Trending News Today: Narcan Becoming More Widely Available

The California Department of Insurance is looking into Health Net Inc due to recent claims from substance-abuse treatment facilities that they have not received payment from the insurer since January. The California Department of Managed Health Care is currently reviewing a complaint about the insurer signed by executives and owners of 118 treatment centers, according to Kaiser Health News. Treatment providers are now unable to accept Health Net patients until they receive payment from the insurer.

Many drug stores are now making naloxone (Narcan) more accessible for people to buy, in light of the opioid epidemic, according to ABC News. States have recently passed laws so that people can buy this drug without a prescription. The drug is able to revive someone who has overdosed on opioids and was only available through clinics, hospitals, and first responders.

President Barack Obama recently said that privatizing the Department of Veteran Affairs would delay further progress and improvements being made, according to The New York Times. The government recently made strides towards modernizing the department, providing patients with easier access and more timely care. Despite recent negative headlines, Obama believes that there is still hope to further improve the department and dismantling it is not the way to go, according to the report.