A glaring gap in Congress’ surprise billing law; prisons skimp on Covid treatments

Even though the lab was down the hall from his doctor, it was still out-of-network. A new law against surprise medical bills doesn't fix it. ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ 

STAT+: A glaring gap in Congress' surprise billing law leaves patients on the hook for pricey, out-of-network lab tests By Bob Herman Molly Ferguson Even though the lab was down the hall from his doctor, it was still out-of-network. A new law against surprise medical bills doesn’t fix it. Read More Prisons skimp on Covid treatments like Paxlovid, even as Biden plans to flood pharmacies with it By Nicholas Florko David McNew/Getty Images Pfizer's drug Paxlovid would help combat Covid-19 in prisons. But the drug isn't available to the vast majority of federal prisoners. Read More STAT+: Congress considers a longer phase-out of looser, Covid-era telehealth policies By Rachel Cohrs Stefani Reynolds/Getty Images Lawmakers want to extend more flexible telehealth policies for five months after the end of the formal emergency. Read More Sponsor content by STAT Events The STAT Breakthrough Science Summit On March 31, take an inside look at the technologies and procedures set to redefine medicine, and change patient care in the years to come. You'll hear from the CEOs, scientists, entrepreneurs at the forefront of these efforts. Get your pass now, and use your STAT+ subscriber login to unlock a 20% discount. STAT+: Congress moves toward giving FDA authority over synthetic nicotine products like Puff Bar By Nicholas Florko Marshall Ritzel/AP Lawmakers are within striking distance of closing the largest loophole in the FDA's oversight of e-cigarette companies. Read More STAT+: Moderna will never enforce Covid-19 vaccine patents in poor countries By Ed Silverman Charles Krupa/AP Moderna will offer licenses for its technology to manufacturers on "commercially reasonable terms" for distribution in wealthy countries. Read More 'Why would I want that?': My sister's simple question reshaped my physician job search By Jennifer Adaeze Okwerekwu Mike Reddy for STAT "I love what I do — in many ways it's a privilege — but I don't love that it has dominated my youth and taken so much of my time." Read More STAT+: Mallinckrodt to pay $260 million to settle federal lawsuits over Medicaid rebates and kickbacks By Ed Silverman AP Images for Mallinckrodt Mallinckrodt will pay $260 million to settle accusations that it underpaid Medicaid rebates and illegally used a charity to pay kickbacks. Read More Opinion: The U.S. must fix its innovation engine: the patent system By Adam Mossoff Adobe A 2014 Supreme Court ruling on patents hit the biotech sector particularly hard. Congress needs to modernize U.S. patent law. Read More Tuesday, March 8, 2022       1 Exchange Pl, Suite 201, Boston, MA 02109 ©2022, All Rights Reserved. I no longer wish to receive STAT emails Update Email Preferences | Contact Us | View In Browser