NEWS (265)
Baltimore police say multiple people shot near Morgan State University
The university and officials have urged people to shelter in place.
The story is developing.. more updates later
BPD and MSU officials are asking concerned family members to avoid the campus area. They may report to the Safeway parking lot at 4401 Harford Road. A BPD Officer will be available at that location. pic.twitter.com/qu1PiREYBP
— Morgan State University (@MorganStateU) October 4, 2023
Tuesday, the Biden-Harris Administration took another major step towards lower health care costs for seniors and families and announced that all manufacturers of all ten drugs selected for negotiation have signed agreements to participate in the Inflation Reduction Act’s Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program. For decades, Big Pharma fought to block Medicare from directly negotiating lower drug prices for seniors and other Medicare beneficiaries, while nearly three in ten Americans struggle to afford their medications because of cost. President Biden and Congressional Democrats finally beat Big Pharma and allowed Medicare to directly negotiate lower drug prices by passing the Inflation Reduction Act – despite zero Republicans voting in favor of the bill.
In total, the 10 drugs selected for negotiation accounted for $3.4 billion in out-of-pocket costs for an estimated 9 million Medicare enrollees in 2022. These drugs are used to treat heart failure, diabetes, arthritis, cancers, blood clots, and other conditions.
Manufacturers participating in the Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program:
| Participating Manufacturer |
Prescription Drug Name | Commonly Treated Conditions | Number of Medicare Part D Enrollees Who Used the Drug from June 2022-May 2023 | Average Out-Of-Pocket Cost Per Medicare Part D Enrollee* in Calendar Year 2022 |
| Bristol Myers Squibb | Eliquis | Prevention and treatment of blood clots | 3,706,000 | $608 |
| Boehringer Ingelheim | Jardiance | Diabetes; Heart failure | 1,573,000 | $490 |
| Janssen Pharms | Xarelto | Prevention and treatment of blood clots; Reduction of risk for patients with coronary or peripheral artery disease | 1,337,000 | $617 |
| Merck Sharp Dohme | Januvia | Diabetes | 869,000 | $502 |
| AstraZeneca AB | Farxiga | Diabetes; Heart failure; Chronic kidney disease | 799,000 | $448 |
| Novartis Pharms Corp | Entresto | Heart failure | 587,000 | $569 |
| Immunex Corporation | Enbrel | Rheumatoid arthritis; Psoriasis; Psoriatic arthritis | 48,000 | $2,005 |
| Pharmacyclics LLC | Imbruvica | Blood cancers | 20,000 | $6,497 |
| Janssen Biotech, Inc. | Stalara | Psoriasis; Psoriatic arthritis; Crohn’s disease; Ulcerative colitis | 22,000 | $4,207 |
| Novo Nordisk Inc. | Fiasp; Fiasp FlexTouch; Fiasp PenFill; NovoLog; NovoLog FlexPen; NovoLog PenFill | Diabetes | 777,000 | $261 |
*Represents average out-of-pocket spending for enrollees not receiving Low Income Subsidy
Source: CMS (https://www.cms.gov/files/document/fact-sheet-medicare-selected-drug-negotiation-list-ipay-2026.pdf), HHS (https://aspe.hhs.gov/reports/aspe-ira-drug-negotiation-fact-sheet)
In August, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced the first ten drugs selected for Medicare drug price negotiation under the Inflation Reduction Act. The deadline for manufacturers of these drugs to notify CMS whether they were participating in the negotiation process was October 1st, and the deadline to submit manufacturer-specific data to CMS was October 2nd.
Any prices negotiated for the first set of drugs participating in the drug price negotiation program will go into effect in 2026. Over the next 4 years, Medicare will negotiate prices for up to 60 drugs covered under Medicare Part D and Part B, and up to an additional 20 drugs every year after that.
Continuing to Lower Prescription Drug Costs
Every day, millions of seniors are saving money on prescription drug costs because of the Biden Administration’s actions. People with Medicare are saving an average of $70 in out-of-pocket costs on vaccines like shingles and Tdap because President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act made recommended vaccines free for beneficiaries starting this past January. Nearly four million seniors and others on Medicare with diabetes had their insulin costs capped at $35 per month this past January, saving some seniors hundreds of dollars for a month’s supply. And some seniors taking drugs covered under Part B for which manufacturers have hiked prices faster than inflation are saving up to $618 in lower coinsurance this quarter thanks to the new Medicare inflation rebates.
