Drugs Archives - Page 30 of 66

KHN’s ‘What the Health?’: 2020 in Review — It Wasn’t All COVID

The coronavirus pandemic colored just about everything in 2020. But there was other health policy news that you either never heard or might have forgotten about: the Affordable Care Act going before the Supreme Court with its survival on the line; ditto for Medicaid work requirements. And a surprise ending to the “surprise bill” saga. Joanne Kenen of Politico, Anna Edney of Bloomberg News and Sarah Karlin-Smith of Pink Sheet join KHN’s Julie Rovner to discuss these issues and more.

Dec. 23, 2020

COVID-19

At Risk of Extinction, Black-Footed Ferrets Get Experimental COVID Vaccine

Months before federal officials authorized experimental vaccines to ward off the coronavirus in humans, scientists tried a veterinary vaccine in endangered ferrets. Drugmakers are researching similar efforts for other animals proving vulnerable to the virus, such as farmed minks, in part to guard against virus mutations that could pose new risks to people.

By JoNel Aleccia

Dec. 23, 2020

COVID-19

Inside the First Chaotic Days of the Effort to Vaccinate America

After missteps in Washington, each state and county is left to juggle where to send vaccines first and how to get them to each nursing home, hospital local health department and even school.

By Rachana Pradhan, Lauren Weber, and Jay Hancock

Dec. 22, 2020

COVID-19

Supply Is Limited and Distribution Uncertain as COVID Vaccine Rolls Out

Hospitals and nursing homes must decide who gets the initial doses as the U.S. heads into the biggest vaccination effort in history. There’s a lot left to figure out.

By Julie Appleby

Dec. 11, 2020

COVID-19

Farmworkers, Firefighters and Flight Attendants Jockey for Vaccine Priority

Everyone — from toilet paper manufacturers to patient advocates — is lobbying state advisory boards, arguing their members are essential, vulnerable or both — and, thus, most deserving of an early vaccine.

By Rachel Bluth and Phil Galewitz

Dec. 11, 2020

COVID-19

Demand for COVID Vaccines Expected to Get Heated — And Fast

With two vaccines against coronavirus disease poised for release within weeks, experts say they expect attitudes to shift dramatically from hesitancy to “Beanie Baby”-level urgency.

By JoNel Aleccia

Dec. 7, 2020

Feds Look to Pharmacists to Boost Childhood Immunization Rates

Fears over COVID-19 have contributed to a slump in inoculations among children. Now the federal government is looking to pharmacists for help, but many of them do not participate in a program that offers free shots to half the kids in the U.S.

By Carmen Heredia Rodriguez

Dec. 3, 2020

COVID-19

During ACA Open Enrollment, Picking a Plan Invites New COVID Complications

COVID-19’s “long haulers” — patients with lingering effects of the disease — have joined the ranks of Americans with preexisting conditions. For those shopping for health coverage on the individual market, here’s help navigating an uncharted insurance landscape.

By Julie Appleby

Dec. 3, 2020

How COVID-19 Highlights the Uncertainty of Medical Testing

Widespread COVID testing has revealed uncomfortable truths about medical tests: A test result is rarely a definitive answer, but instead a single clue. A result may be falsely positive or negative, or it may show an abnormality that doesn’t matter. And as COVID testing has made too clear, even an accurate, meaningful result is useless unless it’s acted on appropriately.

By Ishani Ganguli

Dec. 1, 2020

COVID-19

How Pharma Money Colors Operation Warp Speed’s Quest to Defeat COVID

A Trump administration maneuver allows executives who are leading the federal effort to keep investments in drug companies that would benefit from the pandemic response.

By Rachana Pradhan

Nov. 30, 2020

New Legal Push Aims to Speed Magic Mushrooms to Dying Patients

A proposal in Washington state would use right-to-try laws to allow terminally ill patients access to psilocybin — the famed magic mushrooms of America’s psychedelic ’60s — to ease depression and anxiety.

By JoNel Aleccia

Nov. 24, 2020

Surprise Federal Drug Rule Directs Insurers to Reveal What They Pay for Prescription Drugs

A provision the Trump administration tucked into its final rule on health plan price transparency requires telling consumers what they will pay out-of-pocket for drugs and showing them what the plan paid.

By Harris Meyer

Nov. 19, 2020

COVID-19

Government-Funded Scientists Laid the Groundwork for Billion-Dollar Vaccines

Drugmakers will walk away with massive profits, but much of the pioneering work on mRNA vaccines was done with government money.

By Arthur Allen

Nov. 18, 2020

Patients Struggle to Find Prescription Opioids After NY Tax Drives Out Suppliers

The tax was touted as a way to generate funding for treatment programs across the state. But to avoid paying, scores of manufacturers and wholesalers stopped selling opioids in New York.

By Anastassia Gliadkovskaya

Nov. 17, 2020

COVID-19

Time to Discuss Potentially Unpleasant Side Effects of COVID Shots? Scientists Say Yes.

From the likelihood of achy, flu-like side effects to the need for two doses, weeks apart, consumers need to know now what to expect when vaccines to prevent COVID-19 roll out.

By JoNel Aleccia and Liz Szabo

Nov. 12, 2020

COVID-19

Five Important Questions About Pfizer’s COVID-19 Vaccine

The drugmaker says its mRNA vaccine worked in 90% of patients in its trial, but some observers question how long immunity will last and who will benefit.

By Arthur Allen

Nov. 11, 2020

COVID-19

Search for a Snakebite Drug Might Lead to a COVID Treatment, Too

Human clinical trials are scheduled for a drug that could prevent some of the 100,000-plus deaths from snakebites worldwide each year. The same drug may also help people suffering from COVID-related acute respiratory distress.

By Jim Robbins

Nov. 9, 2020

COVID-19

VA Joins Pentagon in Recruiting Volunteers for COVID Vaccine Trials

The Department of Veterans Affairs hopes to enroll 8,000 people in advanced-stage trials of four leading vaccine candidates. The Defense Department earlier announced plans to enlist 3,000 volunteers in trials.

By Patricia Kime

Nov. 6, 2020

A $200 Debit Card Won’t Do Much for Seniors’ Drug Costs

President Donald Trump wants to send seniors $200 apiece. Beyond the legal and logistical problems, health care experts point out it does little to help someone with even typical prescription costs.

By Harris Meyer

Oct. 30, 2020