Glossary |
Our glossary of terms explains the jargon and defines the common acronyms you will come across at Health Care Reform Plans. Please email us at
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| Direct healthcare costs | Direct healthcare costs refer to costs paid by an individual for doctors’ office visits, hospital care, nursing home care, and medications. An indirect cost, on the other hand, refers to the money (wages) lost by a person who has been disabled by illness.
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| Direct-to-consumer advertising (DTCA) | Direct-to-consumer advertising (DTCA) is the promotion of prescription drugs to the general public through advertising on television and the Internet and in newspapers and magazines. It is illegal in most developed nations with the exception of the United States and New Zealand.
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| Disease management (DM) | Disease management (DM) refers to the management of chronic diseases by patients in collaboration with physicians and other healthcare providers. Such programs aim to prevent the worsening of a chronic condition(s) by focusing on the patient’s adherence to a particular lifestyle plan that usually involves following a healthful diet, exercising, taking prescribed medications, and monitoring vital signs and the status of the disease. Proponents of DM want to improve patients’ health outcomes, reduce unnecessary care and procedures, and lower costs.
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| Drug Reimportation | Drug Reimportation describes the phenomenon of Americans buying drugs from countries other than the United States, either by traveling there (e.g. Canada) or over the internet. Proponents see this as a means to help Americans obtain less expensive drugs. Drug companies typically charge the highest prices for drugs in the United States because most other countries have ceilings on what they will pay for drugs. To recoup the cost of developing drugs, their makers say they must charge a higher price in the United States. In short, Americans pay the largest share of drug development costs. However, drug reimportation also raises serious legal and safety concerns at the current time.
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Glossary 
