Pharma & Tech 102419
At Raucous Hearing, No Unity On Vaping Issues
Rachel Bluth
A hearing before a House Oversight and Reform Committee panel on how to address the crisis of respiratory injuries related to vaping turned surprisingly partisan.
Rescates del 911 relacionados con la salud mental, sin policías
LJ Dawson
Denver es una de al menos ocho ciudades que está considerando implementar un programa que busca despenalizar y mejorar el tratamiento de las personas con enfermedades mentales graves.
Aumentan las líneas de ayuda para dejar de vapear
Anna Almendrala
Funcionarios de salud están investigando 1.299 casos en 49 estados y el Distrito de Columbia, incluyendo al menos 26 muertes, de enfermedad pulmonar vinculada al vapeo.
KHN’s ‘What The Health?’: Democrats Do Drugs (Prices)
House Democrats start legislative work on House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s prescription drug pricing bill; health is again a featured player in the Democratic presidential candidate debate; and courts around the country hold up President Donald Trump’s health agenda. This week, Margot Sanger-Katz of The New York Times, Tami Luhby of CNN, and Joanne Kenen of Politico join KHN’s Julie Rovner to discuss these issues and more. Plus, for “extra credit,” the panelists recommend their favorite health stories of the week.
Cosmetic Surgery And The Secret World of Instagram Dolls
Chaseedaw Giles
An Instagram community of “doll pages” lets women find valuable information about body-sculpting journeys.
Think ‘Medicare For All’ Is The Only Democratic Health Plan? Think Again
Emmarie Huetteman
The Democratic presidential candidates have hit hard on health care, but generally the debates have centered on what kind of system candidates propose. The candidates’ ideas on many other issues, such as mental health and gun safety, have attracted much less attention.
In Tiny Doses, An Addiction Medication Moonlights As Treatment For Chronic Pain
Alex Smith, KCUR
Naltrexone, commonly used for opioid and alcohol use disorders, may also help patients with chronic pain — when prescribed in low doses. But few doctors or patients seem to know about it.
Where Contraception’s A Lifestyle Drug Not A Medical Need — So Women Pay The Tab
Shefali Luthra
Unlike in the U.S., health insurance in Germany doesn’t cover birth control. German health advocates say that causes health problems — but change is unlikely.
California’s New Transparency Law Reveals Steep Rise In Wholesale Drug Prices
Barbara Feder Ostrov and Harriet Blair Rowan
Pharmaceutical companies raised the wholesale cost of their drugs by a median of nearly 26% from 2017 to early 2019, according to California’s first-ever report stemming from a new drug price transparency law. Prices for generic drugs rose nearly 38% during that time.
California Governor’s Bill-Signing Marathon Offers Glimpse Of 2020 Issues
Ana B. Ibarra
California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed off on an array of health care bills that will significantly affect the lives of Californians, including many college students, pregnant women, schoolchildren and dialysis patients.
Vapers Accuse Officials Of Overreach As Investigation Into Deadly Lung Illness Lags
Anna Maria Barry-Jester and Jenny Gold
With federal authorities offering few details about what is causing the deadly outbreak of vaping-related lung illnesses, vaping advocates are crafting an alternative narrative reverberating through online communities.
As Vaping Illnesses Rise, So Do Pleas To Quit-Smoking Help Lines
Anna Almendrala
Tobacco-cessation help lines — traditionally aimed at cigarette smokers — are receiving a surge in calls from people who use vapes and want to quit.
Meet The Health Officials Who Alerted The World To The Alarming Vaping Illness
Lauren Weber
Without the teamwork, communication and quick action of several veteran health officials in Wisconsin, the world might not know about the vaping illness the U.S. is battling today. This is their story.
Taking The Cops Out Of Mental Health-Related 911 Rescues
LJ Dawson
Denver is considering adopting a new 911 alternative used in Eugene, Ore., that allows mental health and medical professionals, not police officers, to respond to some emergency calls, saving money and de-escalating situations with mentally ill people.
States Target Vaping With Bans. In California, The Action Is Local.
Ana B. Ibarra
Several states have adopted bans on vaping products, but California isn’t going that far. Instead, cities and counties in the Golden State are stepping in to prohibit the sale of flavored tobacco products within their jurisdictions — or ban the sale of e-cigarettes altogether.
‘We Vape, We Vote’: How Vaping Crackdowns Are Politicizing Vapers
Rachel Bluth and Lauren Weber
In response to the crackdowns on vaping, those who use or sell the e-cigarette products are mobilizing. Touting the “We Vape, We Vote” slogan, this burgeoning movement is positioning itself to be a factor in 2020 elections.