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Trump refuses Medicare proposals to include Wegovy and other medications for obesity

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The Trump administration rejected the Biden plan on Friday, which proposed Medicare and Medicaid covering obesity drugs and increasing access to millions of people.

The Biden administration’s proposal aimed to circumvent the ban on Medicare paying for weight loss drugs by claiming they would treat diseases related to obesity.

Expanding drug coverage would cost the federal government billions of dollars, with an estimated cost of around $35 billion over a decade according to the Congressional Budget Office Estimates.

The decision was part of a larger set of regulations contained in a 438-page document aimed at updating Medicare benefits and private insurance plans used by about half of Medicare beneficiaries.

Catherine Howden, a spokesperson for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, stated that the agency did not believe it was appropriate at the time to approve the Biden plan.

Medicare currently covers a limited set of weight loss medications for individuals with specific health conditions, such as diabetes and heart problems.

The Biden plan aimed to extend coverage to obese patients without these specific diseases, with an estimated 3.4 million people potentially benefiting from the policy.

Popular weight loss pills like Wegovy by Eli Lilly and other related products are now available at reduced prices to patients paying out of pocket.

Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk offer discounts for their products to patients paying out of pocket instead of through insurance, significantly reducing the cost for individuals.

Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. criticized weight loss pills, advocating for a diet of healthy foods instead.

Clinical trials have shown benefits of weight loss drugs beyond just weight loss, including preventing heart attacks and strokes.

Supporters of expanded drug coverage argue that the long-term health benefits will outweigh the costs, potentially reducing overall medical expenses. However, the realization of such savings remains uncertain.

States’ Medicaid programs now have the option to decide whether to cover obesity drugs or not, with some already opting to provide coverage. If the Biden policy had been implemented, all states would have been required to provide coverage.

The exact cost of obesity drugs for Medicare and Medicaid patients is undisclosed, but it is estimated to be several hundred dollars per patient per month.

Many employers and private health insurance plans do not cover weight loss drugs, leading some to discontinue coverage due to high costs.

Patients without insurance often rely on cheaper generic versions of drugs created through compounding, costing less than $200 a month. However, regulators are phasing out this option due to improved supply of branded products.

Congressional Republicans have shown some interest in urging Medicare to cover weight loss drugs, although this is not a current priority. Negotiations with Novo Nordisk for lower drug prices under a 2022 law have been initiated, with reduced prices scheduled to start in 2027 for eligible individuals.

Source: www.nytimes.com

New York County Clerk refuses to accept Texas Court filings targeting doctors over abortion medication

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The New York County Clerk recently prevented Texas doctors from taking legal action against New York doctors to provide abortion pills to Texas women.

This groundbreaking decision escalates the interstate abortion conflict to a new level, setting the stage for a legal showdown between states with differing views on abortion rights.

The dispute is expected to reach the Supreme Court, pitting Texas against New York. Texas has almost completely banned abortion. New York, on the other hand, has a Shield Law in place to protect abortion providers who supply medications to patients in other states.

Since the Supreme Court overturned the national abortion right in 2022, eight states, including New York, have implemented the Telehealth Abortion Shield Act. This law prohibits authorities from surrendering abortion providers to other states or complying with legal actions such as subpoenas.

The New York County Clerk’s action marks the first use of the Abortion Shield Act to oppose out-of-state judgments.

Dr. Margaret Daly Carpenter, based in New Paltz, New York, is involved in this case. She collaborates with telehealth abortion organizations to provide abortion medications nationally. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton sued Dr. Carpenter in December for allegedly sending abortion pills to Texan women in violation of the state’s ban.

Dr. Carpenter and her legal team did not appear at a Texas court hearing last month. Consequently, Collin County District Court Judge Brian Gant issued a default ruling, imposing a $113,000 fine on Dr. Carpenter and mandating the sending of abortion pills to Texas.

Citing the New York Shield Act, Ulster County’s Deputy Clerk Taylor Brook refused to process Texas’ motion for enforcing the Collin County order. He also declined to file a subpoena demanding payment of the penalty and compliance with the Texas ruling.

“In accordance with the New York State Shield Act, I reject this submission and any similar future submissions,” Brooke stated in a release. “This decision may lead to additional legal action, and we must refrain from discussing specific case details at this time.”

