Category: Drugs & Medicines
With a high deductible plan, it pays to shop around
An increasing number of consumers have these plans with lower premiums, but they must cover the first $1,000, $5,000 or even $10,000 of care before insurance kicks in, providing an incentive to haggle with doctors and hospitals.
Targeting prescribers can reduce excessive use of antibiotics in hospitals
Giving prescribers access to education and advice or imposing restrictions on use can curb overuse or inappropriate use of antibiotics in hospitals.
US health spending larger than the GDP of most nations
Total health spending in the United States was $2.7 trillion in 2011. If that activity were separated into its own sovereign nation, it would constitute the fifth-largest economy in the world, behind only the United States, China, Japan, and Germany.
How to control your seasonal allergies
Allergic reactions occur when the body wrongly defends itself against something that is not dangerous. A healthy immune system defends against invading bacteria and viruses. During allergic reactions, however, the immune system fights harmless materials, such as pollen or mold.
Hepatitis B affects 1 in 12 Asians Americans and Pacific Islanders
While Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders make up less than 5% of the total U.S. population, they account for more than 50% of Americans living with chronic hepatitis B.
Attorneys general seek warning label cautioning pregnant women against using pain pills
Nationally, about 13,500 infants were born with drug withdrawal symptoms in 2009, about one baby each hour, according to a 2012 study from the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Are tax revenue estimates from legal marijuana a pipe dream?
Proponents of legalized recreational marijuana touted millions in taxes that could be collected. But don’t count that money yet.
Medicare failing to monitor prescribers, putting seniors and disabled at risk
An analysis of four years of Medicare prescription records shows that some doctors and other health professionals across the country prescribe large quantities of drugs that are potentially harmful, disorienting or addictive.
State pharmacy regulators back bill on drug compounding
The National Association of Boards of Pharmacy Thursday supported proposed Senate legislation that would give the FDA increased oversight over the compounding industry.
Health perks for top workers could trigger penalties under health law
Employers who offer more generous benefits to highly paid workers could face $100-a-day fines for every worker who doesn’t get them
Health law offers veterans new options
Many former service members have access to health care through the VA, private insurance or other programs. But having so many choices can also lead to fragmented care.
FDA warns pregnant women to not use certain migraine prevention medicines
Valproate medications include valproate sodium (Depacon), divalproex sodium (Depakote, Depakote CP, and Depakote ER), valproic acid (Depakene and Stavzor), and their generics should never be used by pregnant women for the prevention of migraines, FDA warns.
Women’s groups angered by administration morning-after pill policies
The Obama administration’s actions this week on emergency contraception have left many women’s health groups sputtering with anger.
New guidelines may drop birth control training rule
New rules under consideration would drop existing requirements that family medicine residents be required to undergo training in contraception and counseling women with unintended pregnancies
FDA launches new consumer outreach website
This week the FDA launches its Patient Network website through which the agency says it seeks to engage patients and consumers as partners, and encourage them to share ideas and concerns about the medical product development process.
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