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☆ Cyberattack on a Chicago children’s hospital has shut down its systems for a week
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-06 | by ( Sara Smart | Andy Rose | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —A children’s hospital in Chicago is still trying to restore its computer systems nearly a week after a cybersecurity incident prompted it to shut down its network. Lurie Children’s Hospital says the outage has affected email, phones and some other electronic systems. The hospital remains operational, but it said the outage has made scheduling, accessing medical records and prescription history difficult for patients and staff. Lurie has not given any details on the nature of the cybersecurity incident or whether a ransom has been demanded for full access to its systems. Late last week, Lurie established a call center for clients who are unable to reach the hospital through their regular phone number or electronic messaging systems.

Persons: Lurie Children’s, “, ” Lurie, Lurie, Andy Bernstein, Linda Burt, Andrea Palm, Sean Lyngaas Organizations: CNN, Lurie, Lurie Children’s Hospital, WLS, Ardent Health Services, Department of Health, Human Services Locations: Chicago, Illinois, St, Margaret’s, Spring Valley , Illinois, East Texas, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Tennessee, America, “

☆ US Government Sends Initial Offers for Medicare Drug Price Cuts
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-01 | by ( Feb. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

(Reuters) - The Biden administration is sending drugmakers opening offers for the U.S. Medicare program's first ever price negotiations on Thursday, the White House said in a statement. President Joe Biden's signature Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) allows Medicare, which covers 66 million Americans mostly aged 65 and older, to negotiate prices for some of its most costly drugs. The initial offers have been sent to manufacturers of 10 high-cost medicines, which include Bristol Myers Squibb and Pfizer's blood thinner Eliquis, Merck & Co's diabetes drug Januvia and Johnson & Johnson's blood thinner Xarelto. The HHS and White House did not disclose details on the offers. (Reporting by Urvi Dugar and Sriparna Roy in Bengaluru; Editing by Toby Chopra and Sriraj Kalluvila)

Persons: Biden, Medicare program's, Joe Biden's, Januvia, Johnson, Urvi Dugar, Sriparna Roy, Toby Chopra, Sriraj Organizations: Reuters, U.S, Medicare, U.S . Department of Health, Human Services, Bristol Myers Squibb, Merck, HHS, White Locations: Bengaluru

Leaders from government, the arts, academia and philanthropy gathered in Washington for “Healing, Bridging, Thriving: A Summit on Arts and Culture in our Communities." Panel discussions focused on turning to the arts and humanities to solve challenges, from improving health to bridging divides. HHS and the NEA have a long history of working together to improve health using the arts, including through music, Becerra said. That's through painting, that's through food, that's through performances and music,” Lowe said in an interview before the summit. “They're so tied together it's hard to separate the two.”Biden's executive order said the arts, humanities and museum and library services are essential to the well-being, health, vitality and democracy of the nation.

Persons: Tanden, ” Maria Rosario Jackson, Renee Fleming, Anna Deavere Smith, Doug Emhoff, Kamala Harris, Radhika Fox, Jackson, Xavier Becerra, Becerra, Biden, NEH, Shelly Lowe, ” Lowe, ”, ” Biden Organizations: WASHINGTON, Environmental Protection Agency, Arts and Culture, Democratic, Associated Press, NEA, EPA's, Water, Health, Human Services, HHS, National Endowment, Humanities, United, White Locations: United States, Washington, Seattle , New Mexico, Puerto Rico, Philadelphia, Boston, York, New Jersey, Culture, America

☆ Big pharma is at a crossroads, as J&J, Merck and others prepare to lose heaps of revenue from blockbuster drugs
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-28 | by ( Annika Kim Constantino | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +12 min

Bristol Myers Squibb's Eliquis is a blood thinner used to prevent clotting, to reduce the risk of stroke. Bristol Myers Squibb's Opdivo is an immunotherapy used to treat cancers, including melanoma and lung cancer. Investors will get updates on Merck and Bristol Myers Squibb's plans for the years ahead when they report earnings on Thursday and Friday, respectively. That's unlike generics, which are cheaper copycats of small-molecule drugs like Bristol Myers Squibb's Eliquis. Bristol Myers Squibb is also testing a new form of Opdivo, which is currently administered into a patient's veins.