People with Medicare will continue to see their prescription drug costs go down as more provisions of the Inflation Reduction Act go into effect in the coming years. Medicare Part D enrollees will no longer pay 5% co-insurance when they reach the catastrophic phase of their benefit starting in 2024. Nearly 19 million seniors and other Medicare Part D enrollees are projected to save $400 per year on prescription drugs when the out-of-pocket cap drops to $2,000 in 2025, and 1.9 million enrollees with the highest drug costs will save an average of $2,500 per year. And, the prices negotiated for the high-spend drugs selected in August will go into effect in 2026.
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October is breast cancer awareness month. Knowing what your breasts normally look and feel like will help you be aware of any changes when performing regular self-examination.
#newhaven #nhvhealth #nhvhealthdepartment #publichealth #nhvhealthservices #breastcancer #womenshealth #menshealth #breastcancerawareness #breastcancerawarenessmonth #savethetatas #breasthealth #cancerawareness #breastcancersymptoms #signsofbreastcancer #breastcancertreatment #breastcancerrecovery #radiationtherapy #breastcancerscreening #cancerscreening #breastpain #nipplepain #swollenlymphnodes #nippledischarge #lumpinbreast #invertednipple #swollenbreast #BCSM #pinkribbon #wearpink
COVID-19 and flu vaccines are now available at our clinic at 54 Meadow St!
Walk-ins welcome, no appointment needed.
We currently offer the COVID-19 vaccine for ages 12+
Bring your insurance card or pay a $20 fee. No one will be turned away.
NOTE NEW CLINIC HOURS:
• Tues-Wed 9am-5pm: children’s physicals and immunizations (appointment required), STI testing/treatment, tuberculosis testing, COVID-19 and flu vaccine walk-ins
• Thurs-Fri 2pm-5pm: COVID-19 and flu vaccine walk-ins
• Sat-Mon: closed
Free Discount Card Enables Consumers To Receive Savings on Certain Prescription Drugs
(HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont and Comptroller Sean Scanlon announced that effective today, Connecticut residents can now enroll in a newly launched program enabling them to receive a discount card that can be presented at pharmacies to receive savings on certain medication.
The discount card is provided through ArrayRx, a multistate consortium Connecticut recently joined that has a goal of providing accessible pharmacy solutions for state partners. Other participating states include Nevada, Oregon, and Washington. The multistate consortium uses the leverage of bulk purchasing to offer up to 80% savings on generic prescription drugs and 20% savings on name-brand prescription drugs.
To receive a discount card, Connecticut residents must apply online at arrayrxcard.com. A valid physical Connecticut address and e-mail address are required to enroll. The card is provided to consumers digitally via e-mail and can be downloaded to smartphone wallets. There is no cost to receive a discount card, and there are no age or income restrictions.
Authorization for Connecticut to join the partnership was established by a provision of Governor Lamont’s health care affordability bill, which was approved by the General Assembly and signed into law earlier this year (Public Act 23-171). The program is administered by the Office of the State Comptroller.
“Obtaining this discount card is a way that consumers can save some money on medications they need to stay healthy,” Governor Lamont said. “I encourage all Connecticut residents to sign up for a discount card and use it at the pharmacy.”
“Affording prescription drugs is a significant obstacle many Connecticut residents are facing at a time when costs are rising and insurance covers less than it used to,” Comptroller Scanlon said. “Governor Lamont and I are working hard to rein in high healthcare costs, and the ArrayRx card is a free and secure tool all residents can use to save at their local pharmacy. Regardless of their health insurance status, I urge all Connecticut residents to take advantage of this free program.”
Anyone can visit arrayrxcard.com to search for their prescription and see the cost at local pharmacies, even before signing up. Some examples of potential savings include:
|
Product Name |
Approximate Cash Price* |
Approximate Price with ArrayRx discount* |
|
Lisinopril |
$17.46 |
$5.47 |
|
Albuterol Sulfate |
$44.99 |
$23.06 |
|
Simvastatin |
$21.30 |
$5.75 |
|
Escitalopram |
$32.10 |
$5.82 |
|
Penicillin V Potassium |
$23.49 |
$9.07 |
|
*This is the approximate cost at the time of publishing and is subject to change. |
||
For more information on how the ArrayRx discount card works, including a list of frequently asked questions and a drug price lookup tool, visit arrayrxcard.com.
