Legislation, approved in the Senate, must now pass the House of Representatives. Action Alert! Earlier this year, the “Right to Try” legislation introduced by Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI) passed by unanimous consent in the Senate. It had a hearing last week in the House, and awaits approval. As things stand now, FDA bureaucrats continue to… Continue reading Will Dying People Get The Right to Try?
Category: Health Autonomy
Obamacare Reinterpreted?
No, not by Congress—by a Trump executive order signed today. President Trump has signed an executive order expanding access to “association health plans”—policies that do not have to adhere to a number of Obamacare rules. The idea, strongly supported by Sen. Rand Paul, is that individuals with a common profession or interest could band together and be… Continue reading Obamacare Reinterpreted?
A Door Opens for Insurance Coverage of Non-Opioid Pain Treatments
Thirty-seven state attorneys general recently wrote to American’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP), saying that the status quo is unacceptable. We agree. Action Alert! The letter urges AHIP to encourage healthcare providers to prioritize non-opioid pain management options–such as physical therapy, acupuncture, chiropractic care, and massage—over opioid prescriptions in the treatment of chronic pain. Opioid addiction… Continue reading A Door Opens for Insurance Coverage of Non-Opioid Pain Treatments
Don’t Turn Vitamins into Drugs
We must keep the FDA from turning a vital nutrient over to Big Pharma. Action Alert! An important study finds that carbidopa, a standard Parkinson’s drug, “irreversibly binds to and permanently deactivates” pyridoxal-5’-phosphate (P5P), a key form of vitamin B6 in the body. The authors describe the essential role P5P plays in the body: “[P5P]… Continue reading Don’t Turn Vitamins into Drugs
Big Pharma: Our Opioid Crisis Saviors?
Not likely, but that’s what crony government officials are promoting. From the Philadelphia Inquirer: TRENTON — Gov. Christie on Monday said the pharmaceutical industry will partner with the National Institutes of Health to more quickly find solutions to stem the opioid epidemic. Speaking after a closed-door meeting in Trenton, Christie said 14 pharmaceutical companies have agreed to… Continue reading Big Pharma: Our Opioid Crisis Saviors?
Surprise! Buried Deep in GOP Health Bill
The Obamacare repeal is only temporary—expires in six years. A few weeks ago, we told you about a new proposal described by nearly everyone as an attempt to repeal and replace Obamacare. The bill has now been introduced by Sens. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) and Lindsay Graham (R-SC). Overall, the initiative would eliminate federal subsidies for private… Continue reading Surprise! Buried Deep in GOP Health Bill
Ban Fish Oil Imports?
That is what a Pharma firm lawsuit seeks to do. It also opens up a novel front in the war on natural products by asking the US International Trade Commission to help create a new monopoly by knocking out imported EPA, the most anti-inflammatory kind of fish oil. Urgent Action Alert! Amarin, the maker of… Continue reading Ban Fish Oil Imports?
New Healthcare Bill?
A novel legislative concept may be gaining some traction. Action Alert! Here’s the gist of it. Rather than develop an alternative federal system, just turn health insurance over to the states. If California wants to create a single-payer system, allow it to do so. If another state likes Obamacare, let it keep it. If another… Continue reading New Healthcare Bill?
More Health Care Reform Ideas
These are from John Goodman, a top healthcare analyst now at Goodman Institute. Goodman has proposed a number of reforms that we think should be considered in any effort to improve or replace Obamacare. Offer tax credits to employees. Tax credits are offered to individuals purchasing health insurance through the Obamacare exchanges. If tax credits… Continue reading More Health Care Reform Ideas
Hospitals: Crony Capitalist Mess
The horror stories are legion. A 64-year-old woman had chest pains and was taken by ambulance to a non-profit hospital. After three hours of tests, she was told she had indigestion and sent home. She did not have insurance. Her bill was $21,000. Another patient was told he had non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. He went to MD… Continue reading Hospitals: Crony Capitalist Mess