First Edition: August 9, 2018

Kaiser Health News: As An Investor In Biotech Stock, Republican Chris Collins May Have Overshared
House Speaker Paul Ryan removed Collins from the powerful Energy and Commerce Committee on Wednesday and called for a new investigation by the House Ethics Committee. Last year, the panel began looking at evidence that Collins had previously “shared material, nonpublic information” on Innate. (Hancock, Kopp and Bluth, 8/8)

Kaiser Health News: Pharmacy-Made Pain Creams Flagged On Fears Of Medicare Fraud And Risk
Medicare pays hundreds of millions of dollars each year for prescription creams, gels and lotions made-to-order by pharmacies — mainly as pain treatments. But a new report finds that officials are concerned about possible fraud and patient safety risks from products made at nearly a quarter of the pharmacies that fill the bulk of those prescriptions. “Although some of this billing may be legitimate, all of these pharmacies warrant further scrutiny,” concludes the report from the Office of the Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services. (Appleby, 8/9)

Kaiser Health News: Learning To Live Well With Dementia
Imagine your doctor telling you have Alzheimer’s disease or some other type of dementia. Then, imagine being told, “I’m sorry, there’s nothing we can do. You might want to start getting your affairs in order.” Time and again, people newly diagnosed with these conditions describe feeling subsequently overcome by hopelessness. In their new book, “Better Living With Dementia,” Laura Gitlin and Nancy Hodgson — two of the nation’s leading experts on care for people with cognitive impairment — argue forcefully that it’s time for this “cycle of despair” to be broken. (Graham, 8/9)

The New York Times: New York Congressman Chris Collins Is Charged With Insider Trading
Representative Chris Collins was at the Congressional Picnic on the South Lawn of the White House last summer when he received an unexpected email from the head of a drug company in which he was heavily invested. The company’s only product — an experimental treatment for multiple sclerosis — had just failed a do-or-die scientific trial. What Mr. Collins did next, apparently in a state of panic, forms the core of a federal indictment unsealed on Wednesday in New York that accuses him of insider trading and lying to federal agents. Federal prosecutors charged Mr. Collins with brazenly using his private information about the company to help his son and others avoid financial disaster. (Feuer and Goldmacher, 8/8)

The Associated Press: GOP Congressman From New York Charged With Insider Trading
Collins, a staunch supporter of President Donald Trump who was among the first sitting members of Congress to endorse his candidacy for the White House, pleaded not guilty to an indictment unsealed at a court in Manhattan. The indictment charges Collins, his son and the father of the son's fiancee with conspiracy, securities fraud, wire fraud and making false statements to the FBI. Speaking to reporters in Buffalo hours after his release on bail, Collins, 68, professed his innocence and said he would remain on the ballot for re-election this fall. (Hays, 8/8)

The Wall Street Journal: New York Congressman Chris Collins Arrested On Insider-Trading Charges
According to the indictment, Rep. Collins passed the confidential results to his son, Cameron Collins, so he could trade on the tip. Prosecutors say his son sold nearly 1.4 million Innate shares and gave the information to at least four individuals, including his fiancée and her father, Stephen Zarsky. Mr. Zarsky then sold all of his Innate shares and shared the tip with at least three other individuals, including his brother and sister, before the public release of the trial results, according to the indictment. (Hong and Peterson, 8/8)

Politico: GOP Rep. Chris Collins Charged With Securities Fraud
"Congressman Collins, who by virtue of his office helps to write the laws of our nation, acted as if the law didn't apply to him," said Geoffrey Berman, the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, announcing the charges. (Cheney, Vielkind and Nahmias, 8/8)

The Washington Post: Rep. Chris Collins Charged With Insider Trading, Federal Prosecutors Announce
The charges could turn into a headache for several House Republicans who invested in Innate Immunotherapeutics at Collins’s encouragement. Prosecutors did not allege in the indictment that Collins tipped off any of his colleagues in Congress about the failed drug trial before it was made public, but Democrats pounced on the charges and said those lawmakers would have to answer tough questions about their investments in Innate. (Merle and DeBonis, 8/8)

