Health Headlines for Friday, June 16

Secrecy Surrounding Senate Health Bill Raises Alarms in Both Parties

New York Times

As they draft legislation to repeal the Affordable Care Act, Senate Republican leaders are aiming to transform large sections of the American health care system without a single hearing on their bill and without a formal, open drafting session.

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Senate may keep some Obamacare taxes in U.S. healthcare overhaul

Reuters

Republican senators trying to repeal Obamacare are forming consensus to keep some of the U.S. healthcare law’s taxes they long criticized, in hopes of delaying more drastic funding cuts, particularly to the Medicaid program for the poor and disabled.

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Have You Had Difficulty Paying for or Obtaining Prescriptions?

New York Times

In recent months, anger over rising drug costs set off a civil war within the pharmaceutical industry, pitting drug makers against other players in the health care system, including the little-known pharmacy benefits managers that negotiate with drug makers on behalf of insurers, large employers and government health programs.

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Schenectady County Suing Big Drug Companies

Spectrum News

Schenectady County is going toe-to-toe with Big Pharma.

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E-cigarette use among youth drops for 1st time in 6 years

USA Today

E-cigarette use among youth dropped for the first time in six years, driving a significant decrease in overall tobacco consumption among middle and high school students, according to a survey published Thursday.

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