Persons: Johnson, William Blair, Matt Phipps, Bristol Myers, Johnson's, Merck's Keytruda, J's Stelara, Opdivo, Phipps, biosimilars, Eliquis, Biosimilars, Humira, JB Reed, Samsung's, Piper Sandler, Christopher Raymond, AbbVie, Raymond, Chris Schott, Schott, Robert Davis, Keytruda, Davis, JPMorgan's Schott, Bristol Myers Squibb, George Frey, J, Amgen, J confidentially, Mike Perrone, It's, Anna Moneymaker Organizations: New York Stock Exchange, Johnson, NYSE Big, Bristol Myers Squibb, Merck, Biden, William Blair & Company, CNBC, Guggenheim, Bristol, Leerink Partners, Bloomberg, Getty, Bioepis, JPMorgan, JPMorgan Health Care, Moderna, Bristol Myers, Karuna Therapeutics, Hardy, Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah, Reuters, Teva Pharmaceuticals, Pharma, U.S . Department of Health, Human Services Locations: drugmakers, EY, Europe, U.S, Cambridge , Massachusetts, Arda, EY's Americas, Bristol, Salt Lake City , Utah, Washington , DC

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris will share the stage on Tuesday in Virginia as they campaign for abortion rights, a top issue for Democrats in an election expected to feature a rematch with Donald Trump, the former Republican president. Biden and Harris will be joined by their spouses, first lady Jill Biden and second gentleman Doug Emhoff. Harris was in Wisconsin in Monday to mark the 51st anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the U.S. Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion nationwide. “In Texas, you are forced to carry that pregnancy, and that is because of Donald Trump overturning Roe v. Wade,” Dennard said. Although he is a longtime supporter of abortion rights, he mentions the issue less often and sometimes avoids using the word abortion even when he discusses the issue.

Persons: Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, Donald Trump, Biden, Harris, Jill Biden, Doug Emhoff, Roe, Wade, Trump, “, ” Harris, ”, Austin Dennard, ” Dennard, there's, they've, Nikki Haley, Ron DeSantis, ” Trump, Jamal Simmons, ” Simmons, Amanda Seitz Organizations: WASHINGTON, Republican, U.S, Supreme, OB, Labor, of Health, Human Services, Associated Press, South, Gov, Fox News Locations: Virginia, Wisconsin, America, Texas, “ In Texas, Roe, Oklahoma, South Carolina

On the 51st anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the Supreme Court case that enshrined a woman’s right to an abortion, Biden and Harris announced new rules and guidance about contraceptives and abortion and a national tour by Harris to call attention to the issue. Biden and Harris, as well as Democrats down the ticket are positioning themselves as the protectors of abortion rights and casting the Dobbs decision that left abortion access to the states as harmful to women. And Democrats have seen a series of victories in races and credit their position on abortion rights with getting voters to the polls. But, ballot measures to ensure abortion rights were passed in California, Michigan, Vermont while voters in Kansas, Kentucky and Montana voted down proposals that would have rolled back protections. Democrats hope the issue will propel Biden and Harris to victory in 2024.

Persons: Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, Roe, Wade, Biden, Harris, Xavier Becerra, Dobbs, ” Biden, “, Donald Trump Organizations: Democratic, Affordable, of Health, Human Services, Labor, Republican Locations: Ohio, Kentucky, Michigan, Kansas, California, California , Michigan , Vermont, Kansas , Kentucky, Montana, Wisconsin

☆ US House Committee says China delayed releasing COVID-19 information for weeks and lied about sharing it immediately
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-19 | by ( Matthew Loh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

China had a gene sequence of COVID-19 weeks before sharing it with the world, US lawmakers said. AdvertisementChina likely obtained COVID-19's first known gene sequence weeks before publicly releasing it, contrary to Beijing's claim that it immediately shared the information, the US House Energy & Commerce Committee said on Wednesday. Related storiesThe committee said this contradicted China's repeated claims that it released the gene sequence as soon as it obtained the information. The House committee said this example shows that China has been forthcoming with sharing vital medical information for fighting COVID-19. AdvertisementThe committee also raised concerns that the NIH had received a COVID-19 gene sequence but "apparently had no idea."