Texas Attorney General Paxton has vowed to continue his efforts. He criticized New York for not cooperating in enforcing civil judgments against abortion providers who allegedly cross state lines with dangerous drugs.

Legal experts anticipate that Texas may challenge the Shield Act in New York state or federal courts next.

New York Attorney General Letitia James previously issued guidance to courts and officials statewide on adhering to the Shield Act’s requirements and restrictions.

“I commend the Ulster County Clerk for upholding the law,” James declared. “The New York Shield Act safeguards patients and providers from out-of-state attacks on reproductive rights. We must not allow anyone to hinder healthcare professionals from delivering essential care to patients. My office will always stand with New York healthcare providers and the individuals they serve.”

Texas became the first state to take legal action against abortion providers from other states using Shield laws. In a separate case, Louisiana also filed criminal charges against a Shield Act abortion provider earlier this year.

In the recent past, Louisiana officials requested Dr. Carpenter’s extradition, a request that New York Governor Kathy Hochul promptly rejected.

“We will not authorize the extradition request from the Louisiana governor,” affirmed Hochul.

Dr. Carpenter and her legal team have refrained from commenting on the Texas and Louisiana cases. The Abortion Alliance for Telemedicine, an organization co-founded by Dr. Carpenter, issued a statement expressing support for the Shield Act. “The Shield Act is crucial in ensuring access to abortion care regardless of location or financial status,” the coalition emphasized. “It upholds the fundamental right to reproductive healthcare for all individuals.”

The Telemedicine Abortion Shield Act has become a vital tool for advocates of abortion rights. Health providers in states where abortion is legal send over 10,000 abortion medications each month to patients in states with restrictive laws.

The Texas lawsuit against Dr. Carpenter accuses her of providing a 20-year-old woman with mifepristone and misoprostol, standard abortion medications used up to 12 weeks into pregnancy. Mifepristone blocks necessary pregnancy hormones, while misoprostol induces contractions akin to a miscarriage 24-48 hours later.

According to a complaint from the Texas Attorney General’s office, a woman nine weeks pregnant sought emergency care in July due to bleeding. The woman’s partner suspected that the miscarriage was induced by the woman’s mother and found abortion medications provided by Carpenter at their home.

During a court session in Colin County, Ernest C. Garcia from the Texas Attorney General’s Office revealed that the woman’s partner had lodged a complaint.

Source: www.nytimes.com

France Claims US Refuses Entry to French Scientists Due to Disagreement Over Trump’s Policies

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According to the French government, the opinion he expressed about the Trump administration’s policies on academic research prevented French scientists from entering the United States this month.

French Minister of Higher Education and Research, Philip Baptist explained that the move is worried.

“Freedom of opinion, free research and academic freedom are values ​​that we continue to proudly support,” Baptist said in a statement. “I defend the possibility that all French researchers can be faithful to them in compliance with the law, wherever they are in the world.”

Baptist did not identify the scientist whose backs were turned away, but said the academic works at the publicly funded National Science Research Center in France, where he was traveling to a conference near Houston when border officials stopped him.

US authorities refused to enter the scientist and later deported him as his phone included exchanging messages with colleagues and friends.

It was not immediately clear why border authorities forced the scientists to stop, why they looked up the contents of his phone, or why they found the conversation undesirable.

Customs officials are permitted to search for mobile phones, computers, cameras or other electronic devices from travelers across the border. According to US Customs and Border Protectionthough agents say such cases are rare. In 2024, less than 0.01% of international travelers who arrived searched for electronics, according to the agency.

Baptist’s office declined to provide further details regarding the incident. A spokesman for the US Embassy in Paris also declined to comment.

A spokesperson for the National Center for Science and Research said the scientists who were turned away did not want to talk to the media and declined to comment further.

Agence France-Presse News Agency Reported previously The scientist refused to enter the United States.

Minister Baptist has been particularly vocal over the past few weeks by denounceing the threat to academic freedom in the United States. There, the Trump administration’s funding cuts and layoffs target higher education, scientific research and the federal government’s own scientific workforce.

Baptist urges French universities and research institutions to welcome researchers looking to leave the United States.

“Europe must be there to protect research and welcome talent that can contribute to its success,” Baptist said. I wrote it on social media After meeting with his European counterparts in Warsaw on Wednesday, he dealt with the “threat to free research in the United States.”

