Health Headlines for Thursday, September 8
Bill to Battle EpiPen Price Gauging
Time Warner Cable News
The sudden price hike for EpiPens continues to make headlines, as federal and state lawmakers try to figure out a) why the cost increase happened in the first place and b) what can be done to prevent future price gauging.
Hoosick Falls hearing turns into 5-hour grilling for state officials
Politico
Wednesday’s hearing on Hoosick Falls and water pollution issues turned into a five-hour grilling of state health commissioner Dr. Howard Zucker and other officials who organized the state’s response to the crisis.
State dissolves troubled disability provider
Albany Times Union
With almost no publicity, the state Office for People With Developmental Disabilities and Attorney General Eric Schneiderman’s office have shut down a large Brooklyn-based center that provides housing, rehabilitation and health care for developmentally disabled people.
For the first time ever, America’s uninsured rate has fallen below 9 percent
Vox
Fewer Americans are uninsured than ever before, new federal data shows.
Another piece of Obamacare falls short
Politico
An Obamacare provision designed to inject a protective extra layer of competition into fledgling insurance markets fell into near-oblivion — and its failure has made Obamacare’s mounting challenges even more acute.
Syracuse doctor fined $10,000 over improper prescribing
Syracuse Post Standard
A Central New York doctor accused of violating drug prescription laws has been fined $10,000 by the state.
WCA Hospital plans $23M expansion
Buffalo Business First
WCA Hospital has filed plans for a $23 million expansion, putting to rest worries about diluted care or diminished services that might follow a merger with Pennsylvania’s largest health system.