It’s widely estimated that 30% of U.S. health-care spending—some $700 billion a year—is spent on tests, treatments and procedures that provide no value. But one man’s waste may be another’s life-saving treatment. And there are hundreds of medical quandaries with no clear answers.
When is angioplasty appropriate for patients with clogged arteries?
How often should patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease have upper endoscopies?
Which of eight expensive drugs for rheumatoid arthritis work best and are worth the potentially harsh side effects?
What works best to treat low back pain or prevent obesity, hypertension and diabetes?
Is weight-bearing exercise better than bisphosphonates in preventing hip and spinal fractures in older women?
As lawmakers battle over how to expand coverage for more Americans and how to pay for it, an equally contentious issue is looming: Many experts, doctors and politicians want to revamp the U.S. health-care system to reward the quality of care.
Read this full story on the Wall Street Journal website.