Maybe it's a small gesture, or maybe it's merely a way for the pharma companies to cut outlays during a time of retrenching . . . whatever the reason, we will all soon be deprived (freed?) of branded pharma stuff. That's right! No more free pens, sticky pads, penlights, oven mitts, etc. etc. etc.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/31/business/31drug.html?_r=1&hp

NPR on single payer health

Hi All, NPR aired a report last week on the possibility that health care reform will bring a Single Payer system . . . maybe I'm introducing bias, but I think the report ends up echoing what HPfHR has been saying: the political will just isn't there for a Single Payer Plan that would offer universal coverage. Several reasons are enumerated, but chief among them is the idea that a Single Payer plan would be "un-American" somehow. The story also mentions the strong industry that health insurance has become, and the necessity, for reasons good and bad, of including insurance companies in the formulation of the plan. If you're interested, you can lsiten to the story here:

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=98374633