Democrats push single-payer healthcare at state level

Despite their minority status, Congressional Democrats haven’t given up on creating a single-payer healthcare system. But the political realities of the moment have forced a shift in strategy.

Instead of a top-down federal approach, a group of Democratic lawmakers is working with activist groups and legislators outside of Washington, D.C. to achieve their goal on a state-by-state basis.

Why it matters

Colorado drug price cap raises concerns over access and innovation

Colorado’s Prescription Drug Affordability Review Board (PDAB) last week became the first state to set a price cap on a specific prescription drug, limiting a 50-milligram dose of Enbrel, used to treat rheumatoid arthritis, to $600. Since its introduction in 1998, Enbrel’s wholesale price has risen more than 1,500%.

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AI use exploding in healthcare industry, as providers gain confidence in its use

As artificial intelligence is layered into the economy, some of the strongest emerging use cases are in healthcare.

It’s a potential time saver for medical staff, handling tasks that require repetition and, in many cases, analysis. For example, multiple studies have found that AI is as good as a doctor at analyzing X-rays. However, a study published by Harvard Medical School last year suggested that the accuracy varies heavily by doctor, depending in part on their comfort level with the technology.

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Altman: AI’s potential to deliver better patient care

The use of AI to analyze medical images — detecting cancer in lung X-rays or melanoma in pictures of skin — was the first to herald the revolution of AI in medicine. However, there are now myriad ways AI is being applied at various points of the patient care journey, from scheduling and triage to documentation support and patient communications. Properly validated and deployed, these tools will help care and treatment become more personalized, fair, and affordable. Let me highlight three areas where AI has the potential, and — in many cases — is already used, to transform patient care.

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