June 24, 2004 - More Moola for Health Care
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Most folks would argue that Americans pay plenty for health care. But if it's the best way to improve our living standards, shouldn't we be willing to pay more? Host Kai Ryssdal talks about this idea with Marketplace's money expert Chris Farrell.

June 16, 2004 - This Doctor Makes House Calls, I mean, E-Calls
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More of us are banking on line. According to a study released today, 22 million Americans logged on to their bank accounts in March. About 30% more than a year earlier. Most of us are just checking balances -- although more people are using the web to pay bills and mortgages. With the exception of, say, visiting the doctor, seems like just about everything's available online. Perhaps, even that doctor's visit.

June 16, 2004 - Drug Pricing
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Tomorrow's New England Journal of Medicine is set to report a breakthrough -- a new drug that treats rheumatoid arthritis by knocking out a certain type of immune cell. It could open the door for a wave of precisely targeted 'smart drugs'. The expense that goes into the development of new therapies has long been cited as a primary reason drug prices are so high. One way consumers have been fighting against rising costs is by pooling their money and buying in bulk. But our commentator finds it odd that a player with the most buying power of all hasn't jumped on the bandwagon.

June 15, 2004 - Making Drug Trials... Public Knowledge
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Should there be a public registry of all clinical drug trials, whatever the result? Yes indeed, say members of the American Medical Association. Today the AMA adopted a policy statement to address concerns that drug companies publish positive results -- but bury those studies that show some products don't help.

June 11, 2004 - AMA and Some Good Medicine
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This weekend, the American Medical Association holds its annual meeting in Chicago. On the agenda are a couple controversial resolutions -- one dealing with malpractice lawyers, the other with the size of gifts doctors can accept from corporations. Though some might consider the resolutions self-serving, our commentator argues they're actually good medicine.

May 19, 2004 - Stem Cell 'Banking'
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A column in today's Cincinnati Post makes note of what the writer calls "America's most unlikely crusader" against one of President Bush's more controversial domestic policies. In a speech a few days ago, Nancy Reagan -- wife of the former President -- called for relaxing U.S. laws regarding stem cell research. Researchers think stem cells could help cure many diseases -- from Parkinson's to Alzheimer's. The United States limits publicly-funded stem cell research because it requires the destruction of human embryos. But in Britain the rules are notably different. Today, the world's first stem cell bank opened there, giving the UK a distinct edge in the race for new -- and likely profitable -- treatments. Health Desk's Helen Palmer investigates.

May 12, 2004 - Two Lenses As One?
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Buying a pair of glasses used to mean a trip to the local optometrist. Then chain eyewear stores started popping up at every other strip mall. Now Pearle Vision and Lenscrafters, the two chains with the biggest market share, have made a move to join forces.

May 7, 2004 - Cell Phone Safety and the FCC
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Those 'dropped' cell phone calls -- frustrating? Yes... But life-threatening? A growing number of firefighters and police officers say their calls are going dead at the worst of times. There's a proposed fix on the table at the Federal Communications Commission. But it's become a wireless tug of war.

May 5, 2004 - Stem Cell Babies
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Four years ago, Adam Nash was born, literally, to be a savior. For his older sister, Molly. Embryonic testing in a Chicago clinic ensured that Adam's tissue type would match Molly's. She had a rare and deadly genetic disease and doctors were able to save her life with blood from Adam's umbilical cord. Now, five more couples have used the same testing to create, for the first time, so-called "savior babies" for children not with genetic diseases, but with leukemia. Health Desk's Helen Palmer reports.

April 14, 2004 - They Sell Drugs, Don't They...
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Ever since seniors started to buy prescription drugs from Canada - where they're cheaper - pharmaceutical companies have been trying to block them. One tactic drugmakers have adopted: limits on how much they'll sell to Internet pharmacies in Canada that ship medications to American buyers. But as drug companies have tightened the tap, those online drugstores have found other sources of supply.

March 29, 2004 - Dealing with the Human Heart
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When it comes to how best to treat heart trouble, doctors are having a change of heart. New studies are showing drugs that reduce so-called "bad" cholesterol levels dramatically lower heart attack risk. The research suggests surgical methods may be much less effective than the pill bottle. But major changes in treatment may still be very slow in coming. Helen Palmer has the story.

March 25, 2004 -- Prescription discount cards
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When during the course of a conversation with an elderly parent or grandparent the talk turns toward the high cost of living, including what they're paying for prescription drugs, you should know you're not alone. Politicians are keenly aware of that particular senior complaint. As part of last year's Medicare reform law, the feds are set to start issuing drug discount cards this June. And on Thursday Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson announced the list of companies that will be offering them.

