Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Under New Settlement, OxyContin's Worst Victims Could Get Up To $48,000
The Wall Street Journal: Opioid Victims Could Get Up To $48,000 In Purdue’s Bankruptcy
Individuals who filed claims over opioid addiction or overdose deaths against OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma LP are projected to receive as much as $48,000 under the company’s bankruptcy plan. Estimated payouts under Purdue’s chapter 11 proposal, filed Monday, depend on the severity of an individual’s injury or addiction, with the least severe cases getting an estimated $3,500. Administrators would determine individuals’ eligibility for compensation and rate the severity of their opioid injuries through a point system, according to court papers filed Monday. Specific eligibility and qualification requirements will be made public later. (Randles, 3/16)
In other pharmaceutical news —
CIDRAP: US School Districts Adopt Antibiotic Use Standard For Turkey Products
An organization representing the 15 largest school districts in the United States announced last week that it is issuing a standard for responsible antibiotic use in turkey products sold to schools. Under the new policy, the Urban School Food Alliance (USFA) will require that all turkey products purchased by its schools must be produced under a US Department of Agriculture process verified program that includes compliance with the Certified Responsible Antibiotic Use Standard (CRAU), which was developed in 2014 to minimize antibiotic use in poultry and give schools the option to buy poultry raised with responsible antibiotic use. The turkey industry is the most intensive user of medically important antibiotics, according to research from the Natural Resources Defense Council. (3/16)
In biotechnology news —
Stat: Google Continues Wellness Expansion With Sleep Sensing Tech For Nest Hub
Google is turning another device into a wellness gadget. A month after introducing two health features to the Pixel smartphone, Google on Tuesday added a new sleep sensing component for the Nest Hub, its smart display device. (Brodwin, 3/16)
The Washington Post: FDA-Approved Gaming Is Already Here, Pointing To Its Therapeutic Potential
In a pretty significant indicator that gaming is making inroads into everyday life, the Food and Drug Administration last year gave its first approval to a video game to improve attention function in children. The game, “EndeavorRX” by Akili Interactive, may point to a potentially growing field of prescription-strength gaming, according to the 2021 Tech Trends Report by the Future Today Institute. Amy Webb, futurist and founder of the organization, made her annual presentation at SXSW on Tuesday, detailing her firm’s insights into the near- and long-term future of various media and technology industries, including news, health and the sciences. (Park, 3/16)
Stat: Hearing Aid Makers Tackle The Technology's ‘Number One Problem’ With AI
For many people with hearing loss, a normal conversation at a busy restaurant is the holy grail.“ [Background noise] is the number one problem that needs to be solved,” said Abram Bailey, a former practicing audiologist who now runs Hearing Tracker, a popular online resource. “…We’ve been trying to solve it in this industry for years and years and years. But we have only made these really tiny, incremental steps.” (Aguilar, 3/17)