Persons: —, Lili Ren, Ren, China's, Biden, Cathy McMorris Rodgers, Morgan Griffith, Brett Guthrie Organizations: Service, US, Energy, Commerce, National Institutes of Health, EcoHealth Alliance, of Health, Human Services, World Health Organization, CCP, NIH, HHS, Energy & Commerce Committee, Oversight, Rep Locations: China, Washington, Virginia, Brett Guthrie of Kentucky, Washington , DC

WASHINGTON (AP) — In a new twist to the fight over abortion access, congressional Republicans are trying to block a Biden administration spending rule that they say will cut off millions of dollars to anti-abortion counseling centers. The rule would prohibit states from sending federal funds earmarked for needy Americans to so-called “crisis pregnancy centers,” which counsel against abortions. The proposal limiting funds for anti-abortion counseling centers is the Biden administration's latest attempt to introduce federal policies that expand abortion access. Political Cartoons View All 253 ImagesCongressional Republicans this week introduced legislation that would block the Health and Human Services Agency from restricting the funds from the centers. The plan would restrict how states use the money for college scholarships and child care, for example.

Persons: Darin LaHood, Chelsey Youman, Youman, ” Youman Organizations: WASHINGTON, Biden, Human Services, Conservative, Supreme, Human Services Agency, ” Republican, Associated Press, Democratic, Human Coalition, HHS Locations: U.S, Illinois, Georgia , Ohio, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Texas, Louisiana, Indiana, Mississippi

download the appSign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. In a 15-second video released to YouTube on Wednesday night, President Joe Biden promised the move would lower prices. It's the latest health policy pitch from a White House gearing up to make its efforts to tackle drug prices a central theme in next year's reelection campaign. Pharmaceutical companies have pushed back on the idea that prices alone are enough for Washington to act against a drug's patent. The plan could threaten future drugs, according to the pharmaceutical lobbying firm Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, or PhRMA.

Persons: —, Biden, Joe Biden, Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, Amy Klobuchar, Neera Tanden, Megan Van Etten, William Pierce, George W, Pierce Organizations: Service, Business, YouTube, White, Medicare, Health, Human Services, Pharmaceutical, Pharmaceutical Research, Manufacturers of America, HHS Locations: WASHINGTON, Sens, Minnesota, Washington

☆ Cannabis 'legalization is inevitable,' says policy analyst—what to know before you invest
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-28 | by ( Ryan Ermey | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Cannabis stocks aren't the only ones that were riding high in early 2021. Those changes have yet to come on a federal level, and dimming enthusiasm from investors, among other factors, has led to a major slide in pot stocks. The AdvisorShares Pure US Cannabis ETF, which holds U.S.-based cannabis companies, currently trades for $6.80 a share, down from nearly $52 in February 2021. But for experts in the space, the question surrounding cannabis legalization (and a subsequent boom in the industry) isn't if, but when. "Legalization of cannabis is inevitable," says Jaret Seiberg, a policy analyst at TD Cowen.

Persons: Jaret Seiberg, Cowen, Brady Cobb, Mike Johnson's ascendency, Johnson, Cobb, Joe Biden, Jason Wild Organizations: Democratic, Cannabis ETF, Department of Health, Human Services, Bloomberg, HHS, Drug Enforcement Agency, JW Asset Management Locations: Ohio, Massachusetts

☆ Idaho asks US Supreme Court to allow near-total abortion ban
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-27 | by ( John Kruzel | Companies Need To Integrate Climate Reporting Across Functions To Comply With California S New Law | Henry Engler | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The sun sets on the U.S. Supreme Court building after a stormy day in Washington, U.S., November 11, 2022. Idaho's Republican attorney general and top Republican state lawmakers in court papers told the Supreme Court that Winmill's ruling has permitted "an ongoing violation of both Idaho's sovereignty and its traditional police power over medical practice." Winmill that month agreed, blocking the Idaho law from being enforced in cases of abortions needed to avoid putting the woman's health in "serious jeopardy" or risking "serious impairment to bodily functions." Circuit Court of Appeals in September agreed to let Idaho enforce its ban amid an appeal. But the full 9th Circuit this month reversed the panel's ruling, granting the Biden administration's request to block the Idaho law while the appeal proceeds.

