David Blumenthal on the Challenges of Personalized Medicine and Big Changes to the ACA
<p>In two new Wall Street Journal “Experts” blog posts, Commonwealth Fund President David Blumenthal, M.D., addresses important issues on the health policy horizon—<a href="http://click.email-commonwealthfund.org/?qs=982874a4f4deb5b076064784c66…; target="_blank">precision medicine</a> and <a href="http://click.email-commonwealthfund.org/?qs=982874a4f4deb5b0a65e04236e9…; target="_blank">potential changes</a> to the Affordable Care Act (ACA).</p><p>The first post considers how best to manage the high costs and ethical questions likely to arise with new medical treatments that target drugs to an individual’s genetics. The second post examines the potential impact of federal waivers taking effect in 2017 that will allow states to change how uninsured people obtain coverage. Any modifications states make must ensure that at least the same number of people are covered—under health plans as comprehensive and affordable as the ACA’s.</p>
<p>“The waivers offer tantalizing prospects for would-be ACA reformers across the political spectrum,” Blumenthal writes.</p>