Health Headlines for Tuesday, September 18

Study: Upstate uninsured rate remains at historic low

The Post

The health insurance uninsured rate in upstate New York continued to hold at 4 percent while the state’s uninsured rate hit its lowest level in history, according to an Excellus BlueCross BlueShield analysis of the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2017 American Community Survey.

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GOP, Dems unite behind Senate bill fighting addictive drugs

Associated Press

Republicans and Democrats joined forces to speed legislation combating the misuse of opioids and other addictive drugs through Senate passage Monday, a rare campaign-season show of unity against a growing and deadly health care crisis.

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Cigna deal gets antitrust nod, positive sign for CVS/Aetna

Reuters

Health insurer Cigna Corp’s (CI.N) $52 billion acquisition of pharmacy benefits manager Express Scripts Holding Co has passed U.S. antitrust scrutiny, the companies said on Monday, allowing them to proceed with a combination they say will lead to lower costs by better coordinating pharmacy and medical benefits.

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