March 22, 2004 - FDA prescribes new warning labels for antidepressants
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The FDA said today that many popular antidepressants should come with a warning label and that patients taking the drug should be closely monitored for worsening depression and suicidal feelings. Will this warning be sufficient to protect drug companies and doctors from potential lawsuits? From the Health Desk at WGBH, Helen Palmer has the story.

March 16, 2004 - The FDA's new study on meds
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The Food and Drug Administration has released a study that examines the practical hurdles from medical discoveries to breakthrough therapies -- but more importantly, it suggests the FDA might have a bigger role to play in the expensive business of developing new drugs. From the Marketplace Health Desk at WGBH, Helen Palmer reports that observers welcome -- and criticize -- the FDA's new initiative.

March 11, 2004 - The Department of Health and Human Services flip-flops
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Dr. Mark McClellan will not head the government's investigation of drug re-imports from Canada. McClellan, who as commissioner of the FDA has opposed drug re-importation, is the White House pick as the new chief of Medicare and Medicaid. What this decision means depends on where you stand. From the Marketplace Health Desk at WGBH, Helen Palmer reports on McClellan's "un-assignment."

March 9, 2004 - UK gives cautious approval to GM corn
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The UK government has given its first-ever approval for the planting of one U.S. variety of genetically engineered corn -- but the UK's OK comes with many conditions. Supporters say even Britain's lukewarm approval is bound to help the use of genetically modified crops spread. From the Marketplace Health Desk at WGBH, Helen Palmer reports that opponents to bio-engineered foods are not taking the news lying down.

March 8, 2004 - Body parts: demand is outstripping supply
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Two people at UCLA have been arrested in connection with the theft of body parts. The new charges against the head of the university's cadaver program and a "middle man" claim that body parts were removed from a campus freezer and sold to large research companies. Apparently there's a quite a market. From the Marketplace Health Desk at WGBH, Helen Palmer reports that body parts are in short supply.

March 5, 2004 - Docs use Web to check malpractice suit backgrounds of patients
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Doctors complain there's a crisis in medical malpractice insurance: Their premiums have risen sharply, and they blame it on litigious lawyers filing frivolous suits. Now, a group of doctors is fighting back by launching a database that lists patients who have sued for medical malpractice, lawyers who have argued these cases, and expert witnesses who have testified. From the Health Desk at WGBH, Helen Palmer has the story.

February 24, 2004 - Will there be flu shots for everybody next year?
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Flu shots, anyone? How about annual flu shots for everyone? The Centers for Disease Control is debating whether to issue a formal advisory to that effect. But Helen Palmer reports from the Marketplace Health Desk at WGBH that even if national inoculation becomes policy, it's not certain people would comply -- or that it would be cash well spent.

January 29, 2004 - The prognosis for HealthSouth grows worse
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The company's already under investigation for widespread accounting fraud. Now, there's word that the Birmingham-based rehabilitation services company faces Justice Department questions about bribery. From the Marketplace Health Desk at WGBH, Helen Palmer reports these new allegations involve a facility HealthSouth opened two years ago in Saudi Arabia.

January 28, 2004 - Bill of personal responsibility protects food industry from lawsuits
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The U.S. House Judiciary Committee has approved the Personal Responsibility in Food Consumption bill. Its sponsors say the legislation could offer relief to an important American employer: the food industry. The bill, a response to what some say was an avalanche of frivolous lawsuits against food companies, shuts down a majority of liability lawsuits. From the Marketplace Health Desk at WGBH, Helen Palmer reports.

January 26, 2004 - Sanofi- Aventis merger could create a French drug giant
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French drug company Sanofi, makers of stroke medication Plavix, has launched a hostile takeover bid for Aventis, home to the allergy medicine Allegra. If these French companies join forces, they could become the world's third largest drugmaker -- but don't bank on that happening just yet, as Helen Palmer reports from the Marketplace Health Desk at WGBH.

January 13, 2004 - Fuzeon's price a major drawback for states, patients
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The United States boasts the best medical care in the world, but it isn't available to everyone. The uninsured get less than they need and some AIDS patients in public programs don't get the most successful therapies. This may be less a function of the ideology of entitlement than sheer economics. From the Marketplace Health Desk at WGBH, Helen Palmer reports on the promise of new drugs and the problems paying for them.

