Jun 07 FTC begins inquiry into pharmacy benefit manager practices By Tom Murphy, Associated Press The Federal Trade Commission is starting an inquiry into the operations of pharmacy benefit managers who control access to prescription drugs for millions of Americans. Continue reading
Sep 09 Report from Senate Democrats says Postal Service changes delay prescription drugs By Matthew Daly, Anthony Izaguirre, Associated Press Delivery of mail-order prescription drugs was delayed significantly this summer after the new postmaster general ordered major changes in U.S. Postal Service operations. Continue reading
Jan 09 California could be 1st state to sell its own prescription drugs By Adam Beam, Associated Press The Democratic governor wants the nation's most populous state to contract with generic drug companies to make medications on its behalf so it could sell them to its nearly 40 million residents. Continue reading
Jan 08 Watch 9:25 How a growing trove of genetic data is informing medical breakthroughs By Miles O'Brien Individualized medicine, in which treatments are customized based on a patient’s unique DNA, is a rising field. Along with an ever-expanding genetic database, it offers tantalizing promise for solving some of medicine's most daunting challenges. But individualized medicine also carries… Continue watching
Dec 06 Senators urge Medicare to let seniors to change drug plans over inaccurate info By Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar, Associated Press Medicare revamped its online plan finder this year and the senators said they've gotten numerous complaints from people in their states about inaccurate information on drug pricing and coverage. Continue reading
Sep 25 Private insurers are improperly rejecting Medicare drug claims, watchdog finds By Philip Moeller Insurers initially rejected about 84 million prescription drug coverage claims made under Medicare Part D that should have been approved, a government report found. Continue reading
Jun 24 Watch 5:59 Trump pushes for new transparency with health care prices — but will it lower them? Uncertainty around the costs of prescription drugs and health care in general is worrying Americans. A recent study found that one in six were surprised by a medical bill from a hospital treatment in 2017. On Monday, President Trump issued… Continue watching
Apr 17 Dozens of medical professionals charged in illegal prescription opioid crackdown By Dan Sewell, Associated Press It's what federal authorities are calling the biggest known takedown yet of drug prescribers, which includes 31 doctors charged for their roles in illegally prescribing and distributing millions of pills containing opioids and other dangerous drugs. Continue reading
Feb 01 Watch 9:24 Sec. Azar on how new proposal ‘brings transparency’ to drug pricing A new rule bans pharmaceutical companies from providing rebates to middlemen and insurers in exchange for choosing their drugs. Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar also called on Congress to pass a new prescription drug discount plan that would… Continue watching
Oct 13 In public, lawmakers scold drug distributors. Come campaign season, they accept their cash willingly By Lev Facher, STAT Two of the three largest distributors are on pace to exceed their campaign donations from 2016 — a notable increase. Continue reading