Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Viewpoints: Examining The Link Between Opioids And Medicaid; Putting The Squeeze On ACA Navigators
Forty-one state attorneys general are investigating drug manufacturers and distributors for fanning the opioid epidemic; several have already sued. The allegation is that Big Pharma used deceptive marketing to hook millions of Americans on prescription painkillers, which served as gateway drugs to more potent opioids like heroin and fentanyl. (Allysia Finley, 9/24)
As another iteration of Trumpcare rears its ugly, untenable head in Washington, like a zombie that just won鈥檛 go down, the administration has found another, more insidious way of attacking the Affordable Care Act. Just last week, the Department of Health and Human Services announced massive funding cuts to the Navigator program. (Emily Mills, 9/22)
Years ago, Congress constructed a well-intentioned program to help certain hospitals and select community and disease-specific health clinics control their prescription drug costs. ... Unfortunately, good ideas sometimes go awry, and that鈥檚 the case with this program, called 340B. It鈥檚 having a negative impact on cancer care provided locally in Cincinnati, across Ohio, and across the country. (Randolph Broun, 9/23)
The U.S. Congress has put the health of millions at risk with its counterproductive attempts to gut Medicaid. The changes being proposed will move America鈥檚 health care system, and our entire economy, in a dangerous and harmful direction, phasing out Medicaid coverage for millions of Americans and threatening the viability of the Medicaid system through underfunded per capita allotments. (Christine Tomcala, 9/24)
Dozens of Republican incumbents in the Ohio House also may face May 8 primary races next year to retain their seats. Those facts help explain why Taylor and the House GOP caucus are suffering a relapse of Obamacare-phobia -- partly (or largely) out of fear of Republican primary opponents who may seize on Ohio's expansion of Medicaid, made possible under Obamacare, to pummel GOP incumbents.That's self-defeating and wrong. (9/23)