Minnesota results demonstrate the effectiveness of disease management programs in improving outcomes for chronic conditions.

Minnesota Medicaid patients who participated for six months in the Asthma Action disease management program experienced dramatic reductions in hospitalizations and unscheduled physician visits. The program was offered by Matria Healthcare Inc. and its partner National Jewish Medical and Research Center to 53,000 UCare Minnesota Medicaid beneficiaries. Among other interventions, the program provided 24 hour toll-free telephone support staffed by respiratory specialty nurses for improved management of acute episodes and to guide members through physician-prescribed action plans.

read more
June 27, 2004

Substantial differences in health costs between the United States and Canada and other developed countries reflect similar differences in liability costs.

The cost of liability contributes significantly to the disparity in healthcare spending between the United States and other developed countries. One study suggests that by adopting reasonable limits on awards for non-economic damages, healthcare costs in America could be reduced by an estimated $70 to $126 billion. Another study examined the price differences between a wide range of prescription drugs in Canada and the United States and found that increased liability risk in the United States may account for nearly half of the difference in the average price of these drugs.

read more
June 15, 2004

Excessive medical liability litigation contributes to higher health costs by prompting American physicians to unnecessarily prescribe drugs and other treatments.

Any serious effort to bring American healthcare costs in line with other developed countries must consider the enormous disparity in medical liability costs between the United States and all other developed countries.

read more
May 27, 2004

State mail order importation schemes demonstrate the impact of product liability laws on American prescription drug prices.

Most, if not all, cross-border drug sellers in Canada require American citizens to waive their right to the protection of American product liability laws. Differences in product liability laws between Canada and the United States is the largest single factor contributing to price differences between Canada and the United States.

read more
May 18, 2004

Circumventing drug supply and distribution regulations to import prescription drugs puts patients at risk.

Currently there are a variety of initiatives from individuals, cities and states to import prescription drugs from Canada. Importing drugs from Canada can not meet the needs of the American pharmaceutical market because total Canadian pharmaceutical production represents less than 5% of the American pharmaceutical market.

read more
January 29, 2004