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** RAND RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY ON THE ISSUES THAT MATTER MOST
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Jan 28, 2021
U.S. Prescription Drug Prices Are More Than Double Those in Other Countries
Prescription drug prices in the United States are, on average, 2.56 times higher than the prices in 32 other countries. That's according to a new RAND report.
Brand-name drugs are the primary driver of America's higher prescription drug prices: For branded drugs, U.S. prices averaged 3.44 times higher than those in other nations. Prices for generic drugs, on the other hand, are slightly lower in the United States than in most other countries.
Transparency about prices may help address the problem of rising U.S. prescription drug spending, which is estimated to account for more than 10 percent of the country's total health care spending.
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Allowing Transgender Troops to Serve in the Military
On Monday, President Biden signed an executive order reversing a policy that banned transgender people from serving in the U.S. military. A RAND report published in 2016 examined the implications of allowing transgender personnel to serve openly. Its key takeaway: The effect on military readiness and health care costs is likely to be small.
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Food Insecurity: How the Pandemic Magnifies Racial Disparities
Since 2011, RAND researchers have been working to understand how diet, access to food, and other factors affect the health and well-being of residents of two low-income, predominantly Black neighborhoods in Pittsburgh. Food insecurity had been falling in these communities over the last decade. But COVID-19 erased much of that progress. Food insecurity increased by nearly 80 percent in the first weeks of the pandemic. This far outpaces food insecurity observed among the general U.S. population during the same period.
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Are We Ready for the Internet of Bodies?
Artificial pancreases that can help diabetics manage their blood-sugar levels. Brain implants that allow amputees to control their prosthetic limbs. Smart stents that can monitor for blood clots. Internet of Bodies devices could revolutionize the health care system. But according to a RAND study, there are serious privacy, security, and ethical concerns to consider, too.
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The History of Attacks on Western Diplomatic Facilities
As the most visible symbols of Western governments and their policies, U.S. and allied diplomatic facilities like embassies and consulates are frequent targets of violence. To learn more about the threats to these facilities and how to prevent them, RAND researchers reviewed data on all attacks from 1979 to 2019. Notably, they found that the majority of past attacks culminated - that is, reached a point at which response forces would no longer make a difference - in two hours or less.
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How Biden Can Galvanize Space Diplomacy
With governments developing weapons for use in space and commercial space activity on the rise, there's a growing risk of extra-terrestrial conflict. According to RAND experts, the Biden administration has an opportunity to enhance safety and security in space by establishing norms for responsible behavior. These norms could range from informal rules of the road to legally binding international agreements.
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** TRENDING REPORTS
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Media Literacy Standards to Counter Truth Decay
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Implementing Restraint: Changes in U.S. Regional Security Policies to Operationalize a Realist Grand Strategy of Restraint
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** RAND IN THE NEWS
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Capitol Attack Reflects U.S. Extremist Evolution Over Decades
Associated Press
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More Than Half of Working Mothers Say Their Job Performance Has Slipped During the Pandemic - and They're the Lucky Ones
MarketWatch
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How Much Does Drinking Alcohol Contribute to U.S. Cancer Burden?
Medscape
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