Senators demand better information from DEA on opioid campaign

Seven U.S. senators sharply criticized the Drug Enforcement Administration on Wednesday for failing to answer questions about enforcement actions against pharmaceutical companies accused of violating laws designed to prevent painkillers from reaching the black market. "We received an insufficient response that ignored those questions almost entirely and recited boilerplate information about the DEA's mission," said the letter to the acting DEA administrator, Chuck Rosenberg.

Texas may snuff out smoking for anyone younger than 21

For a decade, the concept has been a pipe dream of Democrats and doctors bent on finding ways to keep Texans, especially kids, from picking up the habit. But this year it has backing from some powerful Republicans whose support could mean Texas will become just the third state to hike its smoking age above 19. "We can move this bill forward," said Rep. John Zerwas, a Richmond Republican and physician who will champion the effort in the House.

Trump Likely First Drug-Free President In Some Voters’ Lifetimes

When he takes his oath of office on January 20, Donald Trump will likely be the first president in 24 years to have never used any form of illegal drug. Trump has long claimed that he has never once smoked cigarettes, touched alcohol or used drugs, which would distinguish him from the last three men to occupy the White House, all of whom either admitted to drug use or refused to deny it.

NNU Nurses to Testify in D.C., Call for National Standard to Prevent…

On Tuesday, January 10, at a public stakeholder meeting convened by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration , registered nurse members of National Nurses United -from states around the country-will demand that OSHA promptly pass regulations to prevent workplace violence in healthcare settings. "Registered nurses urge OSHA to act immediately to help protect nurses and all healthcare workers, as well as patients and families, from violence in healthcare settings-a serious problem for far too long," said Jean Ross, a Minnesota registered nurse and co-president of National Nurses United.

Federal judge blocks Obamacare’s protections for transgender patients

Three weeks before President Barack Obama leaves office, a federal judge dealt yet another blow to the president's signature policy, siding with religiously affiliated health care providers over the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. U.S. District Judge Reed O'Connor on Dec. 31 blocked the Affordable Care Act's so-called transgender mandate, which sought to end discrimination on the basis of gender identity within the health care system.

Federal Judge Halts Transgender Protections in Obamacare

A federal judge halted protections for transgender individuals that were found in the Affordable Care Act, issuing the injunction just a day before the safeguards would go into effect. US District Judge Reed O'Connor in Texas halted the protections for their treatments and for abortion-related services, siding with the state of Texas against the Obama administration on Saturday.

American Pharmaceuticals Keep Getting More Expensive, And Drug Market Transparency Isn’t Likely

A recent Vermont law, the first of its kind in the U.S., aims to peel back the curtain on the rather obfuscated drug market. The law instructs state officials to report up to 15 drugs that had price increases by at least 15 percent in the previous year, or 50 percent over the last half-decade, the Wall Street Journal reports .

Patients have therapy options

The introduction of a new therapy provider at We CARE, 501 Valley View Blvd., coincides with the relocation of services for the former provider, leaving families with two options. The new We CARE therapy provider, Kids First, will be conducting interviews for therapists next week as it begins a new contract with Tyrone Hospital to provide children therapy at the center, said Kids First founder Jackie Clouser.

Volkswagen deal on diesel cars gives buyback option for some

Volkswagen reached a deal that will give at least some owners of the remaining 80,000 diesel vehicles caught in the company's emissions cheating scandal the option of a buyback and provide all of them with compensation on top of any repurchase or repairs, a federal judge announced Tuesday. The settlement with U.S. regulators and attorneys for owners of the 3-liter diesel cars will include a choice of a buyback for 20,000 vehicles, according to U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer in San Francisco.

FDA Clears First Point of Care Rapid Diagnostic Test Kit for Chagas Disease

InBios announces the launch of its Chagas Detect Plus Rapid Diagnostic Test Kit - The first point of care rapid in vitro diagnostic device to receive a 510k Clearance from the FDA. "We are excited to bring this long awaited, fast and affordable point of care Chagas test to the US market..." InBios announced today that it received 510K Clearance from the FDA for its Chagas Detect Plus Rapid Test Kit .

Obamacare’s Tennessee inroads tenuous under Trump

Obamacare's Tennessee inroads tenuous under Trump Tennessee, even without Medicaid expansion, saw a 4 percent decrease in uninsured people from 2010. Check out this story on jacksonsun.com: http://tnne.ws/2idFAkw Chris Kane had insurance through Community Health Alliance before it went defunct then moved to Blue Cross Blue Shield Tennessee, now will have to go to Humana.