- Twitter: @GovNedLamont
- Facebook: Office of Governor Ned Lamont
Why do it matters !!!\
Tonight, bipartisan majorities in the House and Senate voted to keep the government open, preventing an unnecessary crisis that would have inflicted needless pain on millions of hardworking Americans. This bill ensures that active-duty troops will continue to get paid, travelers will be spared airport delays, millions of women and children will continue to have access to vital nutrition assistance, and so much more. This is good news for the American people.
But I want to be clear: we should never have been in this position in the first place. Just a few months ago, Speaker McCarthy and I reached a budget agreement to avoid precisely this type of manufactured crisis. For weeks, extreme House Republicans tried to walk away from that deal by demanding drastic cuts that would have been devastating for millions of Americans. They failed.
While the Speaker and the overwhelming majority of Congress have been steadfast in their support for Ukraine, there is no new funding in this agreement to continue that support. We cannot under any circumstances allow American support for Ukraine to be interrupted. I fully expect the Speaker will keep his commitment to the people of Ukraine and secure passage of the support needed to help Ukraine at this critical moment.
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THE PRESIDENT: Thank ycu
Before I begin, I want to say a brief word about Senator Dianne Feinstein, who passed away this morning.
She was a historic figure, a trailblazer for women, and a great friend. Diane made her mark in everything from national security to the environment to gun safety to protecting civil liberties.
The country is going to miss her dearly, and so will Jill and I. I’ll have more to say about her later today.
Vice President Harris; our Second Gentleman; Secretary Austin; members of Congress; leaders of the Department of Defense, both current and former; friends and officials from around the world, thank you for being here today to mark the change of responsibility and to celebrate the service of General Mark Milley.
A combat infantryman. A master parachutist. A Green Beret. A warrior who served a total of five years in warzones, from Panama to Haiti to Bosnia to Afghanistan to Iraq, with a chest full of medals to show for it. A leader who once ran across a bridge booby-trapped with mines to stop two battle tanks evacuating wounded troops from driving across it. A patriot, uncompromising in his duty, unflinching in the face of danger, and unwavering in the service to the country.
And Hollyanne, none of us can say as m- — enough about you. You served right alongside him, every step of the way. And that’s not hyperbole. You served alongside him, every step of the way.
You pulled double- and triple-duty to make sure you and Mark were always doing right by your family, supporting the military community while maintaining your own career as a nurse. It’s incredible what you’ve achieved, Hollyanne. The work you’ve done to increase support for military spouse employment is going to keep improving the lives of military families for a long time.
And, Peter and Mary, thank you for sharing your dad with us. I know it wasn’t easy: all those moves, all those schools, all those months when your dad was deployed and you couldn’t be together. Thank you for all — all you’ve given to our country.
And, Mark, I know one of the best parts of retirement for you, as has been already mentioned by our Secretary, is you’re going to spend more time with your kids. That’s going to be fun, man. I tell you what, I love my kids. I’m crazy about my grandkids.
Now, everyone who has spent time with Mark knows three things about him, several were already mentioned.
One, he’s from Boston. Heparks his car in car garages. (Pronounced in a Boston accent.) He likes maps. And he loves the Constitution.
But each of these three things points to something deeper about Mark’s character.
His Boston heritage isn’t just about pride of place. It’s pride in what shaped him — the values that have guided his whole life.
It’s about the father and mother, both veterans of World War II, who set the example of nobility — of the nobility of serving your country.
It’s about knowing that his dad was among those who landed at Iwo Jima. And that if those young men his father served alongside could raise the flag on Mount Suribachi, then there’s nothing, nothing, nothing America cannot accomplish when we work together.
It’s about how his parents strived and sacrificed so their children would have every opportunity to chart their own future.
It’s knowing that everyone who served under his command had their own story — in his view, just as important as his.
And this — to this day, whenever Mark has attended events, I’ve watched him — we’ve attended many events together — I’ve watched him: He’ll talk to every young person, every veteran, every Gold Star family who wants to speak to him, no matter how long it takes, so he can hear their story as well and show his respect.
The Boston pride is about knowing where you come from.
The maps are about knowing where you are and where you’re going. Mark wants to make sure he has the necessary facts to inform his decisions as a leader and his advice to others.
As Commander-in-Chief, I’ve relied on Mark’s counsel because I know he always gives it to me straight no matter what. He always gives it to me straight. He’s working with the best information possible, and he doesn’t hold anything back.
