Dental News
State delays enforcement of new health care price transparency law
The Alaska Department of Health and Social Services is delaying enforcement of a new law requiring hospitals and clinics to post the pre-insurance cost of their most common medical procedures.
In a public notice filed last week, the department wrote, “DHSS will not impose a penalty on any health care provider or health care facility for failure to comply (with the law) requiring price collection, posting, and reporting to DHSS, beginning January 1, 2019 and continuing until implementing regulations are in effect.”
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Legal weed is everywhere — unless you’re a scientist
Americans can legally buy high quality marijuana in most states, but when scientists want to study pot in a lab, they’re basically stuck with schwag.
A little-known research facility at the University of Mississippi is the only place in the country that is authorized to grow and test marijuana for medical research purposes. But this effort is stymied by a slow process for certifying scientists, a lack of funding and according to pot experts, an inferior product compared to what the booming cannabis sector has rolled out in recent years.
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US urges doctors to write more Rx for overdose antidote
The U.S. government told doctors Wednesday to consider prescribing medications that reverse overdoses to many more patients who take opioid painkillers in a move that could add more than $1 billion in health care costs.
Assistant Secretary for Health Brett Giroir, a doctor appointed by President Donald Trump, announced the guidance, saying it’s important for doctors to discuss overdose dangers with patients.
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