Trending News Today: Trump Declares Opioid Epidemic a Public Health Emergency

Yesterday, President Donald Trump declared the opioid epidemic a public health emergency, but did not declare a national emergency, according to the Los Angeles Times. The Trump administration said they hope Congress will provide funding to increase treatment options and insurance coverage for those with substance use disorder; however, it is unclear how much will be allocated to fight the opioid epidemic. The declaration will allow patients in rural areas to use telemedicine for addiction treatment, permit Medicaid to pay for inpatient treatment, and redirect grant money to the patients, according to the article.

A new report seems to confirm that Amazon will be entering the pharmacy space after months of speculation, according to The Hill. Amazon has reportedly received wholesale pharmacy licenses in at least 12 states, including New Jersey, Nevada, and North Dakota. The online giant recently started selling medical devices and plans to sell pharmaceuticals and cosmetics in Japan in April 2018, according to the article. This report caused stocks to drop for major pharmacy chains.

Findings from a new poll revealed that Americans are largely in favor of a bipartisan approach to healthcare reform. The Reuters/Ipsos poll indicated that 62% of Americans want to keep the Affordable Care Act (ACA). According to the poll, 51% of Democrats and 56% of Republicans want a bipartisan effort to improve the law. While GOP lawmakers have made several attempts to repeal the ACA, recently proposed bipartisan legislation seems to have gained traction among both parties; however, it is unclear whether it will be brought to a vote.