How officials cracked case of eyedrops that blinded people
NEW YORK — The patients’ eyes were painfully inflamed. They could sense light but could see almost nothing else. A doctor called one case the worst eye infection he’d ever seen. It was the beginning of a national outbreak caused by an extremely worrisome bacteria — one that some say...
Lilly plans to slash some insulin prices, expand cost cap
Eli Lilly will cut prices for some older insulins later this year and immediately give more patients access to a cap on the costs they pay to fill prescriptions. The moves announced Wednesday promise critical relief to some people with diabetes who can face thousands of dollars in annual costs...
U.S. agencies sow confusion over ‘lab leak’ theory of covid origins
A report from the Wall Street Journal on Monday said sources inside the U.S. Department of Energy now believe with “low confidence” that the global spread of covid-19 was “most likely” the result of a laboratory leak in China. The report contradicts four other U.S. agencies that have investigated how...
Low-calorie sweetener may increase risk of heart attack and stroke, study finds
We all know staying away from sugar has been of caution for ages, but has the time come to start keeping an eye on sugar substitutes as well? Apparently, a new study said consuming food or drinks flavored by a sugary replacement called erythritol — often found in Splenda packets,...
UPMC cites employment costs, pandemic as profits fell in 2022
Pittsburgh-based health care giant UPMC reported profits of about $238 million during 2022, a 71% drop compared to the previous year. Edward Karlovich, executive vice president and chief financial officer of UPMC, called it a “difficult year in health care,” but said UPMC made long-term investments in 2022 to improve...
Merged Excela, Butler health system is struggling financially, CEO says
Economic storm clouds are on the horizon for the newly combined Excela and Butler health systems, and a “significant expense reduction plan” is in the near future, according to an internal letter signed by President and CEO Ken DeFurio. In the letter — sent to employees and medical staff at...
Experts in lawsuit say mental health care at Allegheny County Jail is ‘grossly inadequate’
Experts retained as part of a federal lawsuit over the treatment of mentally ill people being held at Allegheny County Jail said the facility’s mental health care is “shockingly substandard.” The expert reports filed this month in federal court blamed the problems on issues including:A shortage in medical staffing.A lack...
UPMC, head of cardiothoracic surgery will pay $8.5M to feds to settle lawsuit
UPMC, a renowned cardiothoracic surgeon there and a physicians group will pay the federal government $8.5 million to settle a lawsuit accusing them of knowingly submitting hundreds of false claims to Medicare, failing to follow medical standards for surgery and knowingly placing patients at risk. The U.S. Attorney’s Office filed...
Former ‘Mr. Pittsburgh’ overcomes cancer, creates fitness hotline for seniors
Nick Majoris still has the green fiberglass mask with holes that was placed over his head and bolted to a table during radiation treatments for throat cancer. It has “X” marks where the radiation was directed. A reminder of a time when he didn’t feel well, he keeps it to...
Regional initiative launches on patient safety and technology in health care
Think about your smartphone. You rarely leave home without it, and there’s a team dedicated to making sure the device is upgraded and meaningful to you. But a dedicated team to making sure health care is safer for patients — and that workers can work in the best environments —...
Feds seek to limit telehealth prescriptions for some drugs
WASHINGTON — The Biden administration moved Friday to require patients see a doctor in person before getting attention deficit disorder medication or addictive painkillers, toughening access to the drugs against the backdrop of a deepening opioid crisis. The proposal could overhaul the way millions of Americans get some prescriptions after...
Flu vaccine worked well in season that faded fast, CDC says
NEW YORK — Early estimates suggest the flu vaccine performed well in a U.S. winter flu season that has already dissipated. The vaccines were more than 40% effective in preventing adults from getting sick enough from the flu that they had to go to a doctor’s office, clinic or hospital,...
FTD explained: Experts on brain disorder’s symptoms and treatment
Fans and followers of Hollywood icon Bruce Willis were shocked and saddened by the news of the actor’s diagnosis with frontotemporal dementia, or FTD, a rare form of dementia. The family shared the diagnosis with fans to help raise awareness of this condition, releasing this statement about Willis’ condition to...
