[metmom]

In his 2008 book on health care, he explained that such a council would, "lower overall spending by determining which medicines, treatments and procedures are most effective-and identifying those that do not justify their high price tags."

Everything has a high price tag when new.

Give it time and more effective treatments will come out of the current ones and the cost will come down.

So much for promoting scientific research.

[griswold3]

Depends on whether you consider a ‘scientist’ or an ‘engineer’ worthy of making such determinations!

[neverdem]

So much for promoting scientific research.

"My administration will not deny facts -- we will be guided by them," Obama said, in an apparent dig at Bush aides accused of subverting science for ideological reasons.

On November 16, 2005, the Policy and Program Analysis Branch (PPAB) of the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) convened a roundtable to examine what core policy issues the NHGRI should work on to help ensure that our greatly expanding knowledge of human genomics is translated into improved health care. The NHGRI Policy Roundtable brought together 19 representatives from government, research, advocacy, health care, insurance, industry, and academia.

One of the NHGRI's major goals is to enhance health care in the USA through the integration of genomic medicine into mainstream medical practice. Genomic medicine is a powerful way to tailor health care at the individual level by using patients' genomic information. By identifying the genetic factors associated with disease, it is possible to design more effective drugs; to prescribe the best treatment for each patient; to identify and monitor individuals at high risk from disease; and to avoid adverse drug reactions. Various NHGRI research programs are already helping to realize the promise of genomic medicine, but many important advances in genomic medicine will only occur if we effectively address matters of public policy.

All that money is wasted with Daschle's scheme.