Law under the Microscope

E-Prescribing May Help Save Health Costs

In the last year or so, there has been a rabid flurry of attention being paid to health informatics and many proposals abounding on how using better technology and databases can reduce the rising costs of health care. Whether it's the National Health Information Infrastructure (NHII), e-clinical trials, or e-prescribing, they've all been touted as bringing about substantial savings for insurers, health care providers and employers. And done correctly, each of these programs (and the numerous others) each have the potential for changing the economics of health care.

But don't believe the hype ... just yet.

FDA Okays Implantable Chip for Health Care

You may have seen that the FDA gave its approval for the RFID implant that is supposed to house health-related information for the subject. The Chairman & CEO of the manufacturing company, Applied Digital Solutions, says that it hopes that FDA approval will help stop some some of "the creepy factor" with consumers.

While I'm glad that the FDA has found that the implant won't be rejected by the body, cause infection or otherwise generally bring about nasty side effects, it still gives me the heebie-jeebies.