The Trump Administration is poised to make a settlement with Purdue Pharma that it can claim as a victory for opioid victims. But the proposed outcome would leave the company’s owners enormously wealthy—and off the hook for good. More
The president said at Tuesday’s debate that he lowered insulin prices. That’s not true — and, for some, the drug’s expense is a fatal barrier. More
Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, hospice's new H Word is Hero! Stripped of the illusion of security, the public sees the immediate and enduring value of palliative care, home health care, nursing home care, and hospice. More
Enormous drug company profits are the primary driver of soaring prescription drug prices in America, according to a damning investigation that Democrats on the House Oversight Committee began releasing Wednesday. More
The UMass Memorial HealthAlliance-Clinton Hospital campus in Leominster leads the state in the new Lown Institute Hospitals Index, a ranking of 3,300 hospitals and 300 hospital systems launched this summer. “It’s not necessarily the usual suspects that you’re going to find at the top of these rankings,” said Shannon Brownlee, the institute’s senior vice president. Lown Institute President Dr. Vikas Saini said the index is meant to help shape a discussion around health-care quality and unearth new ideas, rather than serve as a shopping guide for consumers. More
“Our study shows that there are evidence gaps that the FDA needs to address in approving new opioids,” said study co-author Thomas Moore. More
To restore public trust in the FDA's response to the Covid-19 pandemic, it needs to recommit to transparency and promote accountability. More
Experts say lives and safety are at stake as public attention wanes More
When the Lown Institute, a nonpartisan research group focused on health policy, put out a ranking of U.S. hospitals earlier this year based on criteria including civic engagement, the Cleveland Clinic was way down on the list. The organizers gave it a D- for its civic work and its relationship with the community. More
Staffed in part by associates of a longtime GOP operative, the ad campaign includes CeCe Winans, Dennis Quaid and others pushing an optimistic line about coronavirus. More
A recent set of best practices on billing from a hospital industry group was hailed as promoting racial equity-- but does it go far enough for patients? More
The administration calls Moncef Slaoui, who leads its vaccine race, a “contractor” to sidestep rules against personally profiting from government positions. Slaoui owns $10 million in stock of a company working with his team to develop a vaccine. More
While insulin is the poster child for outrageous prescription costs, patients are paying ever more to treat depression, asthma, HIV, cholesterol and more. More
The gap between rates set for private insurers and employers vs. those by the federal government stirs the debate over a government-run health plan. More
In a letter to the drug maker, the state treasurers warn that prices “disconnected from market forces will ultimately backfire." More
"There are many well-paid lawyers whose job it is to figure out what this hospital did, but in a way that passes legal muster," he said. "If you're complying with the letter of the law but violating the spirit of the law, what good is that? There is a soft creeping corruption in these arrangements all over the country." Dealmaking of this type is symptomatic of profit-driven healthcare, Saini said: "We have a system in which hospitals really have to compete for revenue and high-margin business because we treat them like a normal business. But healthcare is not a normal economic activity. There is a fundamental disconnect here." More
The CARES Act lets out-of-network providers set their own prices for COVID-19 diagnostic and antibody tests. A new study finds that has resulted in a wide range of charges. More
The substantial rise of private equity investment in women's health and fertility clinics comes with unknown implications. More
Studies show that at least half of ground ambulance rides across the nation leave patients with “surprise” medical bills. And a $300-a-mile ride is not unusual. More
Wealthier health systems might be generating a margin treating COVID-19 patients, while others are losing money. Policy experts urge HHS to consider that divide when allocating remaining grant money from the CARES Act. More