The Hill: Planned Parenthood Launches Six-Figure Supreme Court Ad Campaign
Planned Parenthood Action Fund is launching a six-figure ad campaign as part of a broader effort by progressive groups to highlight personal stories of individuals who could be impacted if President Trump's nominee, Brett Kavanaugh, is confirmed to the Supreme Court. The buy, announced Wednesday, includes TV ads in Maine and Alaska, the home states of two potential GOP swing votes: Sens. Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski. It also includes a nationwide digital ad. (Carney, 8/8)

The Associated Press: Indicted Rep. Collins Was Early Loyalist To Trump
Collins, 68, backed Trump on Feb. 24, 2016 — well before it was clear Trump had a shot at winning the Republican nomination in a crowded field of seasoned politicians. But that’s why, Collins said at the time, he was backing Trump. He said the country needs “a chief executive, not a chief politician.” Collins became one of Trump’s most ardent and public backers, promoting him as a businessman who would boost the economic fortunes of areas that have suffered. (Kellman, 8/8)

The Associated Press Fact Check: Sanders Spins Savings In Medicare Plan
Sen. Bernie Sanders is skimming over the facts in claiming that his "Medicare for all" plan will lead to big reductions in what Americans spend for health care. In a recent tweet, the Vermont independent insists the plan will cut $2 trillion from the nation's health care bill. But that's based on a scenario in which hospitals and doctors accept significantly lower payments for many patients. It's a big asterisk, and one that Sanders fails to disclose. (Alonso-Zaldivar, 8/8)

Politico: Bernie And His Army Are Losing 2018
Bernie Sanders is sputtering. Two years after his defeat in the 2016 presidential primary, the Vermont senator has amassed a growing string of losses in races in which he has intervened. Beginning last year, Sanders-backed candidates faltered in an Omaha mayoral race and a nationally watched House race in Montana. (Siders, 8/8)

The Hill: Study: Immigrants Have Lower Health-Care Costs Than People Born In US 
A new study finds that immigrants have lower health-care costs than people born in the United States, meaning they are likely helping support public health insurance programs like Medicare. The report from researchers at Harvard Medical School and Tufts University examined all peer-reviewed studies since 2000 on immigrants’ health-care costs in the United States. It found that immigrants’ health-care expenditures were one-half to two-thirds those of people born in the U.S. (Sullivan, 8/8)

The Hill: Patient Groups Rattled By New Medicare Power To Negotiate Lower Drug Prices
A new federal policy intended to drive down drug prices could have a negative effect on patients, particularly those with chronic conditions, according to health advocates. The policy announced Tuesday by the Department of Health and Human Services will give some private insurers the option to require patients try cheaper drugs before turning to more expensive ones, regardless of what their doctor prescribes. (Hellmann, 8/9)

Stat: Private Medicare Leverage Over Drug Costs Would Boost PBMs And Biosimilars 
In its latest effort to attack high drug costs, the Trump administration wants to allow privately run Medicare Advantage plans to require patients to pursue step therapy, which means anyone who needs a costly, physician-administered drug must first try a cheaper medicine to see if it works. With about 19 million beneficiaries covered by these plans, the move is projected to save 15 percent to 20 percent of the $11.9 billion spent on Part B drugs, which are infused or injected medicines. Some of these are pricey specialty drugs for hard-to-treat diseases and ailments. (Silverman, 8/8)

Reuters: CVS Health Beats Profit Estimates, Defends PBM Business
CVS Health Corp beat analysts' estimates for quarterly profit on Wednesday and the drugstore operator defended its pharmacy benefits management business in the face of the Trump administration's move to clamp down on escalating drug costs. Shares of CVS Health, which agreed to buy health insurer Aetna for $69 billion in December, rose 3.6 percent to $67.76. (Banerjee, 8/8)

