Health Headlines for Friday, April 15
New York state sues CDPHP, alleging insurer restricted coverage of Hepatitis C treatment
Albany Business Review
New York state Attorney General Eric Schneiderman is suing health insurer CDPHP, alleging the health insurer illegally restricted treatment coverage for Hepatitis C.
88 people at University of Rochester fall ill in norovirus outbreak
Syracuse Post Standard
Officials say nearly 90 people at a private university in western New York have fallen ill with symptoms linked to norovirus.
Niagara Falls cardiac facility receives final approvals
Buffalo Business First
State health regulators have delivered a highly anticipated approval that will pave the way for Niagara County’s first cardiac catheterization laboratory.
U.S. Drug Spending Climbs
Wall Street Journal
Total spending on prescription drugs in the U.S. rose 12.2% to nearly $425 billion in 2015, continuing a steep climb fueled by the introduction in recent years of expensive new drugs for cancer and infections, as well as price hikes for older drugs, according to a new report.
This Pill Delivery Startup Is Going To War With An Industry Giant
Buzz Feed News
Between Uber taking on taxi cabs and Airbnb seeking to disrupt the hospitality industry, disputes between startups and entrenched corporations are exceedingly common these days.
Valeant calls in investment banks to weigh options, sources say
The Globe and Mail
Valeant Pharmaceuticals International Inc. has brought in investment banks to review its options amid interest from buyout firms and other companies in a number of its businesses, according to people familiar with the matter.
Blog: How the N.Y. insurance market foreshadows problems with the GOP’s reform plans
Modern Healthcare
In New York, out-of-state insurers that cannot be regulated by the state are grabbing market share from regulated in-state insurers by charging lower premiums and cherrypicking lower-risk customers.
Health Officials Split Over Advice on Pregnancy in Zika Areas
New York Times
As the Zika virus bears down on the United States, federal health officials are divided over a politically and ethically charged question: Should they advise American women to delay pregnancy in areas where the virus is circulating?
Report: US medicine spending up 8.5 percent 2015
Albany Times Union
U.S. spending on prescription drugs rose 8.5 percent last year, slightly less than in 2014, driven mainly by growing use of ultra-expensive new drugs and price hikes on other medicines.