Health Headlines for Wednesday, March 14

Skepticism over benefits sinks Trump-backed drug bill in House

Politico

House Republicans’ bid to lift the hopes of terminally ill patients failed in an unexpectedly tight vote Tuesday night.

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Why Is U.S. Health Care So Expensive? Some of the Reasons You’ve Heard Turn Out to Be Myths

New York Times

Maybe the United States health care system isn’t that bizarre after all.

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Opponents Say Cuomo’s Opioid Tax Will Cost Patients

WSHU

Governor Andrew Cuomo wants to impose a tax on manufacturers of prescription opioids to help pay for state programs that help people who are addicted to them. But some say it will be patients who will ultimately have to pay the price.

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State health department expands online tool

Rome Sentinel

The New York State Department of Health today announced that the NYS Provider and Health Plan Look-Up tool has been expanded to include provider network information for more than 100 additional commercial health insurance products approved in the state, making information more easily accessible to millions of additional New Yorkers enrolled in these products.

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Proposed Bill Could Affect Prescription Prices in New York

WENY

The New York legislature has passed a bill preventing clawbacks and gag orders, two practices that have been questioned in the midst of rising prices of prescription drugs. The bill now heads to the desk of Governor Andrew Cuomo.

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Single-payer’s SALT problem

Empire Center

A statewide single-payer health plan that passed the Assembly three years in a row is due to make its annual stop at the chamber’s Health Committee on Tuesday morning.

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