Health Headlines for Tuesday, April 26
New York Insurers to Change Coverage of Hepatitis C Drugs
Wall Street Journal
Seven health-insurance companies in New York will change their criteria for covering costly drugs that cure chronic hepatitis C under the terms of agreements with the office of State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman.
Advisers to F.D.A. Vote Against Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy Drug
New York Times
In a confrontation between the hopes of desperate patients and clinical trial data, advisers to the Food and Drug Administration voted on Monday not to recommend approval of what would become the first drug for Duchenne muscular dystrophy.
Nearly 1 in 3 ER visits might be unnecessary, Excellus says
Observer Dispatch
In her years as an emergency room doctor, Dr. Juleen Qandah also saw patients with ingrown toenails, toothaches, ordinary upper respiratory infections and other ailments that clearly did not require the resources of an emergency room, she said.
New report on city hospitals filled with familiar ideas
Capital New York
Among the ideas in a de Blasio administration report set to be released Tuesday on ways the city could put NYC Health + Hospitals on sounder financial ground: New York City should use vacant space on public hospital campuses to create more affordable housing.
Feds issue new standards for Medicaid insurance plans
Albany Times Union
The Obama administration Monday set new standards for Medicaid private insurance plans, which in recent years have become the main source of coverage for low-income people.
The Real Reasons Behind UnitedHealth’s Move to Exit Obamacare
Albany Times Union/Motley Fool
After reporting first-quarter financial results that were better than industry watchers’ expectations, UnitedHealth Group revealed plans to stop offering policies on the Obamacare insurance exchanges in most states next year.