January 9, 2004 - Bankers, auditors pulled into HealthSouth suits
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Attorneys today amended the case against HealthSouth, the Birmingham, Ala., rehabilitation center operator. Shareholders had already filed a lawsuit against Richard Scrushy and other company officers. Today's complaint names the company's bankers UBS Warburg and auditors Ernst and Young. From the Marketplace Health Desk at WGBH, Helen Palmer has the story.

December 31, 2003 - Marketers exploit the nation's obsession with obesity
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Nearly two-thirds of Americans have poundage to spare -- and suddenly, manufacturers are discovering there's a market in specially tailored products. They've come to realize that there's a new, very powerful consumer group of plus-size obese individuals. From the Marketplace Health Desk at WGBH, Helen Palmer reports on the shape of things to come.

December 18, 2003 - U.S. psychologists refer patients to Canadian docs for meds
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Helen Palmer reports from our Health Desk at WGBH that a group of psychologists says it will bypass physicians in the U.S. to refer patients to doctors in Canada to take advantage of cheaper prescription drugs north of the border. The psychologists say they're doing nothing illegal because they're not importing any drugs -- they're just making recommendations as they always do, but to Canadian doctors. U.S. physicians aren't amused.

December 2, 2003 - FDA proposes new rules for drugmakers
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The abuse of Oxycontin and other addictive prescription painkillers has been getting a lot of press recently, and with drug makers rolling out new formulations over the next several months, the problem's not likely to disappear soon. Sales of opioid drugs are skyrocketing: They're up 18 percent over the past year alone. Today, there's word that federal regulators are drafting rehab plans for the drugmakers, themselves. From the Marketplace Health Desk at WGBH, Helen Palmer reports.

December 1, 2003 - Biz tries to battle rising healthcare costs
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As healthcare costs and the number of uninsured continue to rise, companies see health costs as a drain on competitiveness. One solution business sees is to make employees responsible for more of the costs of the coverage via a "consumer-directed plan." From the Marketplace Health Desk at WGBH, Helen Palmer reports on how some businesses are trying to bring bulging healthcare costs under control.

November 11, 2003 - Study quantifies a sore spot in U.S. productivity
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Along with death and taxes, pain is one inevitability of the human condition. But few have tried to measure its effect on the workplace -- until now. A new study in the "Journal of the American Medical Association" seeks to quantify this literal sore spot in American productivity. From the Marketplace Health Desk at WGBH, Helen Palmer reports the numbers are startling.

November 5, 2003 - Will HealthSouth avoid bankruptcy?
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The high life, and the high profile indictment, of HealthSouth tycoon Richard Scrushy is getting plenty of attention. But what about the company that funded his extravagance? HealthSouth, despite admitted fraud on the part of some executives, has staved off bankruptcy -- so far. But that may not last. From the Marketplace Health Desk at WGBH, Helen Palmer reports.

October 27, 2003 - Will healthcare mergers continue?
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It has been announced that Anthem will acquire Wellpoint Health Networks and United Health Group will attain Mid Atlantic Medical Services. So, should we expect further consolidation among health insurers? Health analysts hope this isn't part of a new trend because mergers in the healthcare businesses have been fraught with problems. From the Marketplace Health Desk at WGBH, Helen Palmer reports.

October 17, 2003 - New Alzheimer's drug helps caregivers save
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Companies can profit when they meet a long-standing need. Today, the Food and Drug Administration approved the first treatment specifically for mid-to-late stages of Alzheimer's --giving families in the U.S. a new option that some in Europe have had for years. From the Marketplace Health Desk at WGBH, Helen Palmer reports.

October 14, 2003 - Healthcare at the center of labor disputes
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The MTA and grocery strikes in Southern California have something in common: a question over who shoulders the burden of paying for healthcare. Unions say employers should bear the brunt of the costs; employers say they can't operate profitably because of rising medical expenses. This stalemate has the potential of reshaping the dynamic in the healthcare debate, as Helen Palmer reports from the Marketplace Health Desk at WGBH.

October 9, 2003 - Tobacco settlement money not used to stop smoking
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Nearly half of all last year's cigarette settlement cash went into states' general revenue pots; just 3% was used on efforts to cut tobacco use. The settlement required cigarette makers to funnel billions of dollars into state coffers -- for anti-smoking initiatives. Tobacco foes say short-changing smoking prevention is shortsighted. Studies show that every dollar spent on preventing smoking saves $3 in later health costs. From the Marketplace Health Desk at WGBH, Helen Palmer reports.

