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“I do not believe that a civilized society can claim to be a leader in the world as long as its government continues to sanction the premeditated and discriminatory execution of its people,” Gov. Gavin Newsom plans to say. Newsom also cited cost and racial disparities as reasons for his decision.
From The State Capitols: Organ Donations; Short-Term Health Care; Rural Hospitals And More
News from the state legislatures comes out of Kansas, Maryland, Arizona, Texas, Ohio, Connecticut and Georgia.
Total Measles Cases So Far Hits 228, Putting Country On Track To Surpass Previous Record Years
The outbreaks have garnered much national attention, and have put a harsh spotlight on the antivaccination movement.
Families say the decision to retrieve the sperm of a loved one should be left to them, while doctors and ethicisits worry about the wide-ranging moral complications of starting a life that would otherwise not exist if not for medical technology. In other public health news: eating out while being overweight, medical devices, mental health, parenting, the immune system, infant tongue-ties, exercising, and more.
“That fact that you could be paying 2.5 times more for the same healthcare services in San Jose than in Baltimore suggests there is a lot of variation in prices across the country,” said Bill Johnson, lead author of the report. Meanwhile, Humana launches a bundled-payment model for some Medicare Advantage members.
Although Purdue Pharma has gotten much of the heat for its role in the opioid crisis, new court documents out of the Oklahoma trial put Johnson & Johnson front and center as well. The company acted as a “kingpin behind the public-health emergency, profiting at every stage,’’ lawyers for Oklahoma Attorney General Mike Hunter said in a February state court document. Other news on the epidemic comes out of Maryland, Delaware, Rhode Island and California, as well.
Federal Appeals Court Backs Ohio Anti-Abortion Law That Defunds Planned Parenthood
An earlier U.S. district court ruling had agreed with Planned Parenthood that denying the organization funding if it continued to perform abortions violated its right to due process. In his opinion Tuesday, Judge Jeffrey Sutton rejected the contention that the Ohio law imposes an unconstitutional condition on public funding. In other news on abortions, House Democrats eye a bill that would repeal a ban on abortion coverage in programs like Medicaid.
Pharmacy benefit managers typically negotiate rebates from pharmaceutical companies to help offset the high initial prices set for many drugs. But those discounts rarely flow directly to consumers. The rebate system has come under intense scrutiny as of late as lawmakers take aim at high drug prices and pharma companies point the blame elsewhere. Meanwhile, the Senate Finance Committee plans to call executives from five pharmacy benefit managers–the middlemen who operate within the rebate system–to testify in front of Congress next month.
The decision, announced by the operators of Heartland Human Care Services, comes as another agency, Maryville Academy, plans to open two additional shelters, including one as early as next month. Heartland officials plan to move children out of its four shelters in Des Plaines between now and the end of May. Meanwhile, the Pentagon is reviewing military bases as possible locations to hold up to 5,000 immigrant children.
Entrenched, Sexist Culture At Many Veterans Hospitals Impeding Female Veterans From Seeking Care
Veterans are dismayed that they’re being harassed when all they’re trying to do is get health care. At a recent hearing with veterans agency officials, Rep. John Carter (R-Texas) summed up the treatment of female constituents trying to obtain VA health care: “It’s like a construction site.” In other news on veterans and the military: personalized medication regimens, a former VA secretary’s new job, transgender rules for troops, and the high level of suicide among returning soldiers.
Rear Adm. Michael Weahkee reassured lawmakers on the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs that he was taking steps to find and fix breadowns in the agency that allowed Stanley Patrick Weber to continue seeing IHS patients for years after he was accused of sexual abuse. Weahkee added that recent scrutiny of the agency and new efforts to encourage employees have unearthed other possible cases.
HHS Secretary Alex Azar faced four hours of questioning at a congressional hearing fending off criticism of President Donald Trump’s proposed budget, which was released yesterday. The plan that drew the most heat was the president’s desire to replace the current open-ended federal commitment to Medicaid with a lump sum of federal money for each state in the form of a block grant, a measure that would essentially cap payments and would not keep pace with rising health care costs. Azar refused to completely rule out the possibility of allowing states to move in that direction. Trump’s proposed Medicare cuts also drew fire from lawmakers.
Director Of NIH’s Cancer Center Tapped As Acting FDA Chief Following Gottlieb’s Surprise Resignation
Dr. Norman E. (Ned) Sharpless’ work as the director of the National Cancer Institute has focused on the relationship between aging and cancer, and the development of new treatments for melanoma, lung cancer and breast cancer. Although Sharpless has been mentioned as a possible successor to departing FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, HHS Secretary Alex Azar said this is a temporary appointment and the search for a permanent commissioner is underway.
Read recent commentaries about drug-cost issues.
Hospitals Jumping At The Chance To Provide Miracle Drugs, But With That Comes Financial Uncertainty
News outlets report on stories related to pharmaceutical pricing.
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Opinion writers express views on health policies.
Media outlets report on news from Texas, Illinois, Arizona, New Hampshire, New York, California, Massachusetts, Florida, New Hampshire and Ohio.
