The Department of Justice is probing Purdue Pharma, including issuing subpoenas to former employees, about whether the drug company failed to properly monitor illegal prescribing and ordering patterns for its OxyContin painkiller, the Wall Street Journal reports.
Why it matters: These are civil and criminal investigations. And if Purdue settles this with the DOJ, that "could further dilute the share of money available to settle suits brought by states and local governments," WSJ's Sara Randazzo writes.
If you're looking for some certainty about how much a health care test will cost you, the best solution may be a maddening one — buying a Groupon.
Why it matters: These coupons do often give patients a good and predictable price, which can be hard to come by, especially for the uninsured. But they're also a signal that volume — not value — is the driving force in the business of health care.
State and federal health authorities are focusing in on a single chemical as they try to determine the cause of vaping-related illnesses, according to the Washington Post. The compound turned up in marijuana products that patients had used.
Why it matters: Identifying the common chemical gives health officials a potential thread to follow to pinpoint the cause and find the right treatment for a severe pulmonary illness that has killed 2 people and may have afflicted at least 215 more.
