General
Nov. 19 News: Opioid crisis, Biden and climate, Nursing home deaths, Federal drug rule
Associated Press – Not just COVID: Nursing home neglect deaths surge in shadows
When COVID-19 tore through Donald Wallace’s nursing home, he was one of the lucky few to avoid infection. He died a horrible death anyway.
Associated Press – Coalition seizes on pandemic to boost ‘Obamacare’ sign-ups
As COVID-19 spreads uncontrolled in many places, a coalition of states, health care groups and activists is striving to drum up “Obamacare” sign-ups among a growing number of Americans uninsured in perilous times.
NPR – America's other epidemic: The opioid crisis is worse than 4 years ago
During President Trump's first year in office, 42,000 Americans died of drug overdoses linked to heroin, fentanyl and prescription opioids. After a minor decrease in 2018, deaths rose to a record 50,042 in 2019. That number will likely be even worse for 2020.
POLITICO – Biden taps climate, environment hands for transition teams
President-elect Joe Biden’s teams to review federal agencies include a host of veterans from the Obama administration and others with significant prior experience in domestic and international climate policy battles, according to a list of team members unveiled Tuesday.
Health insurance companies will have to give their customers estimated out-of-pocket costs for prescription drugs and disclose to the public the negotiated prices they pay for drugs, under an unexpected new Trump administration rule.