During his tenure as Chairman, Mark has been a steady hand, guiding our military as we navigate what, I would argue, is one of the most complex security environments our world has faced in a long time.
He’s been critical to strengthening America’s exi- –existing alliances, from NATO to the Indo-Pacific to building the new strategic partnerships like AUKUS; and keeping our force on the cutting-edge of the fields of cyber and space; ending America’s longest war and continuing to take terrorists off the battlefield; standing with the brave people of Ukraine and making sure they have the equipment, the support they need, when they need it, to defend their freedom — letting them know — and letting them know how much he respects them.
Mark, your partnership has been invaluable to me. And I give you my word to that. And I think it’s been invaluable to Secretary Austin as well.
I want to thank you for always seeing, always sharing the whole map with me — the whole map. Thanks, pal. (Applause.)
When it comes to the Constitution, that is and has always been Mark’s North Star.
I’m so damn proud to serve with him. I —
He’s made — he’s made it the central image on his challenge coin, those three little words that mean so much to every American, but especially to those who stand in the service of our nation. The middle of his challenge coin says, “We the People.” “We the People.”
It’s a reminder to all of us what makes us a strong nation, who we are as a democracy, and how the United States — for more than two centuries — has always managed to keep moving forward. Not fealty to any one person or to a political party, but to the idea of America — idea unlike any other in human history: the idea that we’re are all created equal.
That is what the Constitution safeguards. That’s what we swear an oath to. And that is why generations of young women and men, Americans of every background and creed, have stepped forward to be part of the greatest fighting force in the history of the world. And that’s not hyperbole. You’re the greatest fighting force in the history of the world. (Applause.) I’ve seen you in Afghanistan, Iraq, and — but I don’t want to get started.
And our military is going to keep growing stronger — keep growing stronger with General C.Q. Brown — Charles Q. Brown, Jr., as our 24th [21st] Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Congratulations, old buddy. (Applause.)
As Mark will tell you, I’ll be meeting a lot with you. (Laughter.)
I said when I nominated General Brown as a seasoned warrior with deep combat experience — an experienced commander of the joint force, a top-flight strategist, a leader known throughout the force for his unmatched judgement and unflappable demeanor.
Like General Milley, General Brown is a patriot through and through, sworn to uphold and defend the Constitution. He and his wife, Sharene, have de- — dedicated themselves to keeping our military and their families healthy and vibrant. I thank you both and your sons, Sean and Ross, for everything you’ve given to our country over the years.
And I look forward to working even more closely with you, C.Q., as we take on all the challenges ahead to ensure that our force can continue to deter and defeat any potential threat to the American people.
As Secretary Austin noted, I am glad that General Brown was confirmed by the Senate, along with the new Commandant of the Marine Corps and Army Chief of Staff, but — I must be careful here how I say this — but it’s thoroughly, totally unacceptable that more than 300 other highly qualified officers are still in limbo. I’ve been here a long time; I’ve never seen anything like this. It’s outrageous, and it must stop.
Their promotions, their careers, their families, their futures held hostage by the political agenda of one senator and the silence of another 47 of them.
It’s a drag on our force. It impacts everything from readiness to morale to retention. And it’s an insult — an insult to the officers’ years of dedicated service.
Our troops deserve so much better. And if the House fails to fulfill its most basic function, if it fails to fund the government by tomorrow, it will have failed all of our troops.
Our service members will keep upholding their oaths, showing up for work, standing sentinel around the world, keeping our country secure — but they won’t get paid. It’s a disgrace. Thousands of Defense Department civilian and — civilian servants will be sent home.
And the longer the shutdown lasts, the harder it will be to become — the harder it will become for military families to pay their bills.
We can’t be playing politics while our troops stand in the breach. It’s an absolute dereliction of duty.
As leaders, we must never lose sight of the direct impacts of the decisions we make and the impact they have on the lives and families around the world.
General Milley, General Brown, Secretary Austin, and all the many great leaders across every branch of our military — you got to where you are by demonstrating extraordinary care and concern for the troops you command. It’s a lived leadership of being in the field alongside your troops, sharing their hardships, holding each other together when times are hard, never forgetting the humanity beneath the uniform. It’s an enormous credit to each of them personally and an enormous asset for our country.
Secretary Austin told the story of how he and General Milley got blown up together by an IED in Iraq. But the part of the story that stands out to me is the reason they were on Route Irish that night to begin with. The reason they were there: They were going to see one of Milley’s soldiers who had been wounded.
