PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE AU - Richard A. Deyo TI - Cost-Effectiveness of Primary Care AID - 10.3122/jabfm.13.1.47 DP - 2000 Jan 01 TA - The Journal of the American Board of Family Practice PG - 47--54 VI - 13 IP - 1 4099 - http://www.jabfm.org/content/13/1/47.short 4100 - http://www.jabfm.org/content/13/1/47.full SO - J Am Board Fam Med2000 Jan 01; 13 AB - The resident describes a new patient in clinic today, a 40-year-old woman with a cholesterol reading of 240 mg/dL, but no other coronary risk factors. She asks whether it would be cost-effective to begin therapy with “statin” drugs to lower the patient's cholesterol. The attending physician, always skeptical of high technology and eager to promote preventive care, says “Sure it is. Some of the statin drugs now cost about $50 a month. Compare that with $50,000 for a coronary bypass later on if she isn't treated now.”