Pharma & Tech: April 21, 2022
Why Cheap, Older Drugs That Might Treat Covid Never Get Out of the Lab
Arthur Allen
The hydroxychloroquine and ivermectin fiascoes have soured many doctors on repurposing drugs for covid. A few inexpensive old drugs may be as good as some of the new antivirals, but they face complex obstacles to get to patients.
Better Ventilation Can Prevent Covid Spread. But Are Companies Paying Attention?
Liz Szabo
The research is clear that improving indoor air quality is an essential tool in stemming the spread of covid and a host of other diseases. But companies have to be willing to invest.
Attendance Plummets at LA Covid Vaccination Events
Heidi de Marco
Across Los Angeles County, few people are showing up at covid vaccination drives even though nearly 2 million residents remain unvaccinated.
Why Black and Hispanic Seniors Are Left With a Less Powerful Flu Vaccine
Arthur Allen
Federal health officials haven’t taken a clear position on whether a high-dose influenza vaccine — on the market since 2010 — is the best choice for people 65 and older. Many in that group already opt for the costlier enhanced shot. Those who get the standard vaccine are disproportionately members of ethnic and racial minorities.
A Shortfall of ECMO Treatment Cost Lives During the Delta Surge
Blake Farmer, Nashville Public Radio
About 50% of the covid-19 patients who got the last-ditch life support treatment at Vanderbilt University Medical Center died. Researchers wanted to know what happened to the many patients they had to turn away because ECMO (extracorporeal membrane oxygenation) machines and the specialized staffers needed were in short supply. The grim answer: 90% of those turned away perished.
How the Test-to-Treat Pillar of the US Covid Strategy Is Failing Patients
Hannah Recht
The federal “test-to-treat” program was designed to be a one-stop shop for people to get tested for covid and to receive treatment. But as covid cases rise again, many communities have no participating locations, and website bugs make it difficult to book an appointment at the biggest participant.
Colorado Moves Toward Statewide Coverage of Wastewater Surveillance
John Daley, Colorado Public Radio
Colorado was among the first states to embrace wastewater testing to track the coronavirus, an important public heath intervention that can give early warning of outbreaks.
California Handed Its Medicaid Drug Program to One Company. Then Came a Corporate Takeover.
Samantha Young
The company awarded the state’s Medi-Cal Rx contract was taken over by another company, Centene. That left the state with a contractor it didn’t pick — one that has been accused of overbilling nine other state Medicaid programs and is now under investigation by California.
Battle Lines Are Drawn Over California Deal With Kaiser Permanente
Bernard J. Wolfson
A controversial proposal to grant HMO giant Kaiser Permanente a no-bid statewide Medicaid contract is headed for its first legislative hearing amid vocal opposition from a coalition of counties, competing health plans, community clinics, and a national health care labor union.
Who Doesn’t Text in 2022? Most State Medicaid Programs
Phil Galewitz
As states prepare for the end of the covid public health emergency, they are making plans to reevaluate each Medicaid enrollee’s eligibility. They will rely primarily on mail and email because not many states can text enrollees.
Tech Glitches at One VA Site Raise Concerns About a Nationwide Rollout
Darius Tahir
The more than $16 billion, decade-long effort by the Department of Veterans Affairs was designed to provide seamless electronic health records for patients from enlistment in the military past discharge.
Big Pharma Is Betting on Bigger Political Ambitions From Sen. Tim Scott
Rachana Pradhan and Victoria Knight
The South Carolina senator led the congressional pack in pharma campaign contributions for the second half of 2021. There are clear reasons.
Pharma Cash to Congress
Elizabeth Lucas and KFF Health News Staff
A KFF Health News database tracks campaign donations from drugmakers over the past 10 years.
Despite Doctors’ Concerns, Pharmacists Get More Leeway to Offer Treatment With Testing
Michelle Andrews
In the battle against covid, pharmacies became a key place for consumers to seek vaccines and testing. Some states are expanding pharmacists’ work to include directly prescribing drugs for customers who seek some routine, point-of-care tests, such as those for flu or strep throat. But doctor groups oppose the move.
At a Tennessee Crossroads, Two Pharmacies, a Monkey, and Millions of Pills
Brett Kelman
Prosecutors say opioid-seeking patients drove hours to get their prescriptions filled in Celina, Tennessee, where pharmacies ignored signs of substance misuse and paid cash — or “monkey bucks” — to keep customers coming back.
Abortion Clinic on Texas-Mexico Border Faces Unique Legal and Cultural Challenges
Colleen DeGuzman
Just as Texas has tightened its laws surrounding abortion, Mexico has gone the opposite direction, compelling people to seek potentially less-safe procedures south of the border.
Insulin Copay Cap Passes House Hurdle, But Senate Looks for a Broader Bill
Michael McAuliff
Sens. Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) are seeking to craft a compromise that members from both parties could accept. Their plan, still being ironed out, would not guarantee a specific limit on out-of-pocket costs but seeks to roll back insulin prices by barring rebate payments to pharmacy benefit managers.
A Travel Nurse Leaves Fears of Hospital Drug Tampering Across Three States
Brett Kelman
Kentucky nurse Jacqueline Brewster is accused of tampering with opioids in Tennessee and West Virginia, possibly contaminating drugs given to hospital patients.
Why Nurses Are Raging and Quitting After the RaDonda Vaught Verdict
Brett Kelman and Hannah Norman
The former Tennessee nurse faces prison time for a fatal error. Reaction from her peers was swift and fierce on social media and beyond ― and it isn’t over.
Heartbeat-Tracking Technology Raises Patients’ and Doctors’ Worries
Darius Tahir
As Google joins Apple in adding heart rhythm sensors to wearable devices, and millions of people gain access to alerts that flag when their hearts might have skipped a beat, cardiologists are wondering what to do with all the information.
Readers and Tweeters Sound Alarm Over Nurse’s Homicide Trial
KHN gives readers a chance to comment on a recent batch of stories.
KHN’s ‘What the Health?’: Finally, a Fix for the ‘Family Glitch’
President Joe Biden welcomed former President Barack Obama back to the White House this week to announce a new policy for the Affordable Care Act that would make subsidies available to more families with unaffordable employer coverage. Meanwhile, Congress struggled to find a compromise for continued federal funding of covid-19 vaccines, testing, and treatments. Tami Luhby of CNN, Shefali Luthra of The 19th, and Jessie Hellmann of CQ Roll Call join KHN’s Julie Rovner to discuss these issues and more.
Journalist Puts in a Plug for Better Sleep Cycles During the Pandemic
KHN and California Healthline staff made the rounds on national and local media this week to discuss their stories. Here’s a collection of their appearances.
Journalists Discuss Insulin Costs and Ethical Questions Surrounding a North Carolina Rehab Program
KHN staff made the rounds on national and local media this week to discuss their stories. Here’s a collection of their appearances.
Por qué adultos mayores de minorías no reciben la vacuna de alta dosis contra la gripe
Arthur Allen
Esta vacuna reforzada contra la influenza, podría ser más efectiva contra el virus, pero es más costosa. Y no suele estar disponible para las poblaciones más vulnerables.