Persons: Leah Millis, Joe Biden's, District Judge B, Lynn Winmill's, Wade, Roe, Biden, James Wesley Hendrix, preliminarily, John Kruzel, Will Dunham Organizations: U.S, Supreme, REUTERS, Rights, Monday, Republican, Democratic, District Judge, Defense, U.S . Department of Health, Human Services, Labor, Biden, Circuit, Appeals, District, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, Idaho, In Idaho, U.S, San Francisco, Texas, New Orleans

REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein/Illustration Acquire Licensing RightsWASHINGTON, Nov 20 (Reuters) - The U.S. government on Monday will start taking orders for another round of free COVID-19 tests for delivery across the country, a Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) spokesperson said. Households that had ordered four free tests through COVIDTests.gov when they were offered again in September are eligible to order four more, while those that did not can submit two orders for a total of eight free tests. It resumed offering the tests in December 2022 as cases were surging, and opened another round of orders on Sept. 25 this year. The tests are paid for using COVID-19 supplemental funding from the American Rescue Plan, the HHS spokesperson said. HHS and the Department of Education plan to expand a program that brings tests to schools nationwide over the coming weeks.

Persons: Evelyn Hockstein, Joe Biden's, Biden, Ahmed Aboulenein, Bill Berkrot Organizations: District of Columbia, REUTERS, Rights, U.S, of Health, Human Services, Centers for Disease Control, Prevention, American, HHS, Department of, Thomson

Political Cartoons View All 1244 Images“They ask questions but they don’t tell us what is going on,” Hawkins said of CMS. If trends continue, as many as 30 million people could end up being dropped from Medicaid once states finish reviewing their Medicaid rolls, according to Avalere's projections. The numbers dwarf the Biden administration’s initial projections that only 15 million people would lose coverage throughout the process. “We have to say it’s going poorly,” Massey Whorley, a principal at Avalere, said of the Medicaid redeterminations. Some Texas lawmakers have asked CMS to investigate issues in the state, where nearly 1 million have lost Medicaid.

Persons: Biden, Avalere, ”, Trevor Hawkins, Hawkins, “, ” Hawkins, they’ve, Xavier Becerra, Daniel Tsai, Tsai, Lily Mezquita, Mezquita, ” Massey Whorley, I’ve, Gavin Lesnick, Lesnick, Lynn Hearn, Hearn, We’ve, we’ve, ” Hearn, Mallory McManus, Cassidy Estes, Rogers, didn't, Estes, Graciela Camarena, Camarena, Jennifer Ruffcorn, Jennifer Wagner, ___ Hunter, Robert Wood Johnson Organizations: WASHINGTON, Medicaid, Legal Aid, Centers, Medicare, Services, CMS, Democratic, Human Services, HHS, CMS Center, Children’s Health Insurance, Biden, AP, state's Department of Human Services, Florida Health Justice, Florida Department of Children, Charlotte Center, Legal, Children's Defense Fund, Texas, Texas Health, Center, Budget, Associated Press Health, Science Department, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Locations: Florida, Arkansas, Texas, Miami , Florida, Avalere, North Carolina, Atlanta

The government has been overseeing distribution of the treatments, alongside vaccines and tests, but has transferring that work to traditional commercial channels. Commercial ordering for the treatments is set to start on Nov. 1. Returns will begin on Nov. 15, the official said, and will be accepted through the end of the year. The government is recommending returns start in December enough time for the establishment of patient assistance programs and securing of commercially-labeled doses. Reporting by Ahmed Aboulenein Editing by Marguerita ChoyOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Lagevrio, Ahmed Aboulenein, Marguerita Choy Organizations: U.S, Pfizer, Paxlovid, U.S . Department of Health, Human Services, Thomson Locations: U.S

☆ US Shifting COVID Antivirals to Commercial Market on Nov. 1
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-27 | by ( Oct. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

The government has been overseeing distribution of the treatments, alongside vaccines and tests, but has transferring that work to traditional commercial channels. Commercial ordering for the treatments is set to start on Nov. 1. The U.S. government paid around $530 per course for Paxlovid, the most commonly prescribed at home COVID-19 treatment in the country, and made it available at no cost. Returns will begin on Nov. 15, the official said, and will be accepted through the end of the year. The government is recommending returns start in December enough time for the establishment of patient assistance programs and securing of commercially-labeled doses.

