A classic says goodbye: Polaroid stops producing film
Last week Polaroid announced that it will no longer make its trademark instant film. Bernd Nobel of the International Center for Photography remembers the Polaroid picture. Click here to listen to the short segment.
What does the 2008 election mean for pharma?
The winner of the 2008 election will be faced with making key decisions on a number of issues important to drug developers. Questions as to whether there will be more federal funding for stem cell research, a faster path for biogenerics, or a change to the structure of the nation’s health care system will have to be addressed by the next president, and how they tackle those issues will have serious repercussions for the industry. Here’s a look at the stances of the four frontrunners on several topics vital to the biotech and pharmaceutical industries. Click here for more.
CMS releases names of troubled nursing homes
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services released a list of 131 nursing homes with poor inspection records and said it will update the list on a quarterly basis to improve nursing home quality and oversight. The Center also noted some of the homes on the list were showing signs of improvement. Today there are about 16,400 nursing homes nationwide, and taxpayers spend about $72.5 billion annually to subsidize nursing home care. Click here for more.
Spine treatment spending on the rise
A report in the Journal of the American Medical Association revealed that spending on spine treatments increased by 65 percent from 1997 to 2005 to nearly $86 billion, with an estimated $20 billion attributed to drugs for back and neck problems. Despite the surge, the percentage of people with serious spine problems appears to have increased, according to the report. Click here for more.
Living to 100 possible despite chronic illness
People with chronic illnesses such as heart disease and diabetes still have a chance of living to 100, a new study indicates. Researchers say the key could be doctors who treat older people’s health problems aggressively and note that lifestyle choices also make a big difference in survival. Click here for more.
