The number of prescriptions filled by adults using Medicaid rose 19% in states that expanded Medicaid compared to states that did not under the Affordable Care Act, according to a new study from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. The largest increases were for drugs that help patients deal with chronic conditions, including […]
Capitol Hill
Short of votes, Trumpcare bill is withdrawn
Republican leaders in the US House of Representatives today withdrew the GOP-backed Trumpcare bill, which aimed to begin dismantling and replacing Obamacare, due to a shortage of votes. A vote on the measure was planned after Trump cut off negotiations with Republicans who had balked at the plan and issued an ultimatum to vote on […]
Drug importation bills aim to improve access, lower costs for Americans
Members of the U.S. House and Senate have introduced bills that would allow Americans to import prescription drugs from Canada in an attempt to increase accessibility and lower the cost of drugs. Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont), Cory Booker (D-N.J.) and Bob Casey (D-Penn.) introduced the “Affordable and Safe Prescription Drug Importation Act” at the end […]
Trump’s pick for FDA chief faces questions over ties to drug industry
Although President Donald Trump’s nominee for FDA commissioner has won approval from lawmakers across the aisle, he is facing questions from consumer watchdog Public Citizen over his ties to the drug industry that will likely arise during his confirmation hearings. The Medical Device Manufacturer Association has voiced its approval for Scott Gottlieb, saying “Dr. Gottlieb is a […]
Senate confirms Verma to head CMS as debate intensifies over Obamacare replacement
The U.S. Senate voted yesterday 55-43 to confirm Seema Verma to head the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Verma is the founder & CEO of SVC Inc, a healthcare consulting firm, and worked with now-Vice President Mike Pence when he was governor of Indiana to redesign the state’s Medicaid program. Get the full story […]
Trump calls for speedier approval process, while Sanders takes aim at drug prices
In his 1st address to Congress, President Donald Trump called for speeding up drug approvals within the FDA. Earlier that day, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) proposed a bill to allow the importation of prescription drugs from Canada in the hopes of lowering drug prices. The new administration has been critical of drug prices, with Trump saying that […]
Democratic senators float bill to protect ‘scientific integrity’
Sen. Bill Nelson (D-Fla.) introduced a bill this week that aims to protect and promote ‘scientific integrity’. The legislation builds on policies from former President Barack Obama’s 2009 executive order, which required federal agencies to define how they planned to safeguard scientific integrity. The bill, which has 27 co-signers and has been referred to the Committee […]
Senators question Kaleo over pricey opioid overdose device
In a letter signed by 30 U.S. senators, Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Missouri) asked Kaleo Pharmaceutical to explain the 550% price hike for its Evzio opioid overdose device. The company’s product, which Kaleo sold for $690 in 2014, is priced at $4,500. Evzio is a naloxone auto-injector designed to reverse the effects of an opioid overdose. It can […]
Senate confirms Price as HHS chief
The Senate confirmed Rep. Tom Price (R-Ga.) to head the Health & Humans Services Dept. in a 52-47 vote early this morning. No Democratic senator voted to support the new administration’s nominee, but he was passed through in the Republican-majority Senate. Democrats spent hours last night protesting his confirmation, pushing the vote until 2 A.M. […]
Sens. Sanders, Cruz talk drug pricing, Obamacare in town hall debate
Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) and Ted Cruz (R-Texas) met last night to debate the future of Obamacare in a town-hall debate. The 2 senators are opposed on how to provide health care coverage to Americans, but found common ground on drug pricing and pharmaceutical importation. Sanders and Cruz agreed that people should be able to […]
