Trending News Today: GOP Legislators Pledge to Provide Universal Access to Healthcare

The federal government has extended the deadline for individuals to sign up for health insurance plans through Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplaces. The new deadline is on December 19, 2016, which adds an extra 4 days for enrollment. This extension is due to the strong interest shown by customers thus far with a surge in enrollment prior to the deadline, according to The New York Times.

US House Republicans recently responded to scrutiny that repealing the ACA would leave millions of individuals without access to health insurance. These lawmakers are now saying that their goal is to replace to health law so that there is “universal access” to health insurance, according to The New York Times. GOP legislators have also said that health insurance plans purchased through ACA marketplaces would not lose coverage when President-elect Donald Trump is sworn into office in late January, 2017.

A civil complaint filed by 20 states alleges that pharmaceutical companies have been fixing the prices of generic antibiotic and diabetes drugs. This lawsuit alleges that Teva Pharmaceuticals, Mylan, and 4 small companies engaged in price-fixing schemes, and the states will likely be filing additional charges against the pharmaceutical companies, according to The New York Times. Executives of these companies are alleged to have coordinated the schemes through casual gatherings, phone calls, and text messages.