Health Highlights: Jan. 18, 2019

Obamacare Premiums Could Rise Due to Trump Administration ProposalGluten-Free Chicken Nuggets Recalled by Perdue FoodsFDA Panel Splits Vote on New Diabetes Drug

Here are some of the latest health and medical news developments, compiled by the editors of HealthDay:

Obamacare Premiums Could Rise Due to Trump Administration Proposal

A small premium increase for health insurance under the Affordable Care Act could be on the way next year due to a proposed rule change announced Thursday by the Trump administration.

It said the proposal, which would boost premiums by about 1 percent, is meant to improve the accuracy of a formula used to determine consumers premiums, the Associated Press reported.

After several steep increases, premiums under the health law were largely stable this year.

In Trump's first year in office, he tried unsuccessfully to repeal the health law and then scrapped a large insurer subsidy, leading to a flurry of premium increases, the AP reported.

Another proposal from the Trump administration is to require insurers that cover abortion to offer a "mirror" plan that does not offer such coverage.

-----

Gluten-Free Chicken Nuggets Recalled by Perdue Foods

Possible wood contamination has led to the recall of more than 68,000 pounds of gluten-free chicken nuggets from Perdue Foods, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) says.

The agency said there are no confirmed cases of illness linked with the ready-to-eat chicken nuggets, which were produced on Oct. 25, 2018, CNN reported.

"The problem was discovered when the firm received three consumer complaints that wood was found in the product," according to a FSIS statement.

The agency said that consumers with the recalled chicken nuggets should throw them away or return them to the place of purchase, CNN reported.

------

FDA Panel Splits Vote on New Diabetes Drug

A U.S. Food and Drug Administration advisory panel vote on whether to recommend approval of the first oral medication for type 1 diabetes ended in an 8-8 tie Thursday.

Despite that result, the FDA is expected to decide by the end of March whether the drug -- sotagliflozin (Zynquista) should be made available in the United States, The New York Times reported.

The drug, used along with insulin, is a once-daily pill meant to help type 1 diabetes patients manage their blood sugar levels.

Some of the advisory panel members voted against Zynquista because it carries an increased risk of a dangerous condition called diabetic ketoacidosis, which occurs when the body doesn't get enough insulin, The Times reported.

Drug makers Sanofi and Lexicon Pharmaceuticals said they'll continue to work with the FDA through the review process for the drug.

Related Stories

No stories found.
logo
www.healthday.com