PRI's Focus on Health Care

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Sanders' Haughty Stance Against Medical Innovators Harms Lives

Newsmax | Sally Pipes
March 21, 2023

Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., has summoned Moderna CEO Stéphane Bancel to Capitol Hill for a public chastising next week ([link removed]) . The hearing will probe why the biotech firm would consider raising the price of its COVID-19 vaccine.

Since the federal government played some role in the vaccine’s development, Sen. Sanders argues, it shouldn’t have the freedom to price its product at a price willing buyers will pay if that price strikes the Vermont senator as too high.

Read more. . . ([link removed])

Hospitals aren't being honest about costs, and we're paying the price

Las Vegas Sun | Sally Pipes
March 19, 2023

Imagine receiving a bill for $10,000. It’s from your local hospital, where you had a minor procedure. But you have no idea why it’s so high, or how you’re going to pay.

It’s become so common for patients to receive shockingly high post-care hospital bills that Kaiser Health News started a “bill of the month” feature to showcase the worst offenders. In many cases, patients tried to figure out their costs before getting care but were told the information wasn’t available.

Read more. . . ([link removed])

A Bipartisan Regulatory Reform Opportunity: 340B

Forbes | Wayne Winegarden
March 23, 2023

Despite the rancor, there are many bipartisan opportunities for the divided 118^th Congress. Near the top of the to-do list should be reforming the well-intentioned, but poorly designed, 340B drug discount program.

340B enables qualifying institutions to purchase medicines from manufacturers at steep discounts, generally between 25% and 50% off list price, but sometimes even larger. These discounts are supposed to improve the capacity of the clinics and hospitals serving a disproportionate share of low-income and uninsured patients. More and more, this is not how the program is working.

Read more. . . ([link removed])

Key Takeaways from President Biden's Proposed 2024 Healthcare Budget

Right by the Bay | McKenzie Richards
March 22, 2023

The Biden administration recently released the proposed federal budget for 2024. ([link removed]) For the healthcare portion, the budget’s “wish list” proves unrealistic and unlikely to pass in a divided Congress.

Read more . . . ([link removed])

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