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Demanding Patients, Armed with Internet Data, Drive Costs

NPR's piece today by Alix Spiegal examines the "modern" patient who marches into the doctor's office requesting the latest medications and procedures. But is this consumer-driven care good for medicine? Or is it merely driving up costs?

A separate discussion, on WBUR's Here & Now, dissects the politics of a new report distributed by the health insurance industry — on the eve of a U.S. Senate committee vote on the heath care overhaul — that claims premiums will increase dramatically if the reform bill becomes law.

And here's the New York Times on the White House and Democrats response to the industry report. Also, in The Times, MIT health care economist Jon Gruber reveals deep flaws in the report.

This program aired on October 12, 2009. The audio for this program is not available.

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