Tired Of Shortages And High Costs, Hospital Group Launches Company To Make Its Own Drugs
Besides creating a reliable supply for its 500 hospitals, Civica aims to reduce drug prices by about 20 percent. "There are a lot of very principled generic drug makers out there ... they have nothing to worry about," said Dr. Marc Harrison, president and CEO of Intermountain Healthcare. "The folks who are gouging people and creating shortages, they know who they are. And they're the ones who should be very concerned."
The Associated Press:
Hospital Groups Launch Own Company To Make Generic Drugs
Several major hospital groups Thursday launched their own generic drug company to tackle chronic shortages and high prices. The new company, Civica Rx, plans to start with 14 widely used hospital drugs long in short supply. The company isn't disclosing the drugs' names for competitive reasons, but they include a mix of generic pills, patches and injectable drugs for treating infections, pain and heart conditions, board chairman Dan Liljenquist said. (9/6)
In other national health care news —
The Wall Street Journal:
Justice Department Nearing Antitrust Approval Of Health Mergers Combining CVS-Aetna, Cigna-Express Scripts
Justice Department antitrust enforcers are preparing to give the green light to two deals in the health-care industry, CVS Health Corp.’s planned acquisition of health insurer Aetna Inc. and Cigna Corp.’s planned purchase of Express Scripts Holding Co., according to people familiar with the matter. Both deals could receive formal antitrust approval as soon as the next few weeks, these people said. (Kendall, Wilde Mathews and Terlep, 9/5)
The New York Times:
These Firms Say They Can Help Prevent School Shootings And Suicides. Do They?
Hours after the deadly school shooting in Parkland, Fla., companies that market their services to schools began to speak up. “Governor, take pride that a Vermont-based company is helping schools identify the violence before it happens,” one company wrote on Twitter to Gov. Phil Scott of Vermont. The chief executive of another company appeared on the news to boast of a “home run”: Its algorithms, he said, had helped prevent two student suicides. (Leibowitz, 9/6)
The New York Times:
Goop Agrees To Pay $145,000 For ‘Unsubstantiated’ Claims About Vaginal Eggs
Gwyneth Paltrow’s lifestyle brand, Goop, has agreed to pay $145,000 in civil penalties in a settlement in California after an investigation found its claims about some of the products it sells were not backed by scientific evidence, the Orange County district attorney’s office said. The settlement involved three products that Goop had promised would deliver medical benefits. Two items were “eggs” for vaginal wellness — one made of jade and another made of quartz — that the company said would balance hormones, increase bladder control and regulate menstrual cycles. Goop said the third item, Inner Judge Flower Essence Blend, “could help prevent depression,” according to the district attorney’s office. (Garcia, 9/5)
The New York Times:
Airport Security Trays Carry More Cold Germs Than Toilets, Study Finds
Airport security is there to protect you, but it may also give you the sniffles — or worse. To all the places and surfaces we’ve been warned are teeming with germs or bacteria — your pets, the subway seat, airplane cabins, the A.T.M. — add the airport security tray. (Karasz, 9/5)
Politico:
Pulse Check At Work: Home Health Aides
Home health aide is one of the fastest-growing jobs in America – and the first job the Pulse Check podcast explores in a month-long series that will explain how different health care workers fit into the broader health policy picture. The show will visit with a home health aide, a health coach, and others as we explain how the big trends in the field feel on the front lines. (Diamond, 9/5)