Health Headlines for Thursday, April 26

New Medicaid director embraces dual role

Politico (subscription required)

When Donna Frescatore took over as the state’s new Medicaid director earlier this month, she certainly didn’t need to introduce herself to New York’s health care community

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New York state bill tracker: Senate passes drug take-back act, Assembly passes 15 measures

Politico (subscription required)

The Assembly passed 15 bills Wednesday and the state Senate passed five measures to wrap up a week punctuated by special elections to fill legislative vacancies.

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Drug copay groups: Critical public charities or fronts for drug makers?

Lohud

Copayment assistance groups created to help patients with rising prescription drug prices are under investigation by federal authorities for possibly skewing the cost of health care to favor drug companies.

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U.S. cannot cut teen pregnancy prevention grants : federal judge

Reuters

A federal judge has blocked U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration from terminating grant funding for teen pregnancy prevention programs run by affiliates of Planned Parenthood, saying the decision was arbitrary.

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Commentary: Canada’s Health Care Is Abysmal. Why Would We Copy It?

Fortune

Americans have come down with single-payer fever. A whole 59% now back a national health plan, according to a March 2018 Kaiser Health Tracking Poll—way up from the 33% reported by the Pew Research Center in summer 2017.

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