Health Care Policy

New Medicare program could dramatically improve affordability for cancer drugs–if patients enroll

An analysis by experts at Penn Medicine finds the Medicare Prescription Payment Plan could help patients avoid large out-of-pocket payments for their first oral cancer prescription.

2 min. read

We should ask why alcohol remains our social default

Postdoc Luis E. Seija of the Perelman School of Medicine writes that society should be honest about the risks of alcohol and its role in lives rather than mythologizing it as a modern-day miracle.

A nurse checks the heartbeat of a patient in a wheelchair.

Survey shows patients with disabilities less likely to feel respect from doctors

A new Penn Medicine analysis shows that patients with disabilities were both less likely to feel respect from their doctors and less likely to feel their doctors explained things well.

Why nursing homes and hospice are so expensive in the U.S.

The Leonard Davis Institute estimates that 75% of U.S. hospice agencies today are for-profit.

As Gov. Shapiro calls for private equity ‘reform’ in Pennsylvania health care, where are investments growing?

Atul Gupta of the Wharton School and Leonard Davis Institute says that private equity can be more efficient and creative than other forms of organization if its incentives align with society’s incentives.

Greater attention to men’s health could bridge life expectancy gap, researchers say

PIK Professor Derek Griffith says that women’s equality, equity, and opportunities can be promoted while actually focusing on the health and well-being of men.

RFK Jr. won. Now what?

Allison Buttenheim of the School of Nursing says that Robert F. Kennedy Jr. disavowing his vaccine antagonism would likely do more to turn some of his most ardent supporters against him than to change their views.

Trump wants to put tariffs on prescription drugs. Experts warn it could backfire

PIK Professor Ezekiel Emanuel says that tariffs on prescription drugs run the risk of raising prices without any quality or availability benefits.

Inside the fight to untether kidney dialysis patients from their bulky machines

Diane Alexander of the Wharton School says that the current health system favors the in-center dialysis care provided by two market leaders and may not support breakthroughs, such as miniaturization designed for in-home treatments.

Medical concept of a doctor checking a patient’s heartbeat virtually.

The future of nursing care

Faculty at Penn’s School of Nursing have created a clinical decision support early warning system that accurately detects patient deterioration.

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