FDA Archives - Page 8 of 24

Democrats See Opportunity in GOP Threats to Repeal Health Law

Episode 325

Dec. 7, 2023

Sensing that Republicans are walking into a political minefield by threatening once again to repeal the Affordable Care Act, the Biden administration is looking to capitalize by rolling out a series of initiatives aimed at high drug prices and other consequences of “corporate greed in health care.” Meanwhile, the Supreme Court hears a case that could determine when and how much victims of the opioid crisis can collect from Purdue Pharma, the drug company that lied about how addictive its drug, OxyContin, really was. Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico, Anna Edney of Bloomberg News, and Rachana Pradhan of �Թϲ�� join �Թϲ�� chief Washington correspondent Julie Rovner to discuss these issues and more. Also this week, Rovner interviews Dan Weissmann of �Թϲ��’ sister podcast, “An Arm and a Leg,” about his investigation into hospitals suing their patients over unpaid bills.

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Trump Puts Obamacare Repeal Back on Agenda

Episode 324

Nov. 30, 2023

Although Republicans have never united behind a replacement for the Affordable Care Act, 2024 GOP presidential front-runner Donald Trump said this week he wants to put the issue back on the national agenda. That delights Democrats, who have won at least two elections partly by defending the now-popular health law. Meanwhile, the Texas Supreme Court takes up a case brought by women who say their pregnancy complications further endangered their health due to the vagueness of Texas’ near-total ban on abortions. Joanne Kenen of Johns Hopkins University and Politico Magazine, Sarah Karlin-Smith of the Pink Sheet, and Victoria Knight of Axios News join �Թϲ�� chief Washington correspondent Julie Rovner to discuss these issues and more. Also this week, Rovner interviews �Թϲ��’ Rachana Pradhan, who reported and wrote the latest “Bill of the Month” feature.

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Three vials of the Novavax vaccine are in the center of the image against a bokeh background.

Is Novavax, the Latecomer Covid Vaccine, Worth the Wait?

People with special medical considerations are hoping the Novavax shot will bring fewer headaches, fevers, and less fatigue than have been reported by those taking mRNA vaccines.

By Amy Maxmen

Nov. 20, 2023

A health care technician preps the arm of a senior adult for a blood draw.

Navigating Aging

Doubts Abound About a New Alzheimer’s Blood Test

Quest Diagnostics is selling a blood test online to consumers. But results may not be reliable or easy to interpret. And it isn’t covered by insurance.

By Judith Graham

Oct. 26, 2023

A photo of a bowl of candy corn surrounded by carved pumpkins and small plastic spider decorations.

California Moves Ahead of the FDA in Banning Common Candy Additives

The legislation bans the use of four additives that are already prohibited in many other countries but remain in popular U.S. foods. Advocates say states need to act because the FDA has done little.

By Annie Sciacca

Oct. 20, 2023

Alexis Perkins is sitting at a table outside and is using her computer.

PrEP, a Key HIV Prevention Tool, Isn’t Reaching Black Women

New HIV infections occur disproportionately among Black women, but exclusionary marketing, fewer treatment options, and provider wariness have limited uptake of preexposure prophylaxis, or PrEP, drugs, which reduce the risk of contracting the virus.

By Sam Whitehead

Oct. 12, 2023

A man with his arms crossed in leans against a white pickup truck parked in a driveway.

When Medical Devices Malfunction

Thousands Got Exactech Knee or Hip Replacements. Then, Patients Say, the Parts Began to Fail.

In a torrent of lawsuits, patients accuse Florida device maker Exactech of hiding knee and hip implant defects for years. The company denies the allegations.

By Fred Schulte

Oct. 10, 2023

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Underinsured Is the New Uninsured

Episode 314

Sept. 14, 2023

The percentage of working-age adults with health insurance went up and the uninsured rate dropped last year, the U.S. Census Bureau reported this week. There isn’t much suspense about which way the uninsured rate is now trending, as states continue efforts to strip ineligible beneficiaries from their Medicaid rolls. But is the focus on the uninsured obscuring the struggles of the underinsured? Margot Sanger-Katz of The New York Times, Sarah Karlin-Smith of the Pink Sheet, and Joanne Kenen of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and Politico join �Թϲ��’ Emmarie Huetteman to discuss these issues and more.

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COVID-19

Why the CDC Has Recommended New Covid Boosters for All

As covid-19 hospitalizations tick upward with fall approaching, the CDC says it’s time for new boosters — and not only for those at highest risk of serious disease. Here are seven things you need to know.

By Arthur Allen

Sept. 13, 2023

A photo of a scientist working in a laboratory.

A Nanoengineer Teamed Up With Rihanna’s Tattoo Artist to Make Smarter Ink

Tattoos are more popular than ever. About a third of Americans have at least one. A scientist-entrepreneur, together with a celebrity tattoo artist, believes that ink could be doing a lot more.

