What We're Reading: US Healthcare System Ranked 50th of 55 in Efficiency
October 4th 2016What we’re reading, October 4, 2016: US healthcare system is the 50th most efficient out of 55; health agencies will spend Zika funds on vaccine trials and local prevention efforts; Americans have little confidence in their healthcare decisions as 69% say they are confused by terminology.
What We're Reading: Is There a Future for the ACA?
October 3rd 2016What we're reading, October 3, 2016: President Barack Obama's Affordable Care Act will have to change to survive; pharmacy benefit managers getting blamed for rising drug prices; and veterans could go without health insurance because states won't expand Medicaid.
What We're Reading: Treasury Lost Funds in Favor of ACA Insurers
September 30th 2016What we're reading, September 30, 2016: HHS prioritized payments to Obamacare insurers over the Treasury; the CDC is concerned flu vaccinations may be down; and UnitedHealth Group and University of California come together for new partnership.
What We're Reading: Senate Passes Government Budget Bill With Zika Virus Funding
September 29th 2016What we're reading, September 29, 2016: as part of the bill to prevent a government shutdown, the Senate has finally approved Zika virus funding; electronic health record breaches skyrocketed from 2014 to 2015; and California passes "right to try" law for terminally ill patients.
What We're Reading: New Company Helps Fight Medical Bills
September 28th 2016What we're reading, September 28, 2016: a new company will help people fight their medical bills; prescription drug monitoring programs may not be helping the opioid crisis; and why banning pay-for-delay deals may not help to lower costs.
What We're Reading: Panel Recommends Expanding Preventive Services for Women
September 27th 2016What we're reading, September 27, 2016: a panel of experts recommends expanding preventive services for women with no cost sharing; BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee is exiting 3 Obamacare exchanges; and Pfizer will not split into 2 companies.
What We're Reading: Physician Bias Leads to Worse Care for Obese Patients
September 26th 2016What we're reading, September 26, 2016: the obesity rate in America has been rising steadily, but the health system is ill equipped to treat these patients; the pros and cons of mail-order medications; and barring recipients of federal funding from preventing money from going to Planned Parenthood.
What We're Reading: California Commissioner Wants to Try a Public Option
September 23rd 2016What we're reading, September 23, 2016: California's insurance commissioner wants to try a public option; Valeant avoids double-digit price hikes with 9.9% increases; maker of Suboxone being sued by 35 states and the District of Columbia for keeping generics off the market.
What We're Reading: New Bill Would Cap Out-of-Pocket Spending for Medicare
September 22nd 2016What we're reading, September 22, 2016: a new bill would cap out-of-pocket costs for Medicare beneficiaries; world leaders agreed to a global effort to curb the spread of superbugs; and Mark Zuckerberg and Priscilla Chan, MD, will donate $3 billion over 10 years to cure disease.
What We're Reading: Law Implementing Late Fees in Missouri Medicaid in Limbo
September 21st 2016What we're reading, September 21, 2016: Missouri law to charge Medicaid patients for missed doctor's appointments is in limbo; generic drugs' potential to bring down costs; fitness trackers cause people to lose less weight.
What We're Reading: CDC Reports Rising Use of Powerful Antibiotics
September 20th 2016What we're reading, September 20, 2016: CDC reports widespread use of powerful antibiotics in hospitals; Gilead Sciences is backing advocates who want states to pay for expensive drugs; and Zika travel advisory lifted in 1 Florida zone.
What We're Reading: Government Wants Clinical Trial Findings More Widely Available
September 19th 2016What we're reading, September 19, 2016: the government update rules on reporting clinical trial findings; hospitals say they aren't receiving discounts for Valeant's heart drugs; and the FDA approved the first treatment for Duchenne muscular dystrophy.
What We're Reading: Trump Would Expand Insurance Coverage Through Medicaid
September 16th 2016What we're reading, September 16, 2016: Donald Trump mentions using Medicaid to expand coverage and making birth control available without a prescription; medical marijuana could curb the opioid epidemic; and how rare diseases are becoming more common.
What We're Reading: Free Market Approach to Drug R&D Doesn't Work, Says UN
September 15th 2016What we're reading, September 15, 2016: A United Nations panel challenges the market-based approach to drug research and development; an FDA panel recommends removing a serious health warning from Chantix's label; and older patients may want to wait to get their flu shot.
What We're Reading: CMS Denies Ohio's Medicaid Fee Proposal
September 14th 2016What we're reading, September 14, 2016: CMS denies Ohio's proposal to charge Medicaid fees; steep costs of healthcare continue to push Americans into poverty; and Canada approves prescription heroin to treat severe addiction.
What We're Reading: Republicans Push for Expanded Exemptions for ACA Penalties
September 13th 2016What we're reading, September 13, 2016: GOP bill would exempt people who live in areas with 1 Obamacare plan or none from penalties for not having coverage; hepatitis C drugs threaten to bust prison budgets; and school challenges for children with mental illness.
What We're Reading: Clinton Has Pneumonia, Raising New Speculation About Her Health
September 12th 2016What we're reading, September 12, 2016: Hillary Clinton's health is being called into question as her campaign confirms she has pneumonia; responders who helped during the 9/11 terrorist attacks may be sick and not know it; and Sanofi and Google team up for a diabetes venture.
What We're Reading: Walgreens Prepares to Ease Antitrust Concerns Over Rite Aid Deal
September 9th 2016What we're reading, September 9, 2016: Walgreens believes it may need to unload more stores to ease antitrust concerns over its Rite Aid purchase; the Senate may be nearing a Zika funding agreement; and American dissatisfaction with their healthcare system.
What We're Reading: County at Risk of Having No ACA Plans in 2017 Gets an Insurer
September 8th 2016What we're reading, September 8, 2016: An Arizona county at risk of having no Affordable Care Act plans in 2017 gains an insurer; the difficulty of obtaining medical records; and Ohio county offers immunity for anyone turning in deadly drugs.
What We're Reading: Allergan Will Limit Price Hikes on Its Drugs
September 7th 2016What we're reading, September 7, 2016: Allergan vows to limit drug price hikes; Senate votes again to block Zika funding bill; and CMS will institute a new process to screen people signing up for Obamacare coverage during special enrollment periods.
What We're Reading: State Prescription Databases Fight the Opioid Epidemic
September 6th 2016What we're reading, September 6, 2016: state prescription databases play a role in fighting the opioid epidemic; experimenting with transition models to reduce gaps in care; and how electronic health records slow down doctors.