Health Headlines for Tuesday, December 6
Global prescription drug spend seen at $1.5 trillion in 2021: report
Reuters
Global spending on prescription medicines will reach nearly $1.5 trillion by 2021, although the annual rate of growth will decrease from recent years, according to a forecast by Quintiles IMS Holding released on Tuesday.
U.S. attorneys argue Aetna-Humana deal violates antitrust law
Reuters
A U.S. Justice Department attorney told a federal judge on Monday that health insurer Aetna Inc’s planned acquisition of Humana Inc would break antitrust law by reducing competition in Medicare Advantage and Obamacare exchange businesses, kicking off a trial expected to last weeks.
A New Low for Cigarette Smoking
New York Times
For the first time since record keeping began 50 years ago, the number of Americans who smoke cigarettes has dropped below 40 million.
New York slowly expanding medical marijuana program
silive.com
As Staten Island’s neighbor to the south weighs legalizing recreational marijuana, New York’s own medical marijuana program slowly expands to the comprehensive system that state Sen. Diane Savino envisioned when she proposed her bill so thousands of sick people could access a drug that the federal government maintains has no accepted medical use.
Paul Ryan: Obamacare phaseout will leave ‘no one worse off’
USA Today
House Speaker Paul Ryan said Monday he envisions an extended transition from Obamacare that ensures “no one is worse off” after Congress votes to repeal the program.