What We're Reading: Colorado Asks Sanders to Help With Its Universal Healthcare Proposal
August 1st 2016What we're reading, August 1, 2016: proponents of Colorado's proposed state universal healthcare want Bernie Sanders' help; thousands need new health coverage in Ohio and Connecticut; and the trouble with getting a patient off a prescription.
What We're Reading: US Forms Partnership to Fight Superbugs
July 29th 2016What we're reading, July 29, 2016: a trans-Atlantic partnership has been formed to fight superbugs; the FDA halted blood collections in 2 Florida counties over Zika fears; and investigation confirms Zika cases in Florida were from local mosquitoes.
What We're Reading: UnitedHealth, Aetna Plan to Join California's Medicaid Program
July 27th 2016What we're reading, July 27, 2016: UnitedHealth and Aetna are looking to join California's Medicaid program; the World Health Organization is considering removing transgender identity from list of mental disorders; and medical schools rethink how to treat addiction.
What We're Reading: Policies Needed to Support Prisoner Health After Release
July 15th 2016What We’re Reading, July 15, 2016: What can the 7 remaining co-ops do to survive; CMS projects increased Medicare spending per enrollee by 2025; and experts call for policy changes to support the health of prisoners at high risk for HIV.
What We're Reading: VA Failed Veterans With Brain Trauma
July 13th 2016What We’re Reading, July 13, 2016: Humira faces competition from a biosimilar; Washington, DC, campaigns to raise awareness on anti-HIV PrEP pills; and veterans may have been incorrectly diagnosed for traumatic brain injury...or not.
Safety, Efficacy of Balugrastim to Treat Chemotherapy-Induced Neutropenia
July 12th 2016Researchers assessed balugrastim’s efficacy, safety, and tolerability in 4 different clinical trials and found it to be a suitable alternative to pegfilgrastim in regard to reducing the mean duration of severe neutropenia.
What We're Reading: Greater Campaign Dollars for Lawmakers Who Opposed Part B Demo
July 11th 2016What We're Reading, July 11, 2016: US lawmakers who signed letters opposing the Medicare Part B demonstration received bigger monetary support from Big Pharma; e-cigarettes could push adolescents toward smoking cigarettes; and Hillary Clinton says she supports lowering Medicare enrollment age.
Hypertension Medication Caused Rare Case of Severe Neutropenia in Patient
July 11th 2016In an unusual case, a patient was diagnosed with febrile neutropenia after starting benazepril, an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor. The treatment is rarely associated with agranulocytosis, which is defined as severe neutropenia.
What We're Reading: Aetna to Meet With DOJ to Discuss Humana Deal
July 8th 2016What we're reading, July 8, 2016: Aetna will meet with the Department of Justice to discuss Humana purchase; Pfizer will disclose serious risk of addiction when marketing opioids; and US insurers' spending on prescription drugs nearly quadrupled from 2003 to 2014.
What We're Reading: Lawmakers Move to Overhaul Mental Health System
July 7th 2016What we're reading, July 7, 2016: the House passed legislation to overhaul mental health care; the NFL is accused of being quick to hand out powerful painkillers; and one student outlines 5 ways to reform medical schools.
What We're Reading: VA Healthcare Operations Still Require "Urgent Reform"
July 6th 2016What we're reading, July 6, 2016: the Department of Veterans Affairs has made progress, but still has a long way to go; court upholds 6-month delay for biosimilars; and Apple promotes organ donation with iPhone app.