September 24, 2003 - Farmers Insurance and its bitter pill for doctors
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One of the nation's oldest insurance companies is getting out of the business of covering medical malpractice claims. After 75 years of insuring homes and businesses, Farmers Insurance has decided to cut its losses, and will no longer insure doctors. As we hear from the Marketplace Health Desk at WGBH in Boston, Helen Palmer reports that for doctors facing rising insurance premiums, this move may be a bitter pill indeed.

September 19, 2003 - Wireless and face-to-face the same for strokes
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People in rural communities face a medical disadvantage because there may not be medical specialists nearby to make a quick diagnosis. In the case of stroke patients, a new study suggests that the wireless Internet may be just what that neurosurgeon ordered. From the Marketplace Health Desk, Tanya Ott explains.

September 19, 2003 - Medical residents allowed to join unions
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Medical residents have won a landmark ruling -- specifically, doctors-in-training at private hospitals who've been pushing to join a union. Theoretically, this was already OK under terms of a decision by the National Labor Relations Board three years ago. But as we hear from the Marketplace Health Desk at WGBH, Helen Palmer reports legal challenges have blocked the way -- until now.

September 18, 2003 - Insider trading prevalent in medical industry
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Boston Scientific released positive results from tests of a new medical device this week during a press conference -- but there was a gag order on the news. Still, the news leaked early and some investors who got the scoop sold off shares of one of the company's rivals. Some say the gag order is the problem. From the Marketplace Health Desk at WGBH, Helen Palmer explains that such problems persist in the medical industry -- and there's no band-aid solution.

September 17, 2003 - Competition forces "Big Tobacco" to cut costs
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RJ Reynolds says it will pinkslip 2,600 workers -- nearly 40% of its employees -- in the next year. And, RJ Reynolds' stock hits a three-month high as it becomes leaner and more profitable in a competitive industry. From the Marketplace Health Desk at WGBH, Helen Palmer reports on the impact of the anti-smoking trend.

September 4, 2003 - McDonald's "deserves a break today" over health
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A New York judge has thrown out a claim alleging that McDonald's misled consumers about the nutritional value of Big Macs and fries. From the Marketplace Health Desk at WGBH, Helen Palmer weighs in on how this might affect a super-sized debate over who should ultimately pay the price for American obesity.

August 28, 2003 - WTO deal to get poor countries cheap meds
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The World Trade Organization could soon announce a deal for poorer nations to get anti-AIDS and other vital drugs more cheaply. The agreement would come after several years of intense debate, but not everyone is happy with it. From the Marketplace Health Desk at WGBH, as Tanya Ott reports.

August 27, 2003 - FDA dishes out bitter medicine to cash-strapped states
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In a continuing effort to cut costs, some states and cities are trying to import cheaper drugs from Canada for their employees. But the FDA is determined to stall the plan, saying anyone doing this will be running afoul of the law. Some local government officials say it's the only way they can deal with shrinking revenues and skyrocketing costs. Tanya Ott reports for the Marketplace Health Desk at WGBH.

August 19, 2003 - The big biz of testing drugs on people
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Before a drug goes to market, it has to be tested on humans. Companies spend billions of dollars a year on human clinical trials in order to win final government approval for their products. From Marketplace's Health Desk at WGBH, Helen Palmer reports she has seen the clinical trials industry first hand -- for the past 3 years, she has been a human guinea pig, testing a new treatment for osteoporosis.

August 19, 2003 - Aetna settles lawsuit with dentists
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Aetna will pay more than $6 million to settle a class-action lawsuit with 147,000 dentists over claims payments. Many dentists said they ran into multiple delays in claims that were filed. The dentists also alleged Aetna only paid for the cheapest treatment options and "bundled" treatments together for a lower reimbursement rate. Aetna says the settlement will decrease paperwork and speed up payments. From Marketplace's Health Desk at WGBH, Tanya Ott reports.

July 24, 2003 - Lobbying Before the Bill
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The House of Representatives could vote as early as tonight on a contentious bill that would allow Americans to buy cheaper prescription drugs from Canada and Europe. The days leading up to the vote have been marked by some intense lobbying. From the Marketplace Health Desk at WGBH, Tanya Ott reports.

July 23, 2003 - Retirees shouldn't bet on health insurance
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Employees banking on the idea that their retirement packages will include health insurance may want to think twice. Why? A study found that found that only 39% of Medicare beneficiaries aged 65 to 69 had employer-sponsored health benefits, compared to 46% in 1996. From the Marketplace Health Desk at WGBH, Tanya Ott reports.

July 18, 2003 - Healthcare Fraud
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Prosecutors have uncovered videotapes they say shows sales people from Abbott Labs urging a medical products distributor to overcharge the government's Medicare system. Helen Palmer reports from the Marketplace Health Desk at WGBH that while Enron and WorldCom may not be making many headlines any more, fraud in the healthcare industry seems to be alive and well.

