While prescription painkillers and heroin drove an overdose epidemic last decade, the powerful synthetic opioid fentanyl now causes most drug deaths.
Author: Ken Alltucker, USA TODAY
Watchdog: Private Medicare plans denied nearly 1 in 5 claims that should have been paid
A government watchdog report found private Medicare plans rejected 18% of requests and claims that traditional government-run Medicare allowed.
‘A new era of diagnosis for Alzheimer’s disease’: Scientists study blood tests for dementia
More than a half-dozen blood tests are being developed and tested to detect signs of Alzheimer’s disease in older patients.
‘Values of our society’: Nursing homes shut down, close wings amid COVID-19 staffing crunch
More than 300 nursing homes closed during the COVID-19 pandemic as worker shortage, money pressures mount. Other homes won’t take new residents.
Medicare enrollees can get free COVID-19 home tests at more than a dozen retail pharmacies
Costco, CVS, Kroger, Rite Aid, Walgreens and Walmart are among retail pharmacies that will allow Medicare recipients to get free COVID-19 home tests.
Millions of people could lose health insurance coverage when the COVID-19 emergency ends
Congress authorized robust federal aid to states as long as they agreed to not remove people from Medicaid until the COVID-19 emergency ends.
Aided by many states, nursing homes fend off lawsuits filed by families over COVID deaths
Nursing homes are seeking legal protections from states to shield liability. Still, families of lost loved ones press ahead with dozens of lawsuits.
Alzheimer’s patients ‘devastated’ at Medicare limits on drug critics say needs more testing
Biogen, other drug companies are furiously contesting Medicare’s preliminary decision to pay for a class of Alzheimer’s drugs only in clinical trials.
Amid backlash from chronic pain sufferers, CDC drops hard thresholds from opioid guidance
The CDC issued new guidance for prescribing opioids. The document does not include limits on pain pill doses and duration that were endorsed in 2016
In a reversal, Medicare will cover 8 free COVID-19 home tests per month beginning this spring
The Biden administration cited the “importance of expanding access to testing” in extending free home tests to Medicare recipients