Health

For many Americans, the rising tide of prescription drug prices seems like an unstoppable force, threatening to drown household budgets and access to health care. While pharmaceutical companies often shoulder the brunt of the public blame, the web of influence on drug costs is far more intricate. Today, we shine a spotlight on a critical but usually hidden player in this system: pharmacy benefit managers, or PBMs. Rebecca Robbins, a leading investigative reporter specializing in pharmaceuticals for The New York Times, takes us on a deep dive into the world of PBMs. We explore their role as middlemen between drugmakers,…

Mosquito-borne dengue fever is spreading rapidly around the world, reaching record levels and even popping up in unexpected places. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is warning doctors in the United States to be on the lookout for cases, as the risk of infection has increased this year. Why the wave? Several factors are driving the rise of dengue. The Aedes aegypti mosquito, which transmits the virus, thrives in warm, humid environments. Climate change is creating ideal conditions for these mosquitoes to expand their range and become more numerous. Urbanization is also bringing people closer to mosquito breeding…

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced Thursday that all Americans 6 months and older should receive one of the new COVID-19 vaccines when they become available this fall. The recommendation comes amid a summer surge in COVID-19 cases, with infection rates rising in at least 39 states and territories. While most Americans have developed some immunity to the coronavirus through previous infections or vaccinations, new vaccines offer an incremental boost. However, their effectiveness wanes over a few months as immunity wanes and the virus continues to mutate. Data presented at a recent meeting of the CDC Advisory…

When I was little, my father, who rarely traveled, would tell stories of a trip to Europe he took with his parents at age 14, in 1966. He remembered how Nonie loved the pristine Swiss roads and flowerbeds; the cozy fireplace in the hillside house near Lugano, where her father was born, with its ingenious alcoves for drying clothes or warming bread; and the palpable poverty in the house in Pozzuoli, near Naples, where Nonie’s aunt had lined the walls with newspaper for insulation. Occasionally, my father would show me his Kodachrome slides on a projector. As an adult, I…

Ann Lurie, a former pediatric nurse turned noted Chicago philanthropist, died Monday at her home. She was 79. Northwestern University, where Lurie was a trustee and major donor, announced her death without giving a cause. Raised in Miami by a single mother, Lurie was an only child and protested the Vietnam War during her college years. She initially planned to join the Peace Corps, but instead married Robert H. Lurie. Robert Lurie built a large real estate and investment business with Sam Zell, which included holdings such as The Chicago Tribune and the Chicago Cubs. He also invested in sports…

According to official visitor logs, a Parkinson’s disease expert from Walter Reed National Military Medical Center visited the White House eight times over an eight-month period from last summer to last spring, and met at least once with President Biden’s doctor. The expert, Dr. Kevin Cannard, is a neurologist specializing in movement disorders who recently published a paper on Parkinson’s. The logs, released by the White House, document visits from July 2023 to March of this year. More recent visits, if any, would not be disclosed until later, according to the White House’s voluntary disclosure policy. It is unclear whether…

Climate change and contaminated water have triggered an epidemic of kidney disease. In Sri Lanka, a serene island nation in the Indian Ocean, a silent killer is claiming the lives of thousands of men. Statistics reveal an alarming spike in chronic kidney disease cases, and experts point to two main culprits: climate change and water pollution. In rural northern and eastern Sri Lanka, where agriculture is the backbone of the local economy, farmers face a daily struggle not only to cultivate their land but also to survive amid a growing health crisis. Extreme temperatures and prolonged droughts, exacerbated by climate…

The nervous energy was palpable as hundreds of cyclists, dressed in colorful Lycra suits, awaited the start of the 50-mile ride known as Medio Siglo from the Santa Fe Railyard, a hub of art galleries, restaurants, and a farmers market in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Finally, we began pedaling through town with eight motorcycle cops clearing the road and guarding intersections. We passed the Roundhouse, where the New Mexico Legislature meets. We passed Museum Hill, home to four museums exploring the Native American Southwest, the Spanish colonial past, and more. After about twelve miles, Santa Fe was behind us and…

Many people who have undergone mental health therapy often highlight the positive aspects of it, such as developing better coping skills, building stronger relationships, and achieving a calmer mind. But what happens when a therapist fails to help or even causes harm? A psychologist might send warning signals to a client by yawning during sessions, consistently arriving late, or offering poor advice. Patients can report unethical behavior to a counselor’s state licensing board, but there isn’t always a recourse for those who feel a therapist is poorly trained, inexperienced, or just bad at their job. Currently, no federal agency is…