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States Target School Cell Phone Use At least four states have banned or severely restricted the use of smart phones in schools in the current legislative biennium. Florida became the first state to do...
Compounded Weight-Loss Drugs Creating Headaches for State Regulators With popular weight-loss drugs like Mounjaro, Ozempic and Wegovy in short supply, many doctors, pharmacies and other providers have...
In their seminal book on the American health care system, legendary investigative reporters Donald L. Barlett and James B. Steele offered a disturbing metaphor for the illogical nature of medical pricing...
PA Lawmakers Pass Bill Regulating PBMs The Pennsylvania legislature passed a bill ( HB 1993 ) aimed at increasing oversight of pharmacy benefit managers. If signed by Gov. Josh Shapiro (D), the measure...
In a sign of the times, states have begun pursuing bills that require disclosure of the use of artificial intelligence. In March, Utah Gov. Spencer Cox (R) signed SB 149 , making the state the first...
The Michigan Senate passed a bill (SB 410) that would allow residents and state and local governments to sue drug manufacturers and sellers if their products cause injury. In 1995 the state passed the strongest drug immunity law in the nation, shielding drugmakers and sellers almost entirely from such suits. The measure is now in the House Judiciary Committee. (BRIDGE MICHIGAN), MICHIGAN ADVANCE, STATE NET)
California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) signed legislation (SB 525) that will phase in a nation-leading $25 minimum wage for workers at hospitals, nursing homes, and other medical facilities. The law applies to direct care providers as well as support personnel. (KFF HEALTH NEWS, SACRAMENTO BEE, STATE NET)
Customers of Amazon Pharmacy who reside in College Station, Texas are now able to get their prescriptions delivered by drone. Customers can choose from over 500 medications and have them delivered in under 60 minutes for no additional charge. (CNBC)
Employer-sponsored health insurance premiums rose an average of 7% to nearly $24,000 this year, according to a KFF survey of over 2,000 U.S. companies. Last year’s increase was 1%. (BLOOMBERG, KFF)
Research conducted by Penn Medicine and Independence Blue Cross showed that providing mental health services through primary care practices doesn’t increase the overall cost of those services for insurers. Previous research by the two institutions showed that linking mental health services with primary care enabled more patients to obtain needed mental healthcare. (PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER)
—Compiled by SNCJ Managing Editor KOREY CLARK