Health Headlines for Friday, March 30
Walmart in Early-Stage Acquisition Talks With Humana
Wall Street Journal
Walmart Inc. is in preliminary talks to buy insurer Humana Inc., according to people familiar with the matter, a deal that would mark a dramatic shift for the retail behemoth and the latest in a recent flurry of big deals in health-care services.
Senators say major budget issues still unsettled
Politico
Republican state senators emerged from a private budget huddle saying there are still outstanding issues regarding revenue from a health insurance conversion, taking guns from people accused of domestic violence and policies sought by New York City.
CDC Director Pledges to Bring Opioid Epidemic ‘To Its Knees’
US News
The new director of the top U.S. public health agency on Thursday pledged to work to bring the nation’s opioid epidemic “to its knees” and said he believes the AIDS epidemic could be ended in three to seven years.
Diabetes Now Affects 23 Million U.S. Adults
US News
The latest tally of Americans adults affected by diabetes finds more than 23 million struggle with the blood sugar disease.
Painkiller overuse spikes during cold and flu season
Reuters
A growing number of people are taking high doses of the painkiller acetaminophen, and many take so much during cold and flu season that they run the risk of liver and kidney damage, two studies suggest.