Health Headlines for Friday, July 13

Trump health chief defends suspending ObamaCare payments

The Hill

The Trump administration is bound by a federal court decision to suspend billions of dollars in ObamaCare payments, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Administrator Seema Verma said Thursday.

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House panel advances bill that would temporarily halt ObamaCare’s employer mandate

The Hill

The House Ways and Means Committee on Thursday approved legislation that would chip away at ObamaCare, including a measure that would temporarily repeal the law’s employer mandate.

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U.S. DoJ will not challenge Aetna-CVS deal: report

Reuters

Shares of CVS Health Corp (CVS.N) and health insurer Aetna Inc (AET.N) rose more than 2 percent on Thursday after CNBC reported that the U.S. Justice Department will not challenge their planned merger.

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NY makes it easier to swap prescription opioids for medical marijuana

Syracuse Post Standard

New York is making it easier for patients who use prescription opioids to replace those painkillers with medical marijuana.

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FDA to more aggressively tackle disruptive drug shortages

Associated Press

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said Thursday it wants to more aggressively fight medication shortages that have led to rationing of some drugs and disrupted patient care.

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