Persons: Ahmed Aboulenein WASHINGTON, Lagevrio, Ahmed Aboulenein, Marguerita Choy Organizations: U.S, Pfizer, Paxlovid, U.S . Department of Health, Human Services Locations: U.S

☆ 6 troubling questions about the Corizon bankruptcy deal
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-26 | by ( Dakin Campbell | Nicole Einbinder | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +20 min

The bankruptcy of prison health provider Corizon has faced pressure from senators and a federal regulator in recent weeks. Other troubling questions surrounding the bankruptcy involve payments to insiders, "dishonest" testimony, and a secret data breach. The other company, Tehum, was saddled with most of Corizon's liabilities and, in February, filed for bankruptcy. AdvertisementAdvertisementNine US senators have written to Corizon successor companies Tehum Care Services and YesCare demanding answers about Corizon's efforts to "manipulate bankruptcy law." AdvertisementAdvertisementLefkowitz repeatedly said under oath during a June creditor call that he didn't know who owned Geneva Consulting — the company Corizon paid $5.5 million.

Persons: Corizon, —, Christopher Lopez, David Jones, Elizabeth Freeman, YesCare, Jones, Tehum, Judge Jones, Freeman, Ian Cross, Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders, Cory Booker, Dick Durbin, Lopez, they're, Kevin Eckhardt, Hector Garcia Jr, Hector Garcia, Belen Lowery, Garcia's, Jeff Sholey, Isaac Lefkowitz, Lefkowitz, Sara Tirschwell, Jeffrey Scott King, Ayodeji, Michelle Rice, Jennifer Finger, Sholey, Edward Janger, Janger, he's, didn't, Geneva, Russell Perry, Baker, Hostetler, Tehum's, Tracey Grissom, Grissom, Julia Tutwiler, Roman, Sannikov, CISA, Tehum hadn't, What's, it's Organizations: Service, Tehum Care Services, Justice Department, Corizon, Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation, Geneva Consulting, Tehum, University of Missouri Health Care, Brooklyn Law School, Geneva, Genesis Healthcare, Department, US, Court, Southern, Southern District of, Baker, FBI, Infrastructure Security Agency, of Health, Human, CISA, HHS, HIPAA, Women Locations: Houston, Texas, YesCare, Reorg, New Mexico, Corizon, Geneva, Southern District, Southern District of Texas, Alabama, Wetumpka , Alabama, Rivers, bitcoin, Tehum

“We are suing to stop the federal government from playing politics with the health of Tennessee women,” Skrmetti said in a statement. In 2021, the Biden administration reversed a ban on abortion referrals by clinics that accept Title X funds. Under the latest rule, clinics cannot use federal family planning money to pay for abortions, but they must offer information about abortion at the patient's request. Then, last year, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, allowing many Republican-led states like Tennessee to impose abortion bans. Tennessee has increasingly called for rejecting federal funding rather than comply with requirements over LGBTQ+ rights, abortion access and other hot-button issues.

Persons: —, Jonathan Skrmetti, ” Skrmetti, Biden, Donald Trump, Roe, Wade, Bill Lee, ” Organizations: U.S . Department of Health, Human Services, U.S, Supreme, Republican, HHS, Tennessee, Republican Gov, Volunteer State Locations: Tenn, U.S, Knoxville, Tennessee, United States

The U.S. government in May ended the COVID public health emergency declaration during which it bought the shots and provided them to all Americans for free. In the current privatized system, health insurance plans by law must cover the shots at no cost. McKesson (MCK.N), one of the largest U.S. wholesalers, said it has distributed over 3.8 million shots so far. "Health insurance providers continue to educate Americans about where and how to get their COVID vaccines within their plan’s coverage," David Allen, a spokesperson for insurance lobby group AHIP said. Now that the government is no longer footing the bill for their vaccine supply, pharmacy owners need to pay for the shots.

