinct-part units in general hospitals (psychiatric and rehabilitation) have been excluded from the Medicare hospital prospective payment system since it was enacted by Congress in 1983. The number of these facilities and the Medicare dollars expended have more than doubled in less th...