In the News
15 NEW DRUGS SLATED FOR MEDICARE PRICE TALKS
Drugs to treat arthritis, cancer and diabetes were among the 15 prescriptions picked in late January for the third round of Medicare’s price-cut negotiations. About 1.8 million Medicare enrollees used these drugs last year, says the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. The list, with 2025 numbers:
New Advice on What to Eat
New dietary guidelines for Americans released by the federal government in January suggest six main steps to refining the way people eat. The recommendations:
▶︎ Get enough protein. Focus on “high-quality, nutrient-dense protein foods” at every meal, like eggs, poultry and seafood as well as plant-based options like peas, beans and nuts.
▶︎ Choose healthy fats. Prioritize whole foods such as seafood, nuts, seeds, olives and avocados. Use oils with essential fatty acids, like olive oil, when cooking.
▶︎ Avoid highly processed foods. Salty and sweet items like chips and cookies should be shunned.
▶︎ Watch out for artificial substances and avoid added sugars. Limit foods and beverages with artificial flavors, petroleum-based dyes, artificial sweeteners and preservatives.
▶︎ Reduce processed breads. Give preference to “fiber-rich whole grains” and cut down on highly processed, refined carbohydrates like white bread, ready-to-eat or packaged breakfast options, flour tortillas and crackers.
▶︎ Consume less alcohol. There are no recommendations for amounts or limits. The previous guidelines advised limiting alcoholic drinks to two drinks or fewer a day for men and one drink or fewer a day for women. The new advice simply urges less drinking.
LIBIDO PILL OK FOR WOMEN UP TO 65
For the first time, health officials have approved use of a libido-enhancing pill for postmenopausal women.
Flibanserin, sold as Addyi and cleared by the Food and Drug Administration in 2015 for younger women, can now be prescribed until age 65.
It is a nonhormonal medication that acts on chemical messengers in the body that affect sexual response.
The injectable medication bremelanotide (Vyleesi) is another FDA-approved treatment for premenopausal women with low libido. And while there is no FDA-approved testosterone therapy for women with libido issues, some doctors prescribe it off-label.
Flibanserin is not for women who take some blood pressure medications and certain antibiotics. It also requires caution with alcohol use. Still, the expanded approval was welcomed by many women’s health experts.
One hurdle is cost. Insurance coverage is not universal, and some retailers list the medication for more than $1,000 per month, though the manufacturer offers copay programs and coupons to offset the cost.
#$%& YEAH!
Swearing can improve strength and endurance, says a study published in American Psychologist. Uttering swear words could “promote psychological states conducive to maximizing effort and overcoming constraints,” researchers found. Exactly how isn’t clear. But who (bleeping) cares?
AARP Foundation Wins Pension Court Case
After a yearslong legal battle, a jury has awarded $54.2 million to more than 1,100 former employees of a New York Roman Catholic hospital who did not receive the pension benefits they were owed. The jury found the diocese and its agents, as well as the former hospital and its former CEO, liable for mismanaging pension funds, thus denying workers retirement income they had counted on.
AARP Foundation lawyers who represented former employees of St. Clare’s Hospital in New York state court say the decision could protect as many as 1 million pensioners across the U.S.
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany has not said if it will appeal.
Clarification: A January/February Bulletin item incompletely explained a new tax deduction for people over 65. The deduction phases out starting at $75,000 in income ($150,000 for joint filers).