July 8, 2003 - Physicians' Ethics
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Do physicians withhold information on useful treatments because of health insurance restrictions? The American Medical Association's Ethics division asked doctors that question. Nearly a third of them said didn't tell their patients about every option that could have helped. From the Marketplace Health Desk at WGBH, Helen Palmer has this report.

July 3, 2003 - Bee Stings Over Prescription Drugs
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Allergists say July starts the peak of the insect biting and stinging season. What once was a nuisance is now more of a worry, with concerns over West Nile virus and Lyme disease. But as Helen Palmer reports from the Health Desk at WGBH, some people welcome insect stings.

June 30, 2003 - Wal-Mart Wants Low-Cal
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Both houses of congress have now approved legislation to add a prescription drug benefit to Medicare. But the two versions contain significant differences, and getting the versions in sync will be tricky and possibly contentious. From the Marketplace Health Desk at WGBH, Helen Palmer reports that although lawmakers may call this an achievement, others concerned about prescription costs aren't so sure.

June 27, 2003 - Landmark Medicare Drug Bill
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Both houses of congress have now approved legislation to add a prescription drug benefit to Medicare. But the two versions contain significant differences, and getting the versions in sync will be tricky and possibly contentious. From the Marketplace Health Desk at WGBH, Helen Palmer reports that although lawmakers may call this an achievement, others concerned about prescription costs aren't so sure.

June 23, 2003 - The Shape of Things to Come
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Nearly 60% of Americans are overweight. That fact has galvanized the country's big employers to set up an obesity institute to study ways to cut their healthcare costs. And, it has inspired some lawmakers in New York State to propose a "fat tax". But it has also launched a set of lawsuits against the fast food industry. Over the weekend, a group of public health academics and lawyers held a conference in Boston to explore what they call "Legal Approaches to the Obesity Epidemic." From the Marketplace Health Desk at WGBH, Helen Palmer got an earful of what could be "the shape of things to come."

June 19, 2003 - Medicare Drug Benefit
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Congress is rushing to put the finishing touches on legislation for a senior Medicare drug benefit. But is the new plan user-friendly? From the Marketplace Health Desk at WGBH, Helen Palmer puts a group of seniors to the test -- and not all are happy about Medicare's plan.

June 16, 2003 - The Mustard Gas Consortium
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The top UN expert on infectious diseases told reporters today that Hong Kong will be taken off the list of SARS-affected areas soon if there are no new cases reported. But still, SARS remains one of many illnesses for which there's no known cure. Many have hoped for some silver bullet -- some drug or combination of therapies that could offset a growing number of health threats, ranging from SARS, to, say, bioterrorism. Sound far-fetched? From the Marketplace Health Desk at WGBH, Helen Palmer found there's a team of scientists being funded by the U.S. Department of Defense that's doing just that.

June 5, 2003 - Drug Benefit Plan Compromise?
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One of the biggest issues in the last election was how to provide a prescription drug benefit plan for seniors. In spite of lots of promises, though, there's still no plan, partly because of differences between the two parties over what a drug benefit should cover and cost. But now a compromise seems to be taking shape, as Helen Palmer reports from the Marketplace Health Desk at WGBH.

May 22, 2003 - Doctors Go to Cooking School
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Despite growing evidence that nutrition- and exercise-related diseases, such as heart disease, diabetes and cancer, are on the rise, few practicing physicians counsel their patients abut nutrition and physical activity. Cynthia Ingle from the Health Desk at WGBH looks for an answer.

May 20, 2003 - Migrant Medical Info.
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Migrant workers often face frustration and expense when they have to duplicate medical procedures everywhere they go. Now, a small software company is teaming up with the workers to store and track their medical information as they move around the country. Debra Schifrin reports from the Marketplace Health Desk.

May 15, 2003 - SARS Preparedness?
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The Department of Homeland Security has been running all kinds of drills in order to be prepared for a bio-terror attack. Given all of the drilling and expense, are the nation's hospitals equipped to deal with other health crises, like a major outbreak of SARS? From the Health Desk at WGBH, Helen Palmer takes a look.

May 7, 2003 - SARS Statistics
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The British medical journal "The Lancet" reports that SARS is more deadly than it was first reported. Its new study sets the SARS death rate, overall, at more than 15% -- more than twice the World Health Organization's estimate of 7%. Helen Palmer at the Marketplace Health Desk at WGBH looked into this discrepancy.

