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Viewpoints: Congress Fails Leadership Test On Zika; Clinton’s Plan On Mental Health ‘Solid’
A selection of opinions on health care from around the country.
Perspectives On Drug Prices: Competition Would Help; Misuse Of Patent System
Opinion writers offer new analysis of the EpiPen controversy.
Outlets report on health news from Massachusetts, Maryland, Texas, Michigan, Florida, Colorado, Ohio, Pennsylvania, California and Washington.
Nearly 5,000 Minnesota Nurses Start Open-Ended Strike
The Minnesota Nurses Association and the Allina Health system failed over the weekend to iron out a dispute over nurses’ health insurance.
Experts: Loneliness Acts Like Hunger, Forcing People To Want To Find Companionship
Researchers say loneliness, which can cause serious health issues, is related to the evolutionary need to survive and that a genetic component explains why some people are more affected by it than others. In other public health news, new evidence supports the idea that bariatric surgery can be highly effective for obese patients and doctors push back against “vaccination hesitancy.”
Cells From Umbilical Cords Offer Hope For Cancer Patients With Rare Blood
The blood cells don’t need to be a perfect match, so a patient who may have previously died waiting for a donor now has a much higher chance of survival. In other news, a study finds that cancer survivors’ unhealthy habits don’t change with a diagnosis, and new drugs may slow the progression of ovarian cancer.
New Drug Responsible For Wave Of Overdoses Is So Potent That Tiny Fleck Can Kill
The increase in overdoses has rippled through Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky and West Virginia in the past few weeks. Officials are blaming carfentanil, an elephant tranquilizer. Meanwhile, a two-day conference is set to kick off this week in Minnesota for police, health professionals and other experts to discuss solutions to the opioid crisis.
Alabama Lawmakers Expected To Consider Funds From Oil Spill Settlement For Medicaid
The Alabama legislature will resume its special session today and search for ways to fill the $85 million budget gap for Medicaid. News outlets also report on Medicaid developments in D.C., Philadelphia, Kansas and Oregon.
Hospitals Fight Medicare’s Proposed Outpatient Payment Rule
As the end of the comment period nears, health systems continue to argue against the plan that would eliminate Medicare reimbursements for services conducted at off-campus departments. The proposed rule could also impact which medications and treatments patients receive.
FDA Bans Antibacterial Ingredients From Soaps, Says They May Do More Harm Than Good
The ingredients will still be allowed in hand sanitizers as the agency collects more information.
Politicians Continue To Point Fingers As Momentum Fades On Uninsured
The Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index, considered a bellwether, shows that the uninsured rate among adults dropped by only about 1 percentage point from 2015 through this July. Meanwhile, Blue Cross Blue Shield asks Congress to preserve a fund some have called a “bailout” for the insurance companies.
Fla. Republicans Relent, Urge Colleagues To Strip Everything Other Than Zika From Funding Bill
The lawmakers are desperate to get the legislation passed. They’re even willing to drop the Planned Parenthood fight that has been the main holdup in the Senate. Meanwhile, NARAL targets Marco Rubio over his stance on Zika-related abortions.
Lawmakers Probe Mylan’s Medicaid Loophole
Sen. Ron Wyden and Rep. Frank Pallone, both Democrats, are asking the company for more information about whether EpiPen was classified as a “non-innovator” drug or a brand-name drug by the Medicaid program.
On Heels Of EpiPen Outrage, Clinton Unveils Plan Targeting High Drug Prices
Hillary Clinton says she would create of an oversight panel to investigate price spikes on older medicines with little competition. But some see language in the proposal as reassuring to the pharmaceutical industry.
First Edition: September 6, 2016
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Experts Say Stepped-Up Monitoring Is Crucial As Zika’s Threat Lasts Beyond A Baby’s Birth
A Brazilian case report indicates the virus may cause brain impairment after a child is born, increasing the need for tracking the development of children who may have been exposed.
EpiPen Controversy Fuels Concerns Over Generic Drug Approval Backlog
Four years after a huge push to speed generics to market, the FDA has more than 4,000 generics waiting for approval.
Under a new state law, California consumers could get money back if they were charged out-of-network prices after going to a medical provider who was listed in their health plan’s network.
Gaps In Care Persist During Transition From Hospital To Home
A partnership between San Diego County and four health systems seeks to bridge the longstanding gap between hospitals and social services.