How the Ohio train derailment impacted Pa.’s air and water quality
Social media sites have been full of hyperbole and misinformation since a Norfolk Southern train carrying hazardous chemicals derailed in East Palestine, Ohio, early this month. Some viral posts have falsely claimed that the derailment and subsequent controlled burn were part of the deadliest environmental disaster in history — even...
Amazon closes $3.9B buyout of health company One Medical
NEW YORK — Amazon said Wednesday it has closed its $3.9 billion acquisition of the primary care organization One Medical. The e-commerce giant has said the buyout, which was announced in July, is a key component of its growing health care business, which includes its online drugstore Amazon Pharmacy and...
Carnegie Mellon, Rales Foundation embark on $150M effort to support underrepresented STEM students
Carnegie Mellon University and the Norman and Ruth Rales Foundation are unveiling a $150 million initiative to broaden the nation’s pipeline of “STEM” talent by tapping women, minorities and others who are underrepresented in science, technology engineering and math. The intent is to diversify those fields by offering not only...
In test, zaps to spine help 2 stroke survivors move arms
WASHINGTON — A stroke left Heather Rendulic with little use of her left hand and arm, putting certain everyday tasks like tying shoes or cutting foods out of reach. “I live one-handed in a two-handed world and you don’t realize how many things you need two hands for until you...
Pa. Department of Health sues to keep medical marijuana program data secret
Spotlight PA is an independent, nonpartisan newsroom powered by The Philadelphia Inquirer in partnership with PennLive/The Patriot-News, TribLIVE/Pittsburgh Tribune-Review and WITF Public Media. Sign up for our free newsletters. HARRISBURG — The Pennsylvania Department of Health is again suing Spotlight PA in an attempt to keep information about how patients...
Health care vaccine mandate remains as some push for an end
LOWRY CITY, Mo. — At Truman Lake Manor in rural Missouri, every day begins the same way for every employee entering the nursing home’s doors — with a swab up the nose, a swirl of testing solution and a brief wait to see whether a thin red line appears indicating...
Bird flu costs pile up as outbreak enters 2nd year
OMAHA, Neb. — The ongoing bird flu outbreak has cost the government roughly $661 million and added to consumers’ pain at the grocery store after more than 58 million birds were slaughtered to limit the spread of the virus. In addition to the cost of the government response and rising...
After treating pain with medical marijuana, Ryan Shazier launches new line of products
When former Steelers linebacker Ryan Shazier suffered a terrifying injury during a 2017 game against the Cincinnati Bengals, he didn’t know that trying to walk again would lead to even more battles during his recovery. As his journey progressed from paralysis to relearning how to walk, Shazier not only had...
UPMC Children’s Hospital to open new rehab facility
For some kids who suffer from brain trauma or spinal injury, one of the goals they may set for rehabilitation is being able to sit on the floor to play with their pet dog. The Zero G robot, a new supportive harness system for patients to practice walking, balance and...
Moderna won’t raise price on covid vaccine after pressure
Moderna said Wednesday it wouldn’t raise the price of its covid-19 vaccine after a public outcry. The about-face comes after the company was harshly criticized for planning to raise the cost of a vaccine dose about 400% — to the $110-to-$130 range. The company said the decision was made because...
Panel backs moving opioid antidote Narcan over the counter
WASHINGTON — The overdose-reversing drug naloxone should be made available over the counter to aid the national response to the opioid crisis, U.S. health advisers said Wednesday. The panel of Food and Drug Administration experts voted unanimously in favor of the switch after a full day of presentations and discussions...
18% drop since 2020 in people with reported medical debt
WASHINGTON — The number of people with medical debt on their credit reports fell by 8.2 million — or 17.9% — between 2020 and 2022, according to a report Tuesday from the U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. White House officials said in a separate draft report that the two-year drop...
