Health Headlines for Thursday, October 6
Theranos Closes Blood-Testing Labs to Focus on New Product
Bloomberg
Embattled startup Theranos Inc. will close its blood-testing labs and fire about 340 workers, shifting its focus to an experimental technology following months of run-ins with regulators and questions about whether its existing products work.
Health department submits latest defense of sodium rule
Politico
The city’s health department submitted its latest defense of new sodium regulation on Wednesday, arguing that the rule empowers consumers to make healthier choices by avoiding certain menu items that Board of Health officials believe increase the risk of cardiovascular disease.
Secret Rebates: Why Patients Pay $600 for Drugs That Cost $300
Bloomberg
Robyn Curtis, a staff adviser at the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg, has a 13-year-old daughter with diabetes. Each month, the girl’s insulin pump requires three vials of NovoLog-brand insulin, which cost $890 under her plan, Curtis says. Her daughter’s insurance has a $2,600 deductible.
UnitedHealth Accused of Gouging Customers on Prescription Drugs
Bloomberg
Some UnitedHealth Group Inc. customers claim the health insurer defrauded them by setting up a system that secretly overcharged for prescription drugs.
Health Affairs editor Alan Weil on shaping the policy debate
Soundcloud
Health Affairs is one of the most important platforms in health care.
The two mysteries of Medicare
The Incidental Economist
A growing proportion of Medicare beneficiaries are opting out of the government-run insurance program.
Novartis to pay $35 million to settle charges of illegally promoting a drug for infants
Stat News
Novartis has agreed to pay $35 million to settle charges of illegally promoting a prescription skin cream for use with infants and toddlers.
Counterfeits Kill: Stronger Law Enforcement Needed
RealClear Health
When one thinks of counterfeit goods, it can conjure up images of customers being duped into buying inferior quality designer bags or other fashion knockoffs.