Stories by Niko Karvounis

Niko Karvounis is a Program Officer with The Century Foundation in New York City, where he works on issues of socioeconomic inequality and health care. He is a regular contributor to Health Beat, the Foundation’s health care blog. subscribe to Niko Karvounis's feed

Is Your Yearly Physical a Waste of Time?

Posted on: Jan 26, 2009, Source: Health Beat

That's what some experts have increasingly been suggesting.

Could the Media Derail Health Care Reform?

Posted on: Jan 6, 2009, Source: Health Beat

Right now, health care reform is an abstract goal that everyone wants. But that doesn't mean the media are ready to cover it properly.

The Dangers of Do-It-Yourself DNA Testing

Posted on: Nov 14, 2008, Source: Health Beat

Pay $399 and spit in a tube, and you can have your genome mapped. But is it healthy to track your genetic lottery, disease by disease?

Patients v. Big Pharma: Supreme Court to Decide Landmark Case

Posted on: Oct 29, 2008, Source: Health Beat

Should patients have the right to sue drug companies for personal injuries from FDA-approved prescription drugs?

Will the Economic Meltdown Undermine Interest in Health Care Reform?

Posted on: Oct 6, 2008, Source: Health Beat

The current bailout is costing us only a third of what we pay each year for chronic illnesses like cancer, diabetes and obesity.

Universal Health Coverage Is No Silver Bullet

Posted on: Aug 29, 2008, Source: Health Beat

The key to smoothly running, affordable health care is changing medical treatments and procedures.

Medical Tourism Is Great -- for Those Who Can Afford It

Posted on: Aug 20, 2008, Source: Health Beat

Americans going abroad to deal with their medical problems would only cut health costs 1-2 percent -- not enough to solve our greater crisis.

How Big Pharma Is Fooling You -- and Your Doctor -- with Junk Science

Posted on: Aug 11, 2008, Source: Health Beat

To the pharmaceutical industry, "research" is just a code-word for "smart-sounding marketing."

It's Time To Get Rid of the Good-People-vs.-Bad-People View of Drug Use

Posted on: Jun 24, 2008, Source: Health Beat

When discussing treatments for drug addiction, instead of arguing about ideology, let's look at science.

The Startling Truth About Doctors and Diagnostic Errors

Posted on: Jun 18, 2008, Source: Health Beat

Diagnostic errors happen at alarming rates but remain underdiscussed. Doctors' overconfidence is just one reason why.

The Dangers of Consumer-Driven Medicine

Posted on: May 27, 2008, Source: Health Beat

Manufacturers intent on profits are trying to make consumers push doctors and hospitals to use unsafe products.

How Bush's Flawed Health Care Policies Are Gaining Traction

Posted on: May 12, 2008, Source: Health Beat

High-deductible health plans and health savings accounts are making reform even more of an uphill battle.

Whatever Happened to American Longevity?

Posted on: May 4, 2008, Source: Health Beat

In the past 20 years, the U.S. has sunk from ranking No. 11 in life expectancy to No. 42. What gives?

21st Century Medicine Fraught With Miscommunication and Human Error

Posted on: Mar 20, 2008, Source: Health Beat

The simple transition of a patient from one caretaker to another can result in numerous mistakes and, ultimately, patient harm.

Guess Who Foots America's Health Care Bill? Not Employers.

Posted on: Mar 12, 2008, Source: Health Beat

Under our current health care system, patients shoulder far more of the financial burden than employers.

Forcing Medical Patients To Be Consumers Wreaks Havoc on Our Health System

Posted on: Feb 21, 2008, Source: Health Beat

The price tag of health care for the uninsured is over $40 billion. Maintaining a market-driven system will only drive that bill higher.