Tom Howell Jr.
Articles by Tom Howell Jr.
Actuaries: Health care spending will grow faster than economy in coming decade
Health care spending is expected to grow faster than the U.S. economy over the coming decade, government actuaries said Wednesday, as prices for medical goods and services rise and the baby-boom generation ages. Published February 14, 2018
Idaho insurer to offer plans that ignore Obamacare
Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar declined Wednesday to commit to protecting Obamacare from companies that are testing the bounds of the law by floating cheaper plans that flout federal requirements. Published February 14, 2018
Senate report alleges link between opioid maker donations, lobbying efforts
Five opioid makers paid nearly $9 million to 14 outside groups who then "echoed and amplified messages favorable to increased opioid use" between 2012 to 2017, according to a new report by Sen. Claire McCaskill that alleges a link between donations and industry-friendly messaging. Published February 13, 2018
Opioids crisis costs estimated $1 trillion from 2001-2017
The U.S. opioids crisis cost more than $1 trillion from 2001 to 2017 and will cost another $500 billion in the following three years unless "concerted and sustained action" is taken to stem prescription painkiller and heroin abuse, a nonprofit consultancy estimated Tuesday. Published February 13, 2018
Donald Trump seeks billions for opioids fight
Moving to prove he's serious about the opioids fight, President Trump requested $10 billion in new money Monday to combat the "deadly scourge" of prescription painkiller and heroin abuse in 2019. Published February 12, 2018
CDC: Flu season claims 10 more children, raising toll to 63
Ten more children died from influenza in the past week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported Friday, increasing the pediatric death toll from a brutal flu season to 63. Published February 9, 2018
Lawmakers hail $6B in opioids money as ‘next step’ in bigger fight
Lawmakers from states with high rates of opioid abuse cheered a budget deal Friday that includes $6 billion to combat addiction, yet said the money is just the "next step" in a massive fight, must be spent wisely and should be funneled toward places that need it the most. Published February 9, 2018
IRS overpaid Obamacare tax credits by nearly $3.5 billion in 2017
The IRS overpaid nearly $3.5 billion in Obamacare tax credits last year that it cannot recoup because of constraints built into the program, frustrating Republicans who have failed to repeal the health care law but say that money could have been spent on programs for veterans or infrastructure. Published February 7, 2018
11.8M signed up for 2018 Obamacare coverage, a slight decline: Nonpartisan analysis
Enrollment in Obamacare's exchanges dropped by 3.7 percent in 2018 compared to last year, an independent health group reported Wednesday, saying the program displayed "remarkable stability" in an uncertain climate, despite the decline. Published February 7, 2018
West Virginia AG announces proposal to crack down on opioids abuse
West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey on Tuesday proposed a five-point strategy to rein in opioid abuse in his hard-hit corner of Appalachia, from launching an "enforcement surge" of 150 state troopers to limiting certain prescriptions for painkillers to just three days Published February 6, 2018
House to vote on sexual harassment bill
The House will vote Tuesday on new rules requiring lawmakers pay for any workplace discrimination or sexual harassment settlements out of their own pockets, moving to clean up Capitol Hill's act after members used taxpayer money to silence unflattering accusations. Published February 5, 2018
Bernie Sanders wants ‘big Pharma’ to testify on opioid crisis role
Sen. Bernard Sanders of Vermont said Monday he wants to haul pharmaceutical executives before Congress to explore their role in "precipitating and exacerbating" an opioid crisis that is killing tens of thousands of Americans each year. Published February 5, 2018
Gov’t watchdogs see gaps in oversight of assisted living facilities
Many states are unable to tally and describe safety problems at assisted living facilities, government inspectors said Monday, even as the popular alternative to nursing-home care soaks up an increasing amount of taxpayer dollars under Medicaid. Published February 5, 2018
Most voters say drug prices should be priority for Congress: Survey
More than eight in 10 people think lowering the cost of prescription medicines is a "top" or "important" priority for Congress, according to a poll Monday that suggests drug prices are top-of-mind for Americans across the political spectrum. Published February 5, 2018
CDC focuses on fighting flu after Brenda Fitzgerald resignation
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says the resignation of its director will not disrupt efforts to combat a severe flu season that's killed more than 50 children and is on pace to break hospitalization records. Published February 4, 2018
Brad Wenstrup: FBI memo not about Trump vindication
A Republican member of the House Intelligence Committee on Sunday said the release of a GOP memo detailing how the FBI used Democrat-funded information to snoop on one of President Trump's campaign aides is about government oversight -- not "vindication" for a White House besieged by probes into possible ties with Russia. Published February 4, 2018
John Brennan slams Devin Nunes for ‘reckless’ handling of memo
Former C.I.A. Director John Brennan on Sunday chastised the Republican chairman of the House Intelligence Committee on Sunday for his handling of a bombshell memo that delved into the secretive world of surveillance courts, saying the push to expose bias at the FBI was one-sided and shut out opposing views. Published February 4, 2018
Chuck Schumer to Trump: Back Democratic memo release
Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer told President Trump on Sunday to support the release of a Democratic memo that serves as a rebuttal to the House GOP memo that alleges the FBI used biased information to begin snooping on a former Trump campaign aide in late 2016. Published February 4, 2018
Richard Durbin: Don’t use memo to fire Rosenstein, Mueller
Senate Minority Whip Richard J. Durbin warned President Trump and his GOP allies on Sunday not to use a bombshell memo on the FBI's snooping powers to upend independent probes into Russian meddling in the 2016 campaign, saying it could spark a "constitutional crisis." Published February 4, 2018
Trey Gowdy says FBI concealed Clinton role in Steele dossier
The House's top investigator on Sunday said the FBI failed to notify a surveillance court that it was relying on material backed by the Democratic National Committee and the Hillary Clinton campaign when it asked to snoop on a former adviser to the Trump campaign. Published February 4, 2018