The Wall Street Journal: CVS Chief: Don’t Blame Us For Higher Drug Prices
CVS Health Corp. Chief Executive Larry Merlo said Wednesday that industry middlemen aren’t responsible for increasing U.S. drug prices, noting that prices are rising faster for medicines with smaller manufacturer rebates. CVS owns Caremark, one of the biggest pharmacy-benefit managers, which process prescriptions for insurers or companies that pay for medicines and use their size to negotiate with drugmakers and pharmacies. Mr. Merlo said CVS expects 3%, or about $300 million, of its 2018 earnings to come from rebates it pockets. (Thomas, 8/8)

NPR: Ohio Fights CVS Caremark And Optum For Drug Cost Transparency
Several states are questioning the cost of using pharmacy middlemen to manage their prescription drug programs in a movement that could shake up the complex system that manages how pharmaceuticals are priced and paid for. The debate is playing out this week in an Ohio courtroom, as the state fights to release a report detailing what it paid two middlemen, CVS Health and Optum, to manage its Medicaid program's prescription drug plans. (Kodjak, 8/8)

Reuters: American Medical Association Opposes Merger Of CVS And Aetna
The American Medical Association, which represents U.S. physicians, urged the U.S. Justice Department on Wednesday to stop CVS Health Corp's plan to buy insurance provider Aetna Inc, saying the deal could result in higher prices for prescription medicines. The AMA said that the $69 billion deal, announced in December, would lead to a "substantial reduction" of competition in pharmacy benefit (PBM) services market and the Medicare Part D prescription drug plan for seniors. (Bartz, 8/8)

The Wall Street Journal: Online Pharmacy Capsule Looks To Expand Nationwide
Online pharmacy Capsule Corp. is readying to go national as retail and drugstore stalwarts scramble to reinvent the way people get their prescriptions. The venture-funded startup, operating in New York City since 2015, provides same-day delivery of medicines and access to a team of pharmacists via text, email or phone. The company is receiving $50 million in additional funding, from Greenwich, Conn.-based Glade Brook Capital Partners and other existing investors, to expand its model nationally in the next 12 to 18 months. (Terlep, 8/8)

Reuters: Perrigo Board Okays Separation Of Prescription Pharma Business
Perrigo Company Plc said on Thursday its board approved a plan to separate its Prescription Pharmaceuticals (Rx) business after the generic drugmaker completed a review of its strategic portfolio. The board will explore all value-enhancing options, including a possible tax-efficient separation to shareholders, a sale or merger, the company said. The move will enable the management to focus on expanding the company's leading consumer businesses, Chief Executive Uwe Roehrhoff said. (8/9)

The Wall Street Journal: Rite Aid, Albertsons Call Off Merger Amid Investor Opposition
In a surprise move, Rite Aid Corp. and Albertsons Cos. called off their planned $24 billion merger on the eve of a shareholder vote in the face of mounting protests from investors. Some of Rite Aid’s biggest shareholders had planned to vote against the pharmacy’s planned merger with privately held grocer Albertsons, unconvinced by the companies’ argument that a deal was necessary to fend off competition from Amazon.com Inc. and others. (Haddon and Lombardo, 8/9)

The Wall Street Journal: New Marijuana-Based Epilepsy Treatment To Cost $32,500 A Year
GW Pharmaceuticals PLC said it plans to charge about $32,500 per patient annually in the U.S. for its new treatment for rare forms of epilepsy, the first prescription drug derived from the marijuana plant. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Epidiolex, also known as cannabidiol, in June to reduce seizures associated with forms of epilepsy known as Lennox-Gastaut syndrome and Dravet syndrome, in patients 2 years of age and older. (Loftus, 8/8)

Stat: Louisiana Explores A 'Netflix' Subscription Model For Buying Hepatitis C Drugs 
In a bid to lower its costs for hepatitis C medicines, Louisiana officials are exploring a novel approach in which the state would make subscription-based payments to drug makers. Essentially, the state would agree to pay a fixed amount of money over several years for unlimited access to medication for anyone who is enrolled in the state Medicaid program or incarcerated in a state prison. Some details need to be worked out, but payments to one or more companies would be equal to or less than what the state is currently spending to provide hepatitis C medicines to these populations. (Silverman, 8/8)