May 5, 2003 - SARS Patents
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Just identifying the potentially deadly SARS illness took an unusual coordination of 13 laboratories in 10 countries -- such was the need for speed. But many of those scientists are involved in a new race against the clock: this time, to nail down any possible patent rights. From the Health Desk at WGBH, Helen Palmer reports.

May 2, 2003 - Pfizer Drug Game
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Ever wonder why prescription and over-the-counter drugs can be so expensive? Pharmaceutical company Pfizer has come up with a novel way to help its employees understand the process of creating and marketing a new medication. The company allots an imaginary $500 million to employee teams, and then gives them 8 hours to develop new imaginary drugs. Helen Palmer of the Marketplace Health Desk at WGBH listened in on the game and prepared this report.

April 23, 2003 - New Bandage Technology
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While bandages haven't changed for decades, researchers are now using the latest scientific knowledge to make a better battle dressing. Bleeding accounts for nearly half of all fatalities on the battlefield. So, the military has been pushing scientists to find a solution. They found one in an extract of shrimp and lobster shells that helps blood to clot. As Christian Foden-Vencil reports, it has been shipped to Iraq and has been said to stop hemorrhaging.

April 8, 2003 - Soldier Mental Health
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There has never been an army as technologically well-equipped as the U.S. and UK forces deployed in the Persian Gulf region, but all that high-tech doesn't offset the reality of combat and the stress it inflicts on military personnel. During this war, the Pentagon is making special efforts to minimize the psychological damage to its forces. From the Marketplace Health Desk at WGBH, Helen Palmer reports.

April 3, 2003 - HealthSouth: The New Enron?
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The ongoing investigation into potential fraud at HealthSouth may harm more than the job prospects of employees -- nonprofit organizations in its hometown may also suffer from the fallout. While the government says it won't require charities to give back any money they've received from suspended chairman and CEO Richard Scrushy, as Tanya Ott reports from the Marketplace Health Desk at WGBH, local charities are pretty nervous.

April 2, 2003 - Consumer Choice Wins
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The U.S. Supreme Court has issued a ruling that will impact health maintenance organizations across the country, and could profoundly affect patients and their medical choices. In a unanimous decision, the High Court said states can require HMOs to accept into their networks any doctor willing to abide by their rules. From the Marketplace Health Desk at WGBH, Helen Palmer has more.

March 28, 2003 - SARS & The Asian Travel Industry
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Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, a highly contagious virus that has infected more than 1,400 people and caused 53 deaths mostly in Asia, has prompted several countries, including the U.S., to advise against travel to China and Hong Kong -- unless it's vital. Fear of the disease is hurting the already anemic travel market, hit by recession, fuel prices and the war in the Gulf. From the Marketplace Health Desk at WGBH, Helen Palmer reports.

March 12, 2003 - FDA Cracks Down on Canadian Drugs
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Older Americans and their advocates often find creative ways to pay less for medicine. There's no prescription drug benefit under Medicare, which has prompted some to go drug shopping by bus in Canada. Others jump across the boarder to Mexico. and some go online. But the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is now warning those who help seniors accomplish these end runs around American pharmacies that they face civil and criminal punishment. From the Marketplace Health Desk at WGBH in Boston, Helen Palmer has the story.

March 4, 2003 - Bush & Medicare
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White House reveals a few more details in its plans to revamp Medicare: President Bush's proposed $400 billion Medicare overhaul would encourage seniors to switch to subsidized private insurers to get full coverage for prescription drugs. It has been reported that although some drug coverage will be added to traditional Medicare, the administration's real push is to get seniors to embrace the private sector because seniors would have to pay $4,500 to $7,000 before they get a single penny in coverage. Democrat lawmakers proposed a drug benefit for Medicare with a limit of $2,000 on out-of-pocket drug costs.

February 24, 2003 - Costly AIDS Drug
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There's word that a promising new way to treat AIDS will cost a lot of money. Breakthrough AIDS drug Fuzeon costs twice as much as most expensive protease inhibitor -- and many are wondering why. Helen Palmer reports from the Marketplace Health Desk at WGBH.

February 6, 2003 - Tech and Healthcare Costs:
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Health care spending is reaching astronomical levels. There are all kinds of reasons why. But one of the biggest factors right now is the rapid pace of technological growth. Reporter Cynthia Ingle looks at one example.

February 4, 2003 - Bucks for Bioterrorism
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President Bush's plan to vaccinate healthcare workers against smallpox is turning out to be a tough sell at the nation's hospitals. Tanya Ott explains. Then, the Economist's Matthew Bishop says there are some other serious costs the entire nation needs to consider as it looks at ways to survive a bio-terror attack.

