PRI's Focus on Health Care

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The FDA’s ‘Pause’ on Distribution of the J&J Vaccine Is Overly Risk-Averse

Issues and Insights | Henry I. Miller, M.S., M.D.
April 14, 2021

Citing “an abundance of caution,” the FDA on Tuesday recommended a “pause” in the administration of Johnson & Johnson’s COVID-19 vaccine. The essence of that decision is that, as usual, federal regulators have put covering their derrieres above public health. Let me explain.

The decision was precipitated by six cases in the U.S. of a “rare and severe type of blood clot ([link removed]) ” in women between the ages of 18 and 48 who had received the vaccine. Almost seven million shots ([link removed]) of the one-dose vaccine have been administered in the U.S., according to the FDA.
Read more. . . ([link removed])

Violating Intellectual Property Rights Jeopardizes Quality Health Care

Orange County Register | Dr. Wayne Winegarden
April 14, 2021

. . . Globally, the World Trade Organization (WTO) wants to waive the patent rights for the companies that developed effective COVID-19 vaccines in record breaking time. Here in the U.S., states as diverse as Arkansas, California, and Texas are considering policies that use the pandemic as an excuse to violate device manufacturers’ intellectual property rights.
Read more. . . ([link removed])

Drug Importation Programs Come At Too High a Cost

Newsmax | Sally C. Pipes
April 15, 2021

Lawmakers in Colorado are trying to open their state’s borders to prescription drugs from abroad. In 2019, they green-lit imports from Canada. They’re still working on a plan to implement that policy that can garner federal approval. Then last week, legislators approved a bill that would allow Coloradans to import prescription drugs from other countries in addition to Canada, assuming the feds give the okay.

Read more. . . ([link removed])

Biden’s infrastructure plan reinforces elderly care failings

Washington Examiner | Sally C. Pipes
April 16, 2021

President Joe Biden is continuing his quest to inject more government into our healthcare system. His $2 trillion infrastructure plan would direct $400 billion to expand Medicaid coverage for at-home and community-based care for the elderly. It’s the costliest line item in the package.
Read more. . . ([link removed])

Sally Pipes Discusses Sanders Plan to Lower Medicare Eligibility Age on John Carlson Show

April 16, 2021

Listen to Sally C. Pipes, PRI President, CEO, and Thomas W. Smith Fellow in Health Care Policy, discuss the plan proposed by Sen. Bernie Sanders to lower the Medicare eligibility age on “The John Carlson Show” on KVI Radio in Seattle.
Click here to listen . . . ([link removed])

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