1. The FDA approved the first drug to treat tardive dyskinesia, Neurocrine Biosciences’ Ingrezza. Tardive dyskinesia is a condition caused by long-term use of medicine to reduce nervous tension. Peak sales are estimated to reach $1 billion. (Endpts)
2. The high cost of prescriptions drugs are leading Americans to use crowdfunding websites to pay for prescriptions they’re unable to afford. A search for “prescription” on the website GoFundMe brought up around 13,600 funding pages. For “insulin” alone, there were nearly 6,000 results. (Business Insider)
3. New research published in Family Practice found that patients who had suffered a stroke still had difficulty sticking to their prescription regimen meant to prevent a second one. Researchers, tracking an online forum of stroke patients, found that side effects of preventive medicines may cause patients to stop taking them. (Reuters)
4. A bill introduced by Sens. Cory Gardner (R-CO) and Gary Peters (D-MI) aims to increase access to telehealth services for Medicare beneficiaries. The bill would mandate the government to let certain hospitals test telehealth services through the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation. (Forbes)
5. President Trump reaffirmed his administration’s aim to enact new healthcare legislation prior to reforming the tax code. He did note, however, that if healthcare doesn’t happen fast enough: “I’ll start the taxes.” (WSJ)