Persons: Kate MacDowell, MacDowell, Kaiser, David Allen, AHIP, David Kohll, James Daily, he's, Suzanne Berman, Michael Erman, Ahmed Aboulenein, Caroline Humer, Bill Berkrot Organizations: Pfizer, U.S . Department of Health, Human Services, Kaiser Permanente, COVID, Moderna, CVS, Walmart, Walgreens, Walgreens Boots Alliance, Cardinal Health, Reuters, Kohll's Pharmacy, Thomson Locations: WASHINGTON, U.S, Portland , Oregon, Oregon, California, Nebraska, Readington , New Jersey, Crossville , Tennessee, New York, Washington

Advocates for comprehensive sex education say the restrictions in early education may prevent kids from getting age-appropriate foundational knowledge that they build on each year, said Alison Macklin, director of policy and advocacy at the progressive sex education organization SIECUS. To comply with the new law in Kentucky, for example, the state’s education agency advised schools eliminate fifth-grade lessons on puberty and reproductive body parts. Twenty-eight states require sex education, and 35 require HIV education, according to tracking by the Guttmacher Institute, a research group that supports abortion rights. Massachusetts, for example, recently announced new sexual health education guidelines, which were last updated in 1999. She remembers just one optional day of sex education in middle school.

Persons: Anne, Marie Amies Oelschlager, Alison Macklin, “, Macklin, aren't, ”, David Walls, Kathleen Ethier, Ethier, don’t, ” Ethier, Hope Crenshaw, aren’t, ” Crenshaw, Kayla Smith, ” Smith, Holly Ramer, Rebecca Boone Organizations: DES, Republican, Seattle Children's Hospital, The, Foundation, Guttmacher Institute, U.S . Centers for Disease Control, U.S . Department of Health, Human Services, Public Health, HHS, New, PREP, CDC’s, Adolescent, School Health, CDC, Teen Health Mississippi, University of Mississippi, Associated Press Locations: DES MOINES, Iowa, Seattle, Indiana, Arkansas, In Kentucky, Florida, Kentucky, ”, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Alabama, Colorado , Florida , Idaho , Iowa, South Carolina, Tampa, Orlando, Jacksonville, Miami, agency’s, Mississippi, U.S, Concord , New Hampshire, Boise , Idaho

☆ About 4 mln Americans got their updated COVID vaccines in Sept.
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

[1/2] An exterior view of the United States Health and Human Services Building on C Street Soutwest in Washington, U.S., July 29, 2019. REUTERS/Tom Brenner/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsOct 4 (Reuters) - Around 4 million Americans received the updated COVID-19 vaccines in September, according to a spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, even as some have found it difficult to book appointments or pay for the vaccines. "The Biden-Harris Administration, through HHS, has been working directly with manufacturers and distributors to ensure that the vaccines are getting to pharmacies, hospitals, clinics, and other vaccination sites, including long-term care facilities as quickly as possible," the spokesperson said in an emailed statement. Reporting by Michael ErmanOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Tom Brenner, Harris, Michael Erman Organizations: United States Health, Human, REUTERS, U.S . Department of Health, Human Services, Biden, Harris Administration, HHS, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S

☆ The Biden administration is negotiating lower prices for 10 medications with drug manufacturers
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-04 | by ( Noah Sheidlower | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

AdvertisementAdvertisementThe Biden administration announced Tuesday it is beginning talks with drug makers behind 10 expensive medications to lower prices for recipients of Medicare, the national health insurance program for older Americans and people with disability status. The negotiations are expected to last until 2024, with the lower prices expected to go into effect in 2026. The Congressional Budget Office "estimated that price negotiation will lower average drug prices paid by Medicare and will reduce the budget deficit by $25 billion in 2031." "Negotiating provides us a critical tool to ensure they get those prescription drugs at lower prices – just as the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has done for years." AdvertisementAdvertisementThe Biden administration has recently taken aim at high drug prices and high profits at pharmaceutical companies.

