Happy Friday! Ending a week in which I鈥檝e been wondering if we all have been dropped into the first act of a supervillain movie since the news that has seemingly spread from Cuba into China.
Here鈥檚 some other whodunits 鈥� health policy thrillers, right? 鈥� for this three-day weekend.
Lawmakers were busy: Ahead of Memorial Day, the Senate sent a bill that would overhaul the VA health system and expand the Choice Program to President Donald Trump. While the legislation sailed through the chambers, critics say it鈥檚 too drastic a move toward privatized care, a hot-button topic that鈥檚 not going anywhere soon (especially with the Koch brothers鈥� billions behind it). On the other side of the building, the House approved a 鈥渞ight-to-try鈥� bill (鈥� coincidentally also backed by the Koch brothers 鈥� ), reviving the measure that had stuttered over the past few months.
Consider: $685 billion a year. That鈥檚 what it costs taxpayers to make health care affordable for Americans, and the price tag is expected to nearly double in the next decade. So, while some Republicans are refusing to touch a fresh attempt at repeal with a 10-foot pole this close to the midterms, others are trying to reclaim the topic that鈥檚 clearly going to be at the top of voters鈥� minds. High premium increases loom large in the next few months as each side races to control the conversation.
And, for what it鈥檚 worth, despite Republicans鈥� attempts to chip away at the health law, the uninsured rate held pretty steady last year.
Requiring pharma companies to list their drugs鈥� prices in ads seems like a simple request. As with most things in the dark and confusing labyrinth that is the drug-cost pipeline, though, it鈥檚 a bit more complicated. The proposal, which is part of Trump鈥檚 blueprint to lower prices, at first seemed like an idle threat. But HHS Secretary Alex Azar keeps bringing it up. Companies are getting nervous, and are left asking 鈥� would the rule even be legal?
Adding work requirements to states鈥� Medicaid programs may be the hot new trend, but a new report聽shows that it will cost states and the government tens of millions of dollars. And despite garnering savings in the long-run, that money will come entirely from people losing coverage and access to care. On the flip side of things, red states are getting a serious reality check on just how far they can go with changes to their programs.
The miscellaneous file is bursting with must-read stories, so it鈥檚 lucky there鈥檚 an extra day in the weekend to fit them all in: Patients addicted to opioids were promised free rehab but were instead put to work 16 hours a day for no pay at adult care homes changing diapers and dispensing medication; some new mothers in China are being forced to pay their medical bills before they鈥檙e allowed to see their babies; depression medication, insulin and birth control are ending up in our rivers and streams from poor wastewater disposal practices; scientists are on tenterhooks as they watch the effectiveness of the new Ebola vaccine play out in real time; and a captivating profile surfaced on a doctor who has been accused of聽putting his quest to make history ahead of the needs of some patients.
And make sure you鈥檙e following the L.A. Times鈥� comprehensive coverage of the controversy at the University of Southern California 鈥�
Have a great holiday weekend, and if you鈥檙e planning on soaking up any rays,聽.