First Opinion is STAT’s platform for interesting, illuminating, and provocative articles about the life sciences writ large, written by biotech insiders, health care workers, researchers, and others. To encourage robust, good-faith discussion about issues raised in First Opinion essays, STAT publishes selected Letters to the Editor received in response to them.
The article “I’m a pediatrician. My bosses want me to cut new-patient visit times in half,” by Frances Quee, sparked a response from Mark Diamond. He highlighted the benefits of a private practice setting where one can set their own rules despite the challenges. Another response from Shailesh Shah, a pediatrician with over 40 years of experience, emphasized the importance of adequate time for patient visits to ensure proper care and avoid liability issues.
In the article “40 doesn’t look good on Hatch-Waxman,” by Tahir Amin and Timi Iwayemi, Paul Fehlner discussed various aspects of the Hatch-Waxman Act, including the Bolar exemption and generic drug ecosystem. He emphasized the need to address real issues such as price negotiations to support innovation in the pharmaceutical industry.
“How the next president should reform Medicare,” by Paul Ginsburg and Steve Lieberman, prompted a response from George Faulkner. He suggested a partial solution to allow Medicare Advantage plan members to switch back to standard Medicare, promoting competition and potentially reducing preauthorizations and denials that patients and physicians face.
In “WHO pandemic threat director: Here’s what needs to happen to combat mpox,” by Maria D. Van Kerkhove, Evan Floden highlighted the importance of open science in disease control initiatives. He shared examples of how open-source tools have been leveraged to respond quickly to outbreaks, emphasizing the need for early collaboration to prevent further spread of diseases.
Lastly, “Long Covid feels like a gun to my head,” by Rachel Hall-Clifford, resonated with readers like Jennifer Powers, who appreciated the article for shedding light on the challenges of dealing with long-term effects of COVID-19.
These responses reflect the diverse perspectives and insights shared in response to thought-provoking articles on various healthcare topics, emphasizing the importance of collaboration, patient care, and innovative solutions in the healthcare industry.
