ANTHEM TO BUY CIGNA, CREATING BIGGEST U.S. HEALTH INSURER

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ANTHEM TO BUY CIGNA, CREATING BIGGEST U.S. HEALTH INSURER

Anthem will buy Cigna for about $54.2 billion, creating the largest U.S. health insurer by membership and accelerating the industry's consolidation from five national players to three. The proposed acquisition, the health insurance industry's largest, comes three weeks after Aetna Inc agreed to buy Humana Inc for $37 billion. Health insurers are finding it tougher to raise prices following the roll-out of President Barack Obama's healthcare law, while grappling with soaring expenses of medications including cancer drugs that can cost each patient more than $100,000 a year.

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Puerto Rico Braces for Health Care Crisis

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Puerto Rico Braces for Health Care Crisis

Puerto Rico is beginning to face another budget cut to a highly-used Medicare program as well as an alarming shortage of Medicaid funds. The health care system is moving towards a crisis which could further undermine the island's gutted economy. The first sign of this crisis regarding the health care system was seriously in trouble when a large amount of doctors, a total of 3,000 in 5 years, began to leave the island for better positions, more money and less stress in the United States. 

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UPDATE: Legionnaires’ disease in New York

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UPDATE: Legionnaires’ disease in New York

Legionnaires’ disease has killed a total of 12 people in the South Bronx of New York ever since the outbreak began on July 10th. However, according to the New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, the outbreak is on the decline. He said there have been no new reported cases in a week. The most recent case of the illness was reported over a week ago. So far in New York, there have been a total of 113 cases of Legionnaires’ disease since July. And among those people who have been hospitalized, 76 had been released from the hospital since the beginning of this week.

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Legionnaires’ Outbreak: What New Yorkers Need to Know

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Legionnaires’ Outbreak: What New Yorkers Need to Know

It seems New Yorkers are beginning to worry in response to the seven people who have died from the Legionnaires’ disease outbreak this week in the Bronx. Even though all of the victims were older adults with other underlying medical conditions, young people can become infected as well if the disease lives in a concentrated area, usually a building. A total of 81 cases were reported and 64 of those infected have been hospitalized.

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New cholesterol lowering drug much more expensive than statins

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New cholesterol lowering drug much more expensive than statins

A new cholesterol lowering drug called Praluent was recently approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and introduced to the market. Praluent is said to be a better alternative to statins. There are millions of people in the United States that currently take statins. Statins are a medication that people take to lower cholesterol in order to prevent heart attacks and strokes. Examples of statins include Lipitor, Lescol, Altoprev, Livalo, Pravachol, Crestor and Zocor.

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EXPERTS SUPPORT CALL FOR LOWER CANCER DRUG PRICES

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EXPERTS SUPPORT CALL FOR LOWER CANCER DRUG PRICES

A group of 118 leading cancer experts have developed a list of proposals designed to reduce the cost of cancer drugs. Also in support of a grassroots patient protest movement to pressure drug companies to charge what they deem a fair value for treatments. Experts include former presidents of the American Society of Clinical Oncology and the American Society of Hematology. An insured cancer patient who needs a drug that costs $120,000 a year would pay as much as $30,000 in out-of-pocket costs, which is more than half of the average U.S. household income of $52,000.

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