This week’s podcast is all about the QALY and the bill going to the Senate that would ban its use. 

The QALY is a metric used to determine how cost-effective a treatment is based on its ability to return a sick person to perfect health. Even if a treatment helps a chronically ill person to live longer, it will not be categorized as valuable as treatments are aimed at diseases that affect younger and healthier populations. 

To help us understand how the QALY negatively impacts those with chronic illness, we’re joined by Michael Riotto, a member of Patients Rising, and Bill Smith, a Senior Fellow at the Pioneer Institute.

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The successful patient is one who can get what they need when they need it. We all know insurance slows us down, so why not take matters into your own hands? Our Navigator is an online tool that allows you to search a massive network of health-related resources using your zip code so you get local results. Get proactive and become a more successful patient right now at the Patients Rising Helpline.

Have a question or comment about the show, or want to suggest a show topic or share your story as a patient correspondent?

Drop us a line: podcast@patientsrising.org

The views and opinions expressed herein are those of the guest(s)/ author(s) and do not reflect the official policy or position of Patients Rising, nor do the views and opinions stated on this show reflect the opinions of a guest’s current or previous employers.

Treating obesity would cause chronic disease rates to go down, healthcare costs would be reduced, and the lifespan of Americans would increase. But until now, the stigmas relating to obesity have prevented any significant legislation that addresses the issue. To help break it down, we’re joined by Nancy Glick, the Director of Food and Nutrition Policy at the National Consumers League. Nancy helps us understand what an Obesity Bill of Rights actually is, who it covers, and why it's a necessary step. 

We also discuss a bill that Patients Rising has been trying to move forward for a long time. We got news this week that it finally has some life! 

Need help?

The successful patient is one who can get what they need when they need it. We all know insurance slows us down, so why not take matters into your own hands? Our Navigator is an online tool that allows you to search a massive network of health-related resources using your zip code so you get local results. Get proactive and become a more successful patient right now at the Patients Rising Helpline.

Have a question or comment about the show, or want to suggest a show topic or share your story as a patient correspondent?

Drop us a line: podcast@patientsrising.org

The views and opinions expressed herein are those of the guest(s)/ author(s) and do not reflect the official policy or position of Patients Rising, nor do the views and opinions stated on this show reflect the opinions of a guest’s current or previous employers.

In an effort to curb drug prices, President Joe Biden announced late last year a proposed framework to guide government agencies on how to use march-in authorities if a drug’s price is considered too high.

But what exactly constitutes “too high?” Your guess is as good as ours, and that’s just the beginning of the issues we expect to come from this framework if it moves forward.

We spoke with Joe Allen, Executive Director of The Bayh-Dole Coalition. 

The Bayh-Dole Act is where march-in rights stem from and we figured he would be the perfect person to explain march-in rights, what this really means, and how this framework could derail the entire drug development industry if this comes to pass. 

You won’t want to miss what he has to say. We also discuss the increasing prevalence of Prescription Drug Affordability Boards and what that might mean as we progress into the second month of 2024.

Need help?

The successful patient is one who can get what they need when they need it. We all know insurance slows us down, so why not take matters into your own hands? Our Navigator is an online tool that allows you to search a massive network of health-related resources using your zip code so you get local results. Get proactive and become a more successful patient right now at the Patients Rising Helpline.

Have a question or comment about the show, or want to suggest a show topic or share your story as a patient correspondent?

Drop us a line: podcast@patientsrising.org

The views and opinions expressed herein are those of the guest(s)/ author(s) and do not reflect the official policy or position of Patients Rising, nor do the views and opinions stated on this show reflect the opinions of a guest’s current or previous employers.