Weekly Edition

Administration Eases Way For Small Businesses To Buy Insurance In Bulk
By Jay Hancock and Julie Appleby
The Trump administration issued the final rule on association health plans, which supporters say will make coverage more affordable for some employees but led others to warn about “junk insurance.”

‘Holy Cow’ Moment Changes How Montana’s State Health Plan Does Business
By Julie Appleby
Other states are watching to see if controlling how much hospitals get paid can continue to hold down costs in “Big Sky Country.”

Doling Out Pain Pills Post-Surgery: An Ingrown Toenail Not The Same As A Bypass
By Julie Appleby
As the opioid epidemic rages, a Johns Hopkins surgeon and researcher is leading an effort to curb overprescribing by offering procedure-specific guidelines to ensure that post-surgical patients leave the hospital with enough, but not too much, pain medication.

After Opioid Overdose, Only 30 Percent Get Medicine To Treat Addiction
By Martha Bebinger, WBUR
Patients revived from an opioid overdose who get methadone or Suboxone treatment for addiction afterward are much more likely to be alive a year later, says a study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine.

1 In 5 Immigrant Children Detained During ‘Zero Tolerance’ Border Policy Are Under 13
By Shefali Luthra and Marisa Taylor
The White House’s latest immigration strategy has created challenges for the HHS Office of Refugee Resettlement, which is now responsible for more children — many far younger than in previous administrations.

First Female Dean ‘A Sea Of Change’ At USC’s Scandal-Plagued Medical School
By Susan Abram
Laura Mosqueda, a geriatrician, wants to train new doctors to better care for elderly people as the country’s population ages. She will face a big challenge as USC reels from drug and sexual misconduct scandals that have enraged students and landed the university in legal hot water.

If You’ve Got Hep C, Spitting Can Be A Felony
By Michelle Andrews
About a dozen states have added hepatitis C to the list of medical conditions for which people can face criminal prosecution if they engage in certain activities like sex without disclosure, needle-sharing or organ donation.

Unwieldy Health Costs Often Stand Between Teachers And Fatter Paychecks
By Emmarie Huetteman
Cash-strapped school boards, cities and legislatures scrounge to cover pay raises and pricey benefits and turn to teachers to fork over more of their shrinking take-home pay.