GI and liver diseases exact heavy economic and social costs in the United States. Understanding the prevalence and costs of these diseases is important to help set priorities to reduce the burden of illness.

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Sexual dysfunction is a common adverse effect of antidepressant treatment. Physicians should monitor their patients for antidepressant-induced sexual adverse effects, as these may affect compliance with therapy and ultimate treatment success. In addition to the consequences for patient health and well-being, managed-care organizations should be concerned with sexually related adverse effects of antidepressants, insofar as additional healthcare resources may be required to treat depressed patients in whom these adverse effects arise.

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CPT = current procedural terminology; DRG(s) = diagnosisrelated group(s); FNHTR = febrile nonhemolytic transfusion reaction; HBOC(s) = Hb-based oxygen carrier(s); HCPCS = healthcare common procedure coding system; HGV = hepatitis G virus; IOM = Institute of Medicine; MedPAC = Medicare Payment Advisory Committee; MedPAR = Medicare Provider Analysis and Review; NAICS = North American Industrial Classification System; OPPS = outpatient prospective payment system; PPI(s) = producer price index(es); PPS(s) = (Medicare) prospective payment system(s); PRT(s) = pathogen reduction technology(-ies); RCC(s) = ratio(s) of costs to charges; SIC = standard industry classification; TA-GVHD = transfusion-associated GVHD; vCJD = variant CJD. From The Lewin Group, Falls Church, Virginia.EXECUTIVE SUMMARY lood is a precious and vital health-care resource used routinely in a broad range of hospital procedures. Approximately 27 million units of blood and other blood components are transfused each year to 4.5 million people in the US, including accident victims, cancer patients, transplant recipients, patients Key findings 1. Blood safety and availability are vital for quality health care. They depend on multiple evolving technologies, safety procedures, and regulatory measures. Although technology and safety procedures vastly reduce the risks of contracting disease associated GOODMAN ET AL.