January 31, 2003 - FDA Inefficiencies
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The agency that watches over the safety and effectiveness of medicine is going to speed up its approval process. Fewer drugs were approved by the FDA last year, but bureaucratic inefficiency may be only one of the issues here. From the Marketplace Health Desk at WGBH, Helen Palmer reports.

January 22, 2003 - Arguments For "Maine Rx"
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With prescription drug prices on the rise and many states seeking ways to curb those costs, the Supreme Court is hearing arguments about a pioneering law passed in Maine t2 years ago. The "Maine Rx law" requires pharmaceutical companies to negotiate rebates in drug costs that would be passed along to the uninsured. If they don't cooperate, their products could go on a list that needs prior approval to be prescribed for Medicaid patients. From the Health Desk at WGBH, Charlotte Renner reports from Washington, DC.

January 21, 2003 - GlaxoSmithKline Squares Off With Canadian Internet Pharmacies
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For many seniors, Canada has been a pharmaceutical lifeline, supplying drugs via the Net for a fraction of the U.S. costs. But one of the world's biggest drug companies, GlaxoSmithKline, says that they won't supply Canadian wholesale pharmacies unless they in their turn cut off supplies to the online pharmacies selling across the border. From the Health Desk at WGBH, Helen Palmer has the story.

January 8, 2003 - GE's health coverage strike
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Union workers at General Electric's North American plants are about to begin a 48-hour strike to protest increases in their health coverage costs. As many as 20,000 workers may be involved, out of GE's U.S. workforce of 121,000. From the Marketplace Health Desk at WGBH, Helen Palmer has the story.

January 6, 2003 - Viacom's HIV Ads
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Viacom's new ad campaign targets AIDS prevention: Viacom is committing $120 million for a series of HIV/AIDS prevention ads unprecedented in scope. The media company announced it's joining with a health philanthropy in a public education campaign. Viacom reaches some 24 million U.S. TV viewers through CBS and UPN, cable networks MTV, BET and TNN, and half a dozen more outlets. Viacom's reach may give extra force to a new initiative against AIDS.

January 2, 2003 - Shopaholics Pill
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Got a holiday shopping hangover? Take a pill! Now, compulsive shopaholics may have a medical option: Doctors are recommending treating shopping problems just like any other obsessive-compulsive disorder. So, when you get the urge to pull out the credit card, you might just be able to take a pill, instead.

December 30, 2002 - Foreign Patients at U.S. Hospitals
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Dramatic drop in international patients coming to U.S. for medical treatment since 9/11: After implementation of the Immigration and Naturalization Service's new policies, post-9/11, patient6s from different regions don't "feel welcome." Financial windfall from this industry normally helps different segments of the economy as well. Hospital administrators hope international patients return in 2003.

November 27, 2002 - Vaccine Records
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The Bush administration has asked a federal court to seal documents connected to claims that childhood vaccines might cause neurological problems in some children. These industry documents have come to light through a government vaccine compensation program. Sealing them will make it more difficult for thousands of parents who believe vaccines harmed their children to sue the drug companies. From the Marketplace Health Desk at WGBH, Helen Palmer reports.

November 21, 2002 - Cancer Vaccine Happening
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Many medical breakthroughs seem to help at the margins, but The New England Journal of Medicine is reporting that new vaccine stopped one of the viruses that causes cervical cancer in its tracks. At the Marketplace Health Desk at WGBH, Helen Palmer has more on a promising treatment that could be tricky to market.

November 20, 2002 - FTC & Diet Ads
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Three out of five Americans is too fat, which is a huge market for those promising quick and easy roads to slimness. The problem is, many weight loss methods advertised don't work and now the Federal Trade Commission is cracking down...not just on the companies advertising but on the media outlets running those ads. Helen Palmer reports from the Marketplace health desk at WGBH.

November 12, 2002 - Nursing Home Ratings
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The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services will soon release data allowing people to compare all 17,000 nursing homes in the country. Helen Palmer reports from the Marketplace Health Desk at WGBH.

November 08, 2002 - Tenet Health Care
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It has been a bad day at the end of a bad week for Tenet Healthcare, the country's second largest hospital chain. Tenet's stock plunged 46 percent today because of a federal investigation into the company's Medicare billing practices. From the Marketplace Health Desk at WGBH, Helen Palmer has the story.