Stat: Insys Agrees To Pay $150 Million To Settle Federal Probe Into Opioid Marketing 
Insys Therapeutics (INSY) reached an agreement in principle with the Department of Justice to pay $150 million over the next five years to settle civil and criminal investigations into allegedly illegal marketing of its fentanyl opioid by some of its former employees. The company could pay up to another $75 million, depending upon other undisclosed conditions. The deal comes amid long-running probes by federal and state authorities into the abuse and misuse of opioid painkillers, and the extent to which they are appropriately prescribed. Insys has figured prominently in this drama, as several former executives and employees have been arrested in connection with allegations of bribing doctors to boost sales of Subsys, which contains fentanyl, a highly addictive opioid. (Silverman, 8/8)

The Washington Post: Inducing Labor At 39 Weeks For Healthy Pregnancies May Improve Outcomes For Mothers, Study Suggests
The prevailing wisdom on healthy pregnancies has long been to just wait it out. Only after reaching the full-term 40-week mark will many doctors consider hurrying a birth along with drugs. The thinking is that inducing labor increases the risk of complications, which lead to more Caesarean sections, putting both the baby and the mother at risk. A new study suggests that idea might be wrong. (Cha, 8/8)

NPR: Pregnancy Controversy Gets New Data: Inducing Labor Can Be Safe
Obstetricians currently induce labor when a delivery has failed to progress, or if a woman is far overdue for giving birth. But when women who have no medical need for induced labor have talked to their doctors, "We've been saying, 'Well you know one thing you need to know is it does increase the C-section rate,' " says. Dr. Uma Reddy, an obstetrics researcher at the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. (Harris, 8/8)

The Washington Post: A Gun Control Group Is Trying To Make A Phrase Viral. How Does It Happen?
The Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence is launching a public education campaign to warn of the dangers of having unlocked and loaded guns in a house, particularly in one where there are children. Called “End Family Fire,” the campaign seeks to prevent unintentional deaths by urging gun owners to take steps that would prevent children or guests from accessing firearms. They include storing a gun in a place where it is not accessible to those who do not own it, storing a firearm and ammunition separately from one another and using a gun lock. (Zezima, 8/8)

The Washington Post: Online Dating Study Quantifies What’s ‘Out Of Your League'
Online dating is now one of the primary ways people meet partners, and researchers can use data from dating apps to observe and quantify romantic attraction and pursuit. In other words, all of those terrible online messages and first dates are being donated to science. A study out Wednesday in the journal Science Advances described “a hierarchy of desirability” in the messaging tactics of online daters. It also found that both men and women messaged potential partners who were on average 25 percent more attractive than they were. (Furby, 8/8)

The New York Times: Dizziness On Standing May Be A Risk Factor For Dementia
Feeling dizzy or lightheaded when you stand up may be a risk factor for stroke and dementia years down the road, a new study reports. The condition, known as orthostatic hypotension, is caused by a sharp drop in blood pressure when rising from a supine position. It can be a symptom of various diseases or a side effect of medicine but often has no known cause. (Bakalar, 8/8)

NPR: Sperm Counts Lower In Men Wearing Tight Undies
If you've ever seen someone with testicles get kicked in the groin, then you probably know that male genitals — often portrayed as a symbol of male strength and virility — aren't actually that tough. But can testicles — or rather, the sperm they produce — be harmed by something as seemingly innocent as a pair of briefs? (Chisholm, 8/8)

The Associated Press: No Easy Answers On Best Heart Check-Up For Young Athletes
What kind of heart check-up do young athletes need to make the team? A large study of teenage soccer players in England found in-depth screening didn't detect signs of trouble in some athletes who later died — yet allowed others at risk to get treated and back in the game. At issue is cardiac arrest, when the heart abruptly stops beating. It is rare in young people, especially athletes thought to be at the peak of health. (Neergaard, 8/8)