Jennifer Jones, director of the Center for Science and Democracy at the American advocacy group, the Union of Concern Scientists, said he was worried that incidents involving French scientists would have a calm effect on cross-border research cooperation.

“My fear is that these are more and more early cases,” Dr. Jones said. “I’ve heard from my network that people are very concerned about all sorts of international travel in either direction.”

“It should be worrying for all of us,” she added. When scientists restrict movement to conferences and other events designed to advance research, she said “it’s the masses that suffer.”

Segoren le stradic Reports of contributions.

Source: www.nytimes.com

Tesla refuses to release batteries, denying owners full benefits

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In Australia, Tesla battery owners may lose a profitable revenue stream due to restrictions placed by a U.S. energy company on local third-party transactions for their equipment. Additionally, there is uncertainty regarding the establishment and enforcement of standards by authorities.

Modern appliances like air conditioners, water heaters, and solar panels can now be remotely controlled, allowing consumers to engage in contracts that compensate them for adjusting their electricity usage, including supplying power back to the grid during peak times.

Although Tesla must achieve battery interoperability in various U.S. states, sources suggest that the company has disabled this feature on their flagship $15,000 Powerwall 2 battery sold in Australia.


To maximize benefits for consumers and the electric grid in the future, experts suggest that federal and state governments should enforce U.S. obligations on Tesla and other battery suppliers based on IEEE 1547-2018 Article 10 standards. Companies limiting utilities should not qualify for rebates. New South Wales offers subsidies of up to $2,400 per battery through their program.

Dean Spaccavento, CEO of Reposite Power, argues that batteries with closed control ports can restrict business models and harm owners. There are limitations to mitigating the battery issue through third-party providers who manage virtual power plants, where Tesla is a dominant player.

Government intervention is deemed necessary to mandate local control interfaces for batteries under rebate programs. Reposite Power avoids using Tesla batteries due to the company’s stance in the U.S.

Tesla has been contacted for comment by Guardian Australia.

The Australian Energy Market Operator emphasizes the potential of cooperative Consumer Energy Resource storage in their recent Grid Blueprint announcement.

Effective coordination and management of CERs are crucial for a cost-effective energy transition, as highlighted by Aemo. Home batteries with cloud control capabilities could be remotely activated with a software command, potentially causing conflicts and financial losses.

The adoption of interoperability standards in Australia’s energy products is expected to bring significant benefits, according to experts.

This story was updated on 7 July 2024 to clarify calls from industry stakeholders for battery suppliers to adhere to IEEE1547-2018 Clause 10 standards rather than AS4777 connection standards.

Source: www.theguardian.com

Executor Refuses CTE Research on O.J. Simpson’s Brain, Plans for Cremation

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A lawyer representing O.J. Simpson, who passed away from cancer at the age of 76 last week, announced on Sunday that Simpson’s body will be cremated in the coming days and there are no plans to donate his brain for research purposes, according to his attorney Malcolm LaVergne.

LaVergne mentioned that there had been inquiries about studying Simpson’s brain for chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a degenerative brain disease linked to repeated head trauma in football players, but stated firmly that the entire body, including the brain, will be cremated.

Further details about the cremation and decision regarding brain research were first reported in The New York Post.

As the executor of Simpson’s estate, LaVergne mentioned plans for a small “celebration of life” gathering restricted to close friends and family. Simpson had three children from his previous marriages and was famously acquitted in the murders of his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman in 1995.

Regarding financial matters, LaVergne expressed that he does not want the Goldman family, victims’ relatives, to receive any funds from Simpson’s estate. He acknowledged the need to handle the situation calmly and impartially.

Mr. Simpson’s debts, including those to the IRS, will be addressed as his estate is evaluated, and assets are inventoried to settle claims. Creditors will be prioritized for payment, with the Goldman family amongst them.

Despite potential legal battles over financial assets, Cook emphasized that the main goal is post-acquittal justice and accountability for the deaths of Brown Simpson and Goldman.

Looking ahead, LaVergne seeks funding for a suitable memorial at Simpson’s burial site as specified in his will, emphasizing the importance of carrying out his wishes without contention.

Source: www.nbcnews.com