Tom Howell Jr.
Articles by Tom Howell Jr.
Democrats want to shift focus to health care, pre-existing conditions as midterms loom
Democrats are desperately trying to pivot the political conversation to health care, warning voters that the fate of their coverage -- and protections for pre-existing conditions -- depends on who wins control of Congress in this year's elections. Published June 27, 2018
HHS IG: Medicare drug spending rose despite fewer prescriptions
Medicare recipients used fewer brand-name drugs but the program still saw its drug costs rise, according to a federal report Monday that says skyrocketing prices set by manufacturers are taking a toll on taxpayers and seniors. Published June 26, 2018
FDA makes history, approves drug derived from marijuana
For the first time, the U.S. government Monday approved a drug with ingredients derived from marijuana, paving the way for research into similar products. Published June 25, 2018
White House decries ‘alarming’ surge in cocaine production
It's not just opioids -- the White House on Monday said surging coca cultivation in Colombia is sending more cocaine across the border, fueling U.S. overdose deaths. Published June 25, 2018
Ted Lieu plays tape of crying children from House floor
Rep. Ted Lieu of California violated House rules Friday by playing a recording of crying children who were separated from their parents at the border, ignoring a presiding officer who implored him to stop. Published June 22, 2018
House passes sweeping opioids bill
The House passed a massive opioid bill Friday to expand treatment options, block the flow of deadly fentanyl into the U.S. and reduce the number of addictive pills in circulation -- an unusual display of bipartisanship in a bitter election year, even as Democrats grumbled that GOP leaders still aren't doing enough. Published June 22, 2018
House Republicans cancel immigration votes
Staring at a certain defeat, House Republicans canceled votes on their immigration compromise Thursday -- an embarrassing setback for leaders who'd thought they'd finally been able to wrangle some unanimity on an issue that's bedeviled them for years. Published June 21, 2018
Separated children may develop ‘toxic stress,’ say health experts
Children separated from their parents at the U.S. border can suffer from "toxic stress" that leads to brain damage and problems later in life, mental health experts said Thursday, warning of depression and anger, learning disorders and the inability to accept love. Published June 21, 2018
Cigna announces plan to slash opioid overdose by 25 percent
Cigna, a major health insurer, said Thursday it will partner with employers, doctors and pharmacists in a bid to slash the number of opioid overdoses among its customers by 25 percent by the end of 2021. Published June 21, 2018
House passes bill to make patient history of drug use more accessible
The House passed bills Wednesday that combat the opioid crisis by making it easier for a doctor to find out if a patient has a history of drug abuse and expanding the number of places where states can send addicted patients and get Medicaid dollars to pay for it. Published June 20, 2018
NY, Mass. AGs sue over Trump’s Obamacare end-run for small business
Two blue states said Wednesday they will sue the Trump administration over its decision to get around Obamacare by letting small employers and self-employed people pool together and buy health plans that are cheaper and cover fewer benefits than what the 2010 law dictates. Published June 20, 2018
Donald Trump opens door to sale of ‘association’ health plans across state lines
The Trump administration finalized plans Tuesday to let small companies and the self-employed band together and buy health insurance outside of Obamacare's strict rules, moving to offer coverage to people priced out of the market by the 2010 health care law. Published June 19, 2018
WHO classifies compulsive gaming as a disorder
The World Health Organization said Monday it plans to classify compulsive video-game playing as an addictive disorder, saying while sessions of "Fortnite" or "Candy Crush Saga" can be simple pleasures for some, they've reached serious, life-disrupting levels among a sliver of the gaming community. Published June 18, 2018
Joe Manchin says his re-election bid is ground zero for Obamacare’s future
Sen. Joe Manchin III says his office has been flooded with flood with stories from West Virginia residents begging him to preserve Obamacare, saying they'll lose medical coverage and could face bankruptcy if core parts of the law are ended. Published June 17, 2018
Lamar Alexander to HHS: Help states riff on Obamacare to slash costs
Senate Health Committee Chairman Lamar Alexander urged the Trump administration to explore ways to make waivers baked into Obamacare a "more powerful tool" for states looking to slash premiums. Published June 15, 2018
House OKs bill requiring electronic data on foreign packages to help fight opioid crisis
The House approved a bill Thursday to give the government a better chance to weed opioids such as deadly fentanyl out of mail coming in from overseas, taking more concrete action to try to halt the epidemic of dangerous drugs. Published June 14, 2018
Patient groups leap into latest Obamacare fight
Patient advocates will tell a federal judge on Thursday to reject the Trump administration's position that much of Obamacare is now illegal, warning that if more people are kicked out of their health plans, "they die." Published June 13, 2018
Alex Azar, Democrats clash over drug company rebates
The Trump administration may demand drug companies offer fixed discounts to lower prices, Health Secretary Alex M. Azar II said Tuesday, saying the current system of drug companies offering complex rebates isn't producing enough savings for consumers. Published June 12, 2018
Lamar Alexander protests push to end Obamacare protections
Senate Health Committee Chairman Lamar Alexander on Tuesday challenged the Trump administration's response to the latest suit against Obamacare, saying there is "no way" Capitol Hill lawmakers intended to let the 2010 program's protections for sick Americans fall by the wayside. Published June 12, 2018
Alex Azar, HHS chief: Refusal to defend Obamacare is a ‘legal’ position
Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar on Tuesday said the Justice Department's decision not to defend Obamacare against a state-driven lawsuit is a "legal position" -- not a "policy position" -- and that President Trump still feels sicker Americans deserve access to affordable health insurance. Published June 12, 2018