The New York Times: Dr. Robert Newman, Apostle Of Methadone Treatment, Dies At 80
Dr. Robert G. Newman, who pioneered methadone maintenance as a safe substitute for heroin and struggled to redefine addiction as a chronic medical condition that cannot be cured, died on Aug. 1 in Manhattan. He was 80. He was struck by a car in the Bronx in June and never recovered from his injuries, his son, Seiji, said. (Roberts, 8/8)

The New York Times: Margot Kidder’s Death Was A Suicide, Coroner Says
When Margot Kidder died in May, she was remembered as the actress who brought the fictional reporter Lois Lane to life in a series of blockbuster Superman movies in the 1970s and ’80s. Her obituary in The New York Times did not specify a cause of death. But on Wednesday the Park County coroner’s office in Montana, where she lived, revealed that the cause was suicide. A statement provided by the coroner to The Associated Press said that Ms. Kidder “died as a result of a self-inflicted drug and alcohol overdose.” (Fortin, 8/8)

The Associated Press: Huge Los Angeles Gas Leak Leads To $120 Million Settlement
A Southern California utility reached a nearly $120 million settlement over a massive blowout at a natural gas storage field that became the nation's largest known release of climate-changing methane and forced thousands to flee their Los Angeles homes almost three years ago, officials announced Wednesday. The settlement between Southern California Gas Co. and state and local governments aims to mitigate the greenhouse gases that spewed uncontrollably for nearly four months. The October 2015 blowout at an Aliso Canyon well sickened residents of the San Fernando Valley and led to evacuations of 8,000 homes. (8/8)

The Washington Post: Michigan Parents Seth Welch, Tatiana Fusari Charged With Murder In 10-Month-Old's Death
In video sermons, the man railed against vaccines, “bad medicine” and doctors whom he deemed to be “priesthoods of the medical cult.” And he explained why he refused to vaccinate his children, saying: “It didn’t seem smart to me that you would be saving people who weren’t the fittest. If evolution believes in survival of the fittest, well then why are we vaccinating everybody? Shouldn’t we just let the weak die off and let the strong survive?” (Bever, 8/8)

The Associated Press: Famed California Research Center Settles 2 Gender Bias Suits
Southern California’s Salk Institute for Biological Studies has settled two of three gender discrimination lawsuits filed by top female scientists. The renowned research center and two former plaintiffs, Kathy Jones and Vicki Lundblad, said in a statement Tuesday that they’ve agreed to “put our disagreements behind” and “move forward together.” Terms were not disclosed. The third plaintiff, Beverly Emerson, will continue the lawsuit against the Salk, according to her attorney Alreen Haeggquist. (Tu, 8/8)

Los Angeles Times: SoCal Gas Agrees To $119.5-Million Settlement For Aliso Canyon Methane Leak — Biggest In U.S. History
The deal between Southern California Gas Co. and city, county and state officials and prosecutors will fund a long-sought health study and numerous environmental measures intended to offset the damage caused by the leak. But it leaves unresolved questions about the root cause of the leak, the fate of the storage facility outside Los Angeles’ Porter Ranch neighborhood, the state’s reliance on planet-warming natural gas and residents’ medical claims against the company. The tentative agreement will resolve agencies’ lawsuits against the utility for violating the state’s health and safety laws by failing to promptly control the leak and alert authorities. (Barboza, 8/8)

The Wall Street Journal: Southern California Gas Agrees To Settlement For 2015 Methane Leak
The Aliso Canyon underground site is the fifth-largest such gas-storage facility in the U.S. and is essential to the region’s power industry. It gushed methane—one of the most potent heat-trapping gases responsible for climate change—for 15 weeks, leading California to declare a state of emergency while locals reported headaches, nosebleeds, rashes and other woes. It eventually led to a federal review that called for a sweeping safety overhaul of more than 400 underground natural-gas storage fields. (Puko, 8/8)