Pharmaceuticals

At Stake in Mifepristone Case: Abortion, FDA’s Authority, and Return to 1873 Obscenity Law

Lawyers from the conservative Christian group that won the case to overturn Roe v. Wade are returning to the U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday in pursuit of an urgent priority: shutting down access to abortion pills for women across the country. The case challenges the FDA’s regulation of mifepristone, a prescription-only drug approved in 2000 […]

Pharmaceuticals

A Paramedic Was Skeptical About This Rx for Stopping Repeat Opioid Overdoses. Then He Saw It Help.

OCALA, Fla. — Fire Capt. Jesse Blaire steered his SUV through the mobile home park until he spotted the little beige house with white trim and radioed to let dispatchers know he’d arrived. There, Shawnice Slaughter waited on the steps, wiping sleep from her eyes. “Good morning, Shawnice,” Blaire said. “How are you feeling today?” […]

Pharmaceuticals

Journalists Track Efforts to Curb the Opioid Crisis and Put Catholic Hospitals Under the Scope

KFF Health News senior correspondent Aneri Pattani discussed her experiences reporting on addiction and offers advice to journalists starting on this beat for the American Society of Addiction Medicine’s “The Treat Addiction Save Lives Podcast” on March 18. She also discussed the spending questions surfacing as $1 billion flows into Massachusetts to fight opioids on […]

Pharmaceuticals

A Battle Between Drugmakers and Insurers Hits Patients in the Wallet

There’s a long-running battle between insurers and drugmakers over financial assistance programs that purport to help patients afford expensive drugs. And lately, insurers have been losing ground as lawmakers, regulators and courts weigh in. The issue is whether coupons and other copay aid many patients get from drugmakers should count toward annual insurance deductibles and […]

Pharmaceuticals

KFF Health News' 'What the Health?': Maybe It’s a Health Care Election After All

The Host Julie Rovner KFF Health News @jrovner Read Julie’s stories. Julie Rovner is chief Washington correspondent and host of KFF Health News’ weekly health policy news podcast, “What the Health?” A noted expert on health policy issues, Julie is the author of the critically praised reference book “Health Care Politics and Policy A to […]