In fact, during that tour in Iraq, you’d often find then-Colonel Milley down at that hospital sitting with the wounded so they wouldn’t be alone; rounding up his troops for an impromptu blood drive if the docs let him know they were running low on units; putting an arm around his team, gathering them together, seeing to their injuries — both physical and mental — when war extracts the greatest of tolls.
That’s leadership. That’s patriotism. That’s strength. That’s Mark Milley. (Applause.)
Mark, you know how strongly I feel about you. You’ve given remarkable service to our country. You have done honor for the uniform of our nation. You have upheld your oath.
Thank you. Thank you, my friend. Thank you for being my friend.
May God bless you all. And may God protect our troops. (Applause.)
For decades, Big Pharma blocked Medicare from negotiating lower drug prices for seniors, while drug companies made record profits. President Biden and Congressional Democrats finally changed that when they passed the Inflation Reduction Act – while every single Republican in Congress sided with Big Pharma to keep health care costs high for millions of families.
Today’s ruling from the Southern District of Ohio affirms that Medicare will move forward with negotiating lower prices for millions of seniors. And, the Biden-Harris Administration won’t stop fighting for what we know to be true: that nothing in the Constitution prohibits Medicare from negotiating drug prices.
Because of President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act and this program, millions of people with Medicare will continue to see prescription drug costs go down for some of the costliest drugs that treat common conditions like heart failure, blood clots, diabetes, arthritis, and more.
There is no reason why Americans should be forced to pay two to three times more for their prescription drugs that any other developed nation. President Biden and his Administration will continue fighting to lower health care costs for American families, no matter how many challenges Republicans and Big Pharma put in our way.
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Senator Dianne Feinstein was a pioneering American. A true trailblazer. And for Jill and me, a cherished friend.
In San Francisco, she showed enormous poise and courage in the wake of tragedy, and became a powerful voice for American values. Serving in the Senate together for more than 15 years, I had a front row seat to what Dianne was able to accomplish. It’s why I recruited her to serve on the Judiciary Committee when I was Chairman – I knew what she was made of, and I wanted her on our team. There’s no better example of her skillful legislating and sheer force of will than when she turned passion into purpose, and led the fight to ban assault weapons. Dianne made her mark on everything from national security to the environment to protecting civil liberties. She’s made history in so many ways, and our country will benefit from her legacy for generations.
Often the only woman in the room, Dianne was a role model for so many Americans – a job she took seriously by mentoring countless public servants, many of whom now serve in my Administration. She had an immense impact on younger female leaders for whom she generously opened doors. Dianne was tough, sharp, always prepared, and never pulled a punch, but she was also a kind and loyal friend, and that’s what Jill and I will miss the most.
As we mourn with her daughter Katherine and the Feinstein family, her team in the Senate, and the people of California, we take comfort that Dianne is reunited again with her beloved Richard. May God Bless Dianne Feinstein.
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Vice President Kamala Harris on the Passing of Senator Dianne Feinstein
Senator Dianne Feinstein was one of the greatest public servants that California and our nation has ever known.
As the first woman president of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, the first woman to serve as mayor of San Francisco, and the longest-tenured woman to serve in the United States Senate, Dianne Feinstein broke barriers, inspired generations of women to run for office, and improved the lives of millions of Americans through her vision, courage, and leadership.
From her work to help pass the Assault Weapons Ban in 1994, to her work to safeguard California’s public lands, and her longstanding advocacy for reproductive rights, marriage equality, and LGBTQ+ rights, Senator Feinstein helped build a better America.
For years, I witnessed Senator Feinstein’s leadership, when the cameras were on and when they were off. In 2008, when I was re-elected District Attorney of San Francisco, it was Senator Feinstein who swore me in. As a United States Senator, it was my honor to serve the people of California alongside Senator Feinstein.
On the Senate Intelligence Committee, we spent a great deal of time together—in classified, bipartisan briefings and hearings—working on issues critical to America’s national security and the stability of the world. Senator Feinstein and I shared a fundamental belief in the importance of strong American leadership. And I saw firsthand how she worked courageously to ensure that our leadership was guided by our nation’s values.
In the tradition of so many great Senators from California, she was not only a leader for our state, but for our nation and our world. Through her long career, Senator Feinstein worked across the aisle to help our nation live up to its promise.
Doug and I send our prayers to Senator Feinstein’s family.
