FDA Archives - Page 9 of 25

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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The Crisis Is Officially Ending, but Covid Confusion Lives On

Episode 297

May 11, 2023

The public health emergency declaration for covid-19 ends May 11, ushering in major changes in how Americans can access and pay for the vaccines, treatments, and tests particular to the culprit coronavirus. But not everyone will experience the same changes, creating a confusing patchwork of coverage — not unlike health coverage for other diseases. Meanwhile, outside advisers to the FDA formally recommended allowing a birth control pill to be sold without a prescription. If the FDA follows the recommendation, it would represent the first over-the-counter form of hormonal contraception. Margot Sanger-Katz of The New York Times, Tami Luhby of CNN, and Joanne Kenen of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and Politico join �Թϲ��’ Julie Rovner to discuss these issues and more. Plus for “extra credit” the panelists suggest health policy stories they read this week they think you should read, too.

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An illustration shows a map of the United States separated into puzzle pieces with the chemical structure diagram of THC and a marijuana leaf superimposed on top of it.

Legal Pot Is More Potent Than Ever — And Still Largely Unregulated

As marijuana has become far more mainstream, potent, and sometimes dangerous, uneven regulation at the state and federal levels leaves consumers at risk.

By David Hilzenrath

May 9, 2023

A digital illustration in watercolor and pencil shows a hand holding a box of sanitary pads that are used for menstruation. On the cover of the box, a diagram shows different layers of material that make up the pad. The list of ingredients, however, remains a mystery and reads only as a confusing series of the letter “X.”

Federal Rules Don’t Require Period Product Ingredients on Packaging Labels. States Are Stepping In.

New York and California have passed laws requiring disclosure of ingredients on menstrual product packaging. Advocates want more transparency across the U.S.

By Erica Zurek

May 3, 2023

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Listen: Mifepristone Remains Available for Now. What Happens Next?

The Supreme Court on April 21 ruled that the abortion pill mifepristone should remain widely available while the lower courts consider the issue, blocking earlier rulings that banned or restricted access to the drug. �Թϲ��’ Julie Rovner joined NPR’s “Weekend All Things Considered” to discuss the complicated case.

April 24, 2023

Social Media Is Fueling Enthusiasm for New Weight Loss Drugs. Are Regulators Watching?

Online platforms are overflowing with testimonials for GLP-1s. The drugs show promise for inducing weight loss, but many aren’t FDA-approved for that use.

By Darius Tahir and Hannah Norman

April 18, 2023

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The Confusing Fate of the Abortion Pill

Episode 293

April 13, 2023

The legality and availability of the abortion pill mifepristone is in question after a federal judge in Texas canceled the FDA’s approval of the first drug used in the two-drug medication abortion regimen. A 5th Circuit Court of Appeals panel overruled that decision in part, saying the pill should remain available, but only under the onerous restrictions in place before 2016. Meanwhile, another federal judge in Washington state issued a ruling in a separate case that conflicts with the Texas decision, ordering the FDA not to roll back any of its restrictions on the drug. Victoria Knight of Axios, Shefali Luthra of The 19th, and Sarah Karlin-Smith of the Pink Sheet join �Թϲ�� chief Washington correspondent Julie Rovner to discuss these issues and more.

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A photo shows boxes of mifepristone pills next to cards with instructions listed on them.

HealthBent

Doctors’ Lesson for Drug Industry: Abortion Wars Are Dangerous to Ignore

The American Medical Association ducked the abortion issue for years and now sees its members’ professional opinions second-guessed by lawmakers and judges. PhRMA is following the same playbook.

By Julie Rovner

April 11, 2023

KHN Impact

FDA Evaluates ‘Safety Concerns’ Over Dental Devices Featured in KHN-CBS Investigation

A KHN and CBS News investigation found that a dental appliance called the AGGA has been used by more than 10,000 patients, and multiple lawsuits allege it has caused grievous harm to patients.

By Anna Werner, CBS News and Brett Kelman

March 31, 2023

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A Judicial Body Blow to the ACA

Episode 291

March 30, 2023

A federal judge in Texas has dealt a big setback to the Affordable Care Act. The same judge who tried in 2018 to declare the entire ACA unconstitutional has now ruled that the law’s main provisions for preventive care are unconstitutional and, therefore, unenforceable nationwide. Also this week, North Carolina became the 40th state to expand Medicaid under the ACA. Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico, Rachel Cohrs of Stat, and Sandhya Raman of CQ Roll Call join KHN chief Washington correspondent Julie Rovner to discuss these issues and more.

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A photo of mifepristone and misoprostol abortion pills.

Judge Signals He Could Rule to Halt Sales of Common Abortion Pill

A U.S. District Court case is being widely followed because the judge’s decision could overturn the FDA’s approval of mifepristone two decades ago. With abortion rights polling well even in red states, anti-abortion activists are increasingly turning to the courts to achieve their aims.

By Sarah Varney

March 20, 2023

A photo of the AGGA device on a mold of teeth.

KHN Impact

FDA Looks Into Dental Device After KHN-CBS News Investigation of Patient Harm

The FDA’s interest in the AGGA dental device follows a KHN-CBS News investigation, according to a former agency official.

By Brett Kelman and Anna Werner, CBS News

March 15, 2023

A photo shows a Customs officer reviewing mail as a dog alerts him.

Despite Pharma Claims, Illicit Drug Shipments to US Aren’t Full of Opioids. It’s Generic Viagra.

The FDA has long blocked the importation of cheap medicine, agreeing with pharmaceutical manufacturers that it opens the door to opioids. The agency’s own data shows that rarely happens.

By Phil Galewitz

March 6, 2023

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March Medicaid Madness

Episode 287

March 2, 2023

President Joe Biden and Republicans in Congress spent last month sparring over whether to shield Medicare and Social Security from budget cuts — leading some to wonder if Medicaid was on the table instead. Biden and Democrats say no, but some Republicans seem eager to trim federal spending on the health program for Americans with low incomes. And ready or not, artificial intelligence is coming to medical care. Benefits, as well as unintended consequences, are likely. Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico, Rachel Cohrs of STAT News, and Lauren Weber of The Washington Post join KHN’s chief Washington correspondent, Julie Rovner, to discuss these issues and more.

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