Drug prices: how generics changed the game

Jul 25, 2017
Generics used to be sold out of car trunks. Then Congress got involved.
PHILIPPE HUGUEN/AFP/Getty Images

Congress has fewer people helping them than they used to

Jun 19, 2017
Rank-and-file House members have smaller staffs and fewer experts to turn to.
"Ordinary lawmakers are pressed for time, and often they find themselves out of their depth no matter how smart they are or how experienced they are," says Max Ehrenfreund, a Washington Post writer.
Zach Gibson/Getty Images

Proposed cuts to SNAP target families of more than six people

May 26, 2017
The White House budget proposal would cut SNAP, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program known as food stamps, by $193 billion over 10 years. Right now a family of six gets about $900 a month in food aid. Under Trump’s proposal, that would be the cap, even for households with more people. Many families that receive […]

This cancer patient is devoting his life to making drugs more affordable

May 17, 2017
David Mitchell's advocacy group aims to bring down prescription prices by harnessing the power of patient stories.
Advocate David Mitchell says drugs are so expensive that some people are losing their homes or using college savings. Above, chemotherapy drugs.
Chris Hondros/Getty Images

5 percent of patients drive 50 percent of health care spending. A new bill aims to change that.

May 16, 2017
Republicans and Democrats don’t quite see eye to eye when it comes to repealing Obamacare. But when the Senate Finance Committee meets today, there’s likely to be common ground on how to improve care for the 3.5 million sickest and most expensive Medicare patients: a new bipartisan bill that targets new treatments for the people […]

For public good, not for profit.

Midwest flooding underscores a need for flood insurance reform

May 4, 2017
Floodwaters have displaced hundreds of people and lead to several deaths in the Midwest. Now the damage assessment starts. The National Flood Insurance Program helps homeowners buy affordable flood insurance, but it’s $25 billion in debt. Congress has a chance to reform it before it’s up for reauthorization in September, and those reforms could include […]

How do you pay for pre-existing conditions? The GOP plans to charge more

May 4, 2017
Republicans are trying for a different health insurance model.
Speaker of the House Paul Ryan announces a cancelled vote on the American Health Care Act, the GOP plan to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, in March.
Drew Angerer/Getty Images

Critics say GOP measure allows employers to skirt overtime pay

May 3, 2017
Republicans in the House of Representatives have just passed a bill that would allow employers to give workers paid time off instead of the time and a half normally paid as overtime. The legislation, called the “Working Families Flexibility Act,” is being touted by the GOP as way to provide more options for workers. Opponents […]