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Re:The Fed's Big Problem, There Are Two Economies but Only O... by rayiner on Sunday March 17, 2024 @09:56PM (#39739859)
Because Americans don’t want a healthcare system that tells grandma they’re too old for expensive surgery.
Re:The Fed's Big Problem, There Are Two Economies but Only O... by willcipriano on Monday March 18, 2024 @12:09AM (#39740446)
If it was too expensive the time to say something isn't after a lifetime of cashing insurance premium checks.
Re:The Fed's Big Problem, There Are Two Economies but Only O... by chiefalchemist on Monday March 18, 2024 @08:54AM (#39743701)
We also don't want a healthcare system that focuses on prevention. A significant percentage of what the USA spends on healthcare could be mitigated with prevention. But there's no profit in prevention, and the general population doesn't want to sacrifice comfort and convenience. "What do you mean change my diet and lifestyle??"
Re:The Fed's Big Problem, There Are Two Economies but Only O... by skissane on Monday March 18, 2024 @09:20AM (#39744067)
> But there's no profit in prevention

Drugs such as semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy) and tirzepatide (Mounjaro, Zepbound) are making massive profits, and also have decent odds of preventing many obesity-induced (and also diabetes-induced) diseases

Okay, they also have side effects, and it is possible the disease burden caused by the side effects may (in the long-run) turn out to be worse than the disease burden they prevent. But, while that's a possibility, it is only a possibility, a possibility which could easily not come pass to

And even if some of those drugs turn out to have unacceptable side effects in the long-run, there are other drugs in that class in the pipeline which might avoid those side effects, in which case the profits will shift to those

Re:The Fed's Big Problem, There Are Two Economies but Only O... by JamesBarney on Tuesday March 19, 2024 @02:39AM (#39753453)
> Okay, they also have side effects, and it is possible the disease burden caused by the side effects may (in the long-run) turn out to be worse than the disease burden they prevent. But, while that's a possibility, it is only a possibility, a possibility which could easily not come pass to

This is very unlikely to happen. This isn't like other obesity drugs that were first in class, glp-1 agonists have been around a long time and have a great safety record.

Re:The Fed's Big Problem, There Are Two Economies but Only O... by willcipriano on Monday March 18, 2024 @09:18AM (#39744036)
Obesity is 8% higher in the US than the UK.

The NHS costs half as much per captia as medicare, medicaid, etc and provides universal coverage.

That isn't it. It's simply theft.