Persons: —, Biden, Juliette Cubanski, Harris, Xavier Becerra, Jardiance, Eli Lilly Organizations: Service, Congressional, Medicare, Biden, Harris Administration, Human Services, U.S . Department of Veterans Affairs, HHS, Centers, Services

☆ About 4 Million Americans Got Their Updated COVID Vaccines in Sept
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-04 | by ( Oct. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: 1 min

(Reuters) - Around 4 million Americans received the updated COVID-19 vaccines in September, according to a spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, even as some have found it difficult to book appointments or pay for the vaccines. "The Biden-Harris Administration, through HHS, has been working directly with manufacturers and distributors to ensure that the vaccines are getting to pharmacies, hospitals, clinics, and other vaccination sites, including long-term care facilities as quickly as possible," the spokesperson said in an emailed statement.

Persons: Harris Organizations: Reuters, U.S . Department of Health, Human Services, Biden, Harris Administration, HHS

REUTERS/Erica Dischino/ File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSept 27 (Reuters) - A U.S. Senate committee on Wednesday voted to advance a marijuana banking bill, raising hopes for the cash-dependent cannabis sector to get access to regular banking services. The Secure and Fair Enforcement Regulation Banking Act (SAFER) bill, introduced by a bipartisan group of senators last week, will now move to the Senate floor. Shares of SNDL (SNDL.O), Trulieve Cannabis (TRUL.CD), Cronos Group (CRON.TO), rose between 1% and 3% following the vote. An earlier version of the bill, the SAFE Banking Act, had failed to secure a Senate vote despite the House of Representatives passing it seven times. "Realizing this first vote out of the Senate signals strong bipartisan support from both chambers of Congress," said Trulieve CEO Kim Rivers.

Persons: Erica Dischino, Kim Rivers, Arunima Kumar, Sourasis Bose, Sriraj Organizations: Red, REUTERS, U.S, Cronos, Cannabis ETF, Holdings, SAFE, U.S . Department of Health, Human Services, Drug Enforcement Agency, Thomson Locations: Red Lake, Red Lake , Minnesota, U.S, Bengaluru

☆ US government restarts delivery of free COVID tests
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

People walk next to coronavirus disease (COVID-19) testing sites in New York City, New York, U.S., December 12, 2022. REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz/File photo Acquire Licensing RightsSept 20 (Reuters) - The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) said on Wednesday it will deliver COVID-19 tests for free to households across the country. Beginning Sept. 25, households will again be able to order four free tests through COVIDTests.gov, the health agency said, adding that the tests can detect currently circulating COVID-19 variants and are intended for use through the end of 2023. HHS also announced an investment of $600 million in 12 domestic COVID-19 test manufacturers. Reporting by Mariam Sunny and Seher Dareen in Bengaluru; Editing by Shounak DasguptaOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Eduardo Munoz, Mariam Sunny, Seher, Shounak Dasgupta Organizations: REUTERS, U.S . Department of Health, Human Services, HHS, Thomson Locations: New York City , New York, U.S, Bengaluru

Twelve manufacturers that employ hundreds of people in seven states have been awarded funding and will produce 200 million over-the-counter tests to replenish federal stockpiles for government use, in addition to producing enough tests to meet demand for tests ordered online, the department said. Federal officials said that will help guard against supply chain issues that sparked some shortages of at-home COVID tests made overseas during past surges in coronavirus cases. Political Cartoons View All 1171 ImagesThe tests are designed to detect COVID variants currently circulating, and are intended for use by the end of the year. Postal Service provided more than 755 million tests for free to homes nationwide. O’Connell said manufacturers would be able to spread out the 200 million tests they will produce for federal use over 18 months.

Persons: —, Dawn O’Connell, ” O'Connell, Grandma, O’Connell, “ We’ve, COVID’s, O'Connell, there’s, “ we’re, “, Xavier Becerra, Biden, Harris, Becerra Organizations: WASHINGTON, Biden, of Health, Human Services, United States Postal Service, Federal, HHS, U.S . Postal Service, Harris Administration Locations: U.S

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