Maggie Mahar, Healthcare Fellow at The Century Foundation and author of the path-breaking book Money-Driven Medicine: The Real Reason Health Care Costs So Much, writes one of the most up-to-the-minute, authoritative blogs on healthcare reform on the web, the Health Beat blog. Read her most recent posts by clicking below:

To purchase a copy of Maggie Mahar's book Money-Driven Medicine: The Real Reason Health Care Costs So Much click here

To read the preface, click here

For information on book sales or for arranging an onsite appearance by the author, Maggie Mahar, at your screening please email: Matthew.Inman@harpercollins.com

• Libel Laws Stifle Scientific Debate
  The editor of the British Medical Journal, Fiona Godlee, writes that “organized sceptism,” or the “requirement that scientific claims be exposed to critical scrutiny before they are accepted” is one of the basic tenets of good science.Yet in the UK,...
  
  
• Sarah Palin Admits Going to Canada for Health Care-- Why?
  How rich is this? Over at “Think Progress,” Igor Volksy reports that, while speaking to a crowd in Calgary, Canada last weekend Sarah Palin revealed a tidbit about her life growing up not far from Whitehorse: “We used to hustle...
  
  
• Peggy Noonan vs. the New England Journal of Medicine
  Let’s put to rest, once and for all, the idea--or rather, the notion (it’s not even an idea, just a vague impression, based on hearsay)--that the health reform legislation now under discussion includes no plans for containing health care spending....
  
  
• Hospital Breaks New Ground In Luxury
  Below, an excerpt from yesterday’s Philadelphia Inquirer (March 3, 2010) I’m not writing a post about this story because the piece speaks for itself. It reveals much about this nation’s healthcare priorities. Also, beware of for-profit“Wellness” programs. Good health is,...
  
  
• Will Reform Pass? Don’t Believe Everything That You Read
  I remain all but certain that comprehensive healthcare reform legislation will pass this spring. The New York Times isn’t sure, but Nancy Pelosi is. My money is on Pelosi. “Every legislative vote is a heavy lift around here,” she told...
  
  
• Twittering
  Some readers have suggested that I "Twitter.' So I'm trying it. Under "maggiemahar." First Twitters were from the blog. Now I'm branching out. Advice welcomed.
  
  
• President Obama’s Speech—A Different Tone
  This afternoon, President Obama spoke with the confidence and determination of a leader who knows that he is right—and that he has won. He is no longer pleading for bi-partisan co-operation. His final proposal includes all Republican suggestions that reformers...
  
  
• Obama’s Letter to Congressional Leaders: We’re Almost There
  Today, President Obama sent a letter to Congressional leaders, offering to incorporate more Republican ideas in health care legislation. Don’t panic: Of the four ideas, two are excellent, one was almost certain to happen anyway, and one simply funds pilot...
  
  
• Some Thoughts On the Word “Filibuster”
  As I noted in the post below, the media seems to be turning “reconciliation” into an ugly word. But “filibuster” is the word with a more unsavory history. (Thanks to HeathBeat reader Barry Carroll who sent me a link to...
  
  
• What Reformers Are Up Against
  Sunday, Republican Senate leader, Mitch McConnell told CNN that even if Democrats made a significant concession— such as a provision that would limit malpractice suits against health-care providers — this would not persuade Republicans to vote for health reform legislation....