How to explore Scott Alexander's work and his 1500+ blog posts? This unaffiliated fan website lets you sort and search through the whole codex. Enjoy!

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Apr 03, 2023
acx

Highlights From The Comments On Telemedicine Regulations

36 min • 4,965 words • 134 comments • 100 likes • podcast (27 min)
Scott Alexander responds to comments on his post about new telemedicine regulations, addressing various concerns and criticisms raised by readers. Longer summary
Scott Alexander summarizes and responds to various comments on his original post about new telemedicine regulations. He addresses concerns about drug addiction, debates the effectiveness of telemedicine compared to in-person care, discusses the issue of 'pill mills', clarifies his analogy about blind people accessing Braille, responds to criticism of his characterization of Christian doctors, examines which part of the government is responsible for the regulations, and looks at how other countries handle telemedicine prescriptions. Shorter summary
Mar 29, 2023
acx

The Government Is Making Telemedicine Hard And Inconvenient Again

13 min • 1,817 words • 421 comments • 251 likes • podcast (11 min)
Scott Alexander criticizes new DEA regulations that restrict telemedicine prescriptions for controlled substances, arguing they will harm patients and legitimate practices while failing to prevent abuse. Longer summary
Scott Alexander criticizes new DEA regulations that make it harder for telemedicine doctors to prescribe controlled substances. As a telepsychiatrist, he explains how these rules will negatively impact his practice and patients, especially those who rely on controlled substances for conditions like ADHD or anxiety. He argues that the new regulations, while intended to prevent overprescribing, will mainly create inconvenience for legitimate practitioners and patients while doing little to stop actual abusers. Scott outlines the loopholes in the law and how they highlight its absurdity, predicting that these rules will make telemedicine less accessible and effective in the long run. Shorter summary
May 12, 2021
acx

Welcome To The Terrible World Of Prescription-Only Apps

19 min • 2,630 words • 240 comments • 124 likes • podcast (18 min)
Scott Alexander criticizes the emergence of expensive, prescription-only therapy apps, using Somryst (a CBT-i app) as an example, and warns about the normalization of this trend. Longer summary
Scott Alexander discusses the emergence of prescription-only apps, focusing on Somryst, a CBT-i app for insomnia. He criticizes the high cost ($899) and prescription requirement, arguing that it defeats the purpose of making therapy more accessible. The post explains how the US healthcare system incentivizes this model, comparing it to prescription fish oil. Scott expresses disappointment in the lack of affordable alternatives and warns that this trend might become normalized, urging readers to act while they still feel outraged by it. Shorter summary
Jun 20, 2018
ssc

Cost Disease In Medicine: The Practical Perspective

7 min • 940 words • 308 comments • podcast (8 min)
Scott Alexander proposes a hypothetical low-cost psychiatric practice to combat medical cost disease, exploring its potential and the barriers to its implementation. Longer summary
Scott Alexander explores the idea of creating a low-cost psychiatric practice called 'Cheap-O Psychiatry' to combat cost disease in medicine. He outlines a model that would significantly reduce overhead costs through telemedicine, self-booking, and direct payment, potentially offering appointments for as low as $35. The post discusses why such practices aren't more common, speculating on factors like the shortage of doctor-entrepreneurs, the dominance of insurance in the mid-range market, and the exhausting nature of rapid patient turnover. Scott suggests that such a venture might need to be done as a political protest to demonstrate the potential for cost reduction in healthcare. Shorter summary