Health Programs Could Be Stranded By Government Shutdown

The threat of a government shutdown is hanging over Capitol Hill. But so is the realization that gridlock could claim an array of health programs that are due to sunset at the end of the month without congressional action. Who’s affected: Key health interests potentially have billions of dollars of funding on the line, from community ...

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Save Billions or Stick With Humira? Drug Brokers Steer Americans to the Costly Choice

Tennessee last year spent $48 million on a single drug, Humira — about $62,000 for each of the 775 patients who were covered by its employee health insurance program and receiving the treatment. So when nine Humira knockoffs, known as biosimilars, hit the market for as little as $995 a month, the opportunity for savings ...

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Apple A Day — And 4 Other Great Fall Food Choices That Are Healthy, Delicious And Fun

The fall festivals that lie ahead this year not only serve up festive fun — they also serve up some healthy and delicious dishes for everyone. Autumn is a wonderful time of year to take advantage of fresh produce that can provide essential vitamins and health benefits, medical experts advise. “Fall is a great time to ...

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As More Patients Email Doctors, Health Systems Start Charging Fees

Meg Bakewell, who has cancer and cancer-related heart disease, sometimes emails her primary care physician, oncologist, and cardiologist asking them for medical advice when she experiences urgent symptoms such as pain or shortness of breath. But she was a little surprised when, for the first time, she got a bill — a $13 copay — ...

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Proposed $35 Price Cap On Insulin Heads To Gov. Gavin Newsom’s Desk

A proposal by a Bay Area lawmaker that would cap the cost of insulin to $35 is heading to Gov. Gavin Newsom’s desk after being unanimously approved by state legislators. Senate Bill 90 by State Sen. Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) passed the Assembly with a 63-0 vote and the State Senate on a 39-0 vote. The ...

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When You Think About Your Health, Don’t Forget Your Eyes

I vividly remember that late Friday afternoon when my eye pressure spiked and I staggered on foot to my ophthalmologist’s office as the rapidly thickening fog in my field of vision shrouded passing cars and traffic lights. The office was already closed, but the whole eye care team was there waiting for me. One of ...

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Low-Income Seniors Report Deceptive Medicare Marketing: Study

Seniors are becoming increasingly overburdened by marketing efforts from private Medicare plans, and low-income beneficiaries are twice as likely to file complaints regarding fraudulent phone calls compared to high-income counterparts, according to a study from The Commonwealth Fund. The study found that 22% of low-income adults report receiving fraudulent calls, while just 10% of higher-income individuals report ...

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California Health Care Tax Proponents Go To The Ballot

The coalition that secured a $36 billion tax deal to pump more money into Medi-Cal wants to make it harder for future administrations to spend that revenue elsewhere. The Coalition to Protect Access to Care — an amalgam of monied health care interests that includes representatives for doctors, hospitals, health plans and other key players ...

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U.S. FDA Authorizes Pfizer-BioNTech And Moderna’s Updated COVID Shots

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Monday authorized updated COVID-19 vaccines from Pfizer (PFE.N)/BioNTech (22UAy.DE) and Moderna (MRNA.O) that target a recently circulating Omicron variant of the coronavirus, paving the way for the launch later this week of a fall vaccination campaign.

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‘Dr. Google’ Meets Its Match: Dr. ChatGPT

As a fourth-year ophthalmology resident at Emory University School of Medicine, Riley Lyons’ biggest responsibilities include triage: When a patient comes in with an eye-related complaint, Lyons must make an immediate assessment of its urgency. He often finds patients have already turned to “Dr. Google.” Online, Lyons said, they are likely to find that “any ...

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