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Here are the 10 Part D drugs that Medicare is targeting for price negotiations to cut costs

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:49:24 GMT

A blood thinner, diabetes treatments and drugs used to treat autoimmune disease and heart failure are on the list of 10 drugs that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has targeted for price negotiations to cut Medicare costs.In a statement, the government said the list of 10 drugs represented more than $50 billion, or about 20%, of Part D gross covered prescription drug costs between June 1, 2022 and May 31, 2023. That’s the period used to decide which drugs were eligible for negotiation.The next step is for the government to negotiate prices for the 10 drugs with their manufacturers, in an effort to reduce prices for patients. The program already faces lawsuits from drugmakers and criticism from Republican lawmakers. It’s also a centerpiece of Demcrat Joe Biden’s reelection pitch as he seeks a second term in office by touting his work to lower costs for Americans at a time when the country has struggled with inflation.The selected drugs for the first round ...

3-month-old infant and two San Jose teenagers dead from fentanyl poisoning in one month

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:49:24 GMT

In less than 30 days, two teenage girls and a three-month old infant were declared dead from acute fentanyl poisoning in San Jose this spring, among the youngest deaths attributed to the powerful opioid in Santa Clara County as officials in several Bay Area counties deal with alarming death counts.The first to pass away was a 15-year-old girl who overdosed on fentanyl in the breezeway of her sprawling apartment complex in East San Jose on April 16.Then almost a month later, a 3-month old baby girl and a 16-year-old local cheerleader were both pronounced dead — just seven hours apart at the same San Jose hospital. The baby died from combined fentanyl and methamphetamine poisoning.“It’s outrageous and inexcusable,” said Santa Clara County Supervisor Cindy Chavez, who formed a fentanyl working group back in 2022 to try and marshal resources to combat the fentanyl crisis locally. “I’m even having a hard time understanding how a three-month old would ingest it (fentanyl...

Kyle Harrison’s SF Giants home debut is a Bay Area reunion and celebration

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:49:24 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO — Kyle Harrison’s family munched on a spread of snacks in the few minutes before the rookie’s home debut. Just minutes away from the rookie’s home debut, it was one way to distract from the nerves.But what calmed the butterflies among those gathered in the Harrison Family suite atop Oracle Park was knowing Kyle, the man of the night, was most likely the calmest guy in the ballpark for his home debut on Monday night.“I think Kyle’s relaxed, now that he’s home,” his dad, Chris Harrison, said. “This is home home.”On some level, those closest to Harrison knew what was coming: He cruised through five consecutive strikeouts to start the game and finished with 11 strikeouts to complete a scoreless outing over 6 1/3 innings and a win that stunned a Giants crowd thirsting for someone to get excited over.He’s the Giants’ best pitching prospect since Madison Bumgarner and, fittingly, put up young Bumgarner nu...

49ers mailbag: Does Nick Bosa truly deserve record contract?

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:49:24 GMT

SANTA CLARA — What to do when caught between the preseason and the Sept. 10 opener at Pittsburgh? Answer questions from 49ers’ fans on social media in the following mailbag (which could or could not be renamed Inman’s Inbox for the regular season):What day could we be seeing the Nick Bosa contract? (@wyatt85_)It makes the most sense for it to come between Tuesday and next Tuesday. He is on the reserve/did-not-report list, so he does not count against the