November 07, 2002 - GOP Health Care Agenda
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The Republican sweep isn't likely to break a bipartisan logjam in Congress over medical insurance: neither party has the 60 votes needed to cut off heated debate over privately-based-versus-government-administered benefit increases. But as Helen Palmer reports from the Marketplace Health Desk at WGBH, the Republicans may, nonetheless, be able to push through part of their healthcare agenda -- and it won't be cheap.

November 04, 2002 - Oregon Health Initiative
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One of the most closely watched ballot initiatives this year is in Oregon -- Measure 23 -- which offers voters the chance to create a statewide universal healthcare system, and it's getting lots of attention beyond Oregon. From the Marketplace Health Desk at WGBH, Helen Palmer has this report.

October 21, 2002 - Prescription Drugs
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Prescription drugs cost a lot. Many voters have a problem with that. Despite the impending election day, Congress didn't get to this one, setting the stage for the White House to act. Today, President Bush announced a new Food and Drug Administration rule that could save $3 billion a year. Helen Palmer reports from the Marketplace Health Desk at WGBH.

October 18, 2002 - Autism in California
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A new study in California has uncovered a disturbing health statistic with major social and economic implications: The number of children who develop autism in that state has risen 273 percent in the late '80s and '90s. An average of nine new cases a day are identified. Autism is a poorly understood disorder that affects communication and how children form relationships. Helen Palmer, from the Marketplace Health Desk at WGBH, has more on a condition that is costing families involved, and other California taxpayers, millions.

October 10, 2002 - Depression and Universities
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Today is the 11th annual National Depression Screening Day: a day some 2,000 hospitals and colleges and malls across the country offer to check folks for free. Drug company Wyeth, which makes the antidepressant Effexor, is taking the fight against depression even further with an educational campaign on college campuses to make students aware of depression -- and the drugs that can treat it. Form the Health Desk at WGBH, here's Helen Palmer.

September 23, 2002 - Bio Tech Boost
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California's governor says he's determined to keep his state "at the forefront of medical research and scientific innovation." Gray Davis has signed into law a measure to promote stem cell research in California. This a time funding for the controversial biomedical approach is being strictly limited by the federal government. Helen Palmer has more from the Marketplace Health Desk at WGBH.

September 20, 2002 - Breast Implant Settlement
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Silicone breast implants have been effectively off the market for 10 years, but the lawsuits resulting from their alleged health effects are still with us. A federal judge in Michigan has approved a nearly $10 million settlement between implant maker Dow Corning and the federal government. From the Marketplace Health Desk at WGBH, Helen Palmer has the story.

September 16, 2002 - Healthcare Costs
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A new study out today indicates that if you're retiring in the next 20 years, you can expect to pay as much as 90 percent of healthcare costs. Marketplace's Helen Palmer has the story.

September 16, 2002 - Healthcare Premiums
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Healthcare costs are soaring. "Sound Money's" Chris Farrell weighs in on what he sees as the real issue here: health insurance is too heavily tied to employment. Here's a proposal to overhaul the nation's healthcare system.

September 9, 2002 - Asbestos and the Surpeme Court
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Hundreds of companies headquartered both in the U.S. and abroad today moved to ask the U.S. Supreme Court to put the brakes on a lawsuit due for trial in West Virginia later this month. It's about asbestos, and the stakes are high, even though the primary producers of the dangerous material are now out of business. From the Marketplace Health Desk at WGBH, Helen Palmer has the story.

August 19, 2002 - Medical Malpractice
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A doctor in the house may now be harder to find. A spike in the number of physicians facing malpractice suits causes a doctor shortage. Marketplace has a joint report by Helen Palmer and Beatrice Black.

August 5, 2002 - Tobacco California
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The California Supreme Court ruled today that tobacco companies can no longer be sheltered from lawsuits by individuals whose smoking-related illnesses were diagnosed before 1998. Helen Palmer reports.

August 1, 2002 - Massachusetts Pharmacies & Medicaid
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It's not just corporate America struggling to balance budgets: most states have a legal obligation to do so. During a downturn, however, this can be an admittedly painful proposition. In fact, 40 states from "sea to shining sea" will likely have to make cuts to make ends meet. In Massachusetts, the government is $2.6 billion in the hole. So, what did the Bay State do? It decided to slash the rate it reimburses pharmacies for Medicaid prescriptions. And now, the big-chain pharmacies say they'll pull out of Medicaid there altogether. From the Marketplace Health Desk at WGBH in Boston, Helen Palmer reports.

July 31, 2002 - Drug Bill
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From the Health Desk, Marketplace's Helen Palmer reports on today's prescription drug bill vote.