By Rae Ellen Bichell

Aug. 28, 2023

A photo of a black woman in a salon chair facing away from the camera. A stylist is applying cream to her naturally curly hair.

Black Women Weigh Emerging Risks of ‘Creamy Crack’ Hair Straighteners

Social and economic pressures have long compelled Black girls and women to straighten their hair. But mounting evidence shows chemical straighteners — products with little regulatory oversight — may pose cancer and other health risks.

By Ronnie Cohen

Aug. 1, 2023

A photo of Robert Califf speaking at a Senate hearing.

FDA Head Robert Califf Battles Misinformation — Sometimes With Fuzzy Facts

FDA Commissioner Robert Califf has called misinformation one of the deadliest killers in the United States. As the FDA tries to fight that scourge, it sometimes stumbles.

By Darius Tahir

July 24, 2023

A photo of packaging and instructions for Opill, a newly-approved over the counter birth control medication.

Once the New Over-the-Counter Birth Control Pill Is Available, What About Cost and Coverage?

The Food and Drug Administration’s approval is viewed as groundbreaking, but many details still must be figured out.

By Michelle Andrews

July 19, 2023

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The Long Road to Reining In Short-Term Plans

Episode 305

July 13, 2023

President Biden made good on a campaign promise this week with a proposal that would limit short-term health insurance plans that boast low premiums but also few benefits. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court’s decision to outlaw affirmative action programs could set back efforts to diversify the nation’s medical workforce. Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico, Amy Goldstein of the Washington Post, and Rachel Cohrs of Stat News join �Թϲ��’ chief Washington correspondent Julie Rovner to discuss these issues and more. Also this week, Rovner interviews �Թϲ��’ Bram Sable-Smith, who reported the latest �Թϲ��-NPR “Bill of the Month” about how a hospital couldn’t track down a patient, but a debt collector could.

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As Low-Nicotine Cigarettes Hit the Market, Anti-Smoking Groups Press for Wider Standard

The first FDA-authorized cigarettes with 95% less nicotine than traditional smokes will go on sale in California, Florida, and Texas starting in early July. Anti-smoking groups oppose greenlighting just one plant biotech’s products and instead urge federal regulators to set a low-nicotine standard for the entire industry.

By Don Thompson

June 30, 2023

A photo of a row of colorful vaping and e-cigarette products labeled with fruit flavors and a warning that they contain nicotine.

E-Cigs Are Still Flooding the US, Addicting Teens With Higher Nicotine Doses

The FDA, Justice Department, and White House have failed to act as vapes with kid-friendly flavors like cotton candy or gummy bears proliferate.

By Liz Szabo

June 26, 2023

An illustration of vials of medicine on a winding and complex production line.

Drugmakers Are Abandoning Cheap Generics, and Now US Cancer Patients Can’t Get Meds

A quality-control crisis at an Indian pharmaceutical factory has left doctors and their patients with impossible choices as cheap, effective, generic cancer drugs go out of stock.

By Arthur Allen

June 21, 2023

An illustration shows a vial and syringe on a red and blue diagonal background superimposed next to a photo of the U.S. Capitol.

Postcard From Capitol Hill

How the Mixed Messaging of Vaccine Skeptics Sows Seeds of Doubt

Some GOP members of the House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic have two-stepped around vaccine skepticism, proclaiming themselves to be pro-vaccine while also validating the beliefs of people who oppose vaccine mandates. The result could have serious public health consequences.

By Darius Tahir

June 8, 2023

A digital illustration in bright Copic marker and pencil shows a cluster of realistically drawn Amanita muscaria mushrooms in different phases of growth, from the “button” stage to fully mature. These mushrooms have a distinct red cap covered in small, white nubs, which give it a spotted appearance. The gills and stem are a cream-white color. Popping out from the mushrooms in a whimsical style are gummies that variously read “eat me” and “chew me,” as well as capsules. Both ingestible products are colored the same red as the mushroom’s cap to indicate they are mushroom products. A magnifying glass hovers over the mushrooms, symbolizing inspection. The background is a deep blue, which fades to magenta, giving the image a dreamlike feel.

Mood-Altering Mushroom Sales Bloom Despite Safety Concerns

The well-known “Amanita muscaria” mushroom is legal to possess and consume in 49 states. The market for gummies, powders, and capsules containing extracts of the fungus is raising eyebrows, though, amid concerns from the FDA and in the absence of human clinical trials.

By Sam Ogozalek, Tampa Bay Times

May 31, 2023

Watch: 5th Circuit Judges Question Two-Decade-Old Approval of Abortion Pill

The 5th Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans heard oral arguments Wednesday in a case brought by conservative Christian abortion opponents seeking to revoke FDA approval of mifepristone, a medication used in more than half of abortions in the U.S.

By Sarah Varney

May 18, 2023

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