Modern Medicine May Not Be Doing Your Microbiome Any Favors

Dr. Martin Blaser Is the director of the Human Microbiome Program at New York University and the author of Missing Microbes: How the Overuse of Antibiotics Is Fueling Our Modern Plagues. (Henry Holt and Company) Blaser is an expert on the human microbiome, which is the collection of bacteria, viruses, fungi and other microbes that live in and on the body. In fact, up to 90 percent of all the cells in the human body aren’t human at all — they’re micro-organisms.

Karen Abbott is a New York Times best-selling author and a contributor to Smithsonian magazine’s history blog. She will talk about her new book, Liar, Temptress, Soldier, Spy. (Harper)

Jay McEniry is the executive director of Patients & Physicians for RX Access and will talk about how the major cuts in prescription coverage will harm the doctor-patient relationship. Companies that have announced plans to eliminate or severely limit coverage include Express Scripts, United Healthcare/Optum Rx, CVS/Caremark, Catamaran, Harvard Pilgrim and some Blue Cross Blue Shield organizations. Express Scripts, the country’s largest pharmacy benefit manager, began quietly disclosing the cutbacks in mid-to-late June, with substantial cuts taking effect this month. The cutbacks will end prescription coverage for 750,000 to 1 million patients through Express Scripts alone. For more information, visit www.SaveRXAccess.org.

10/5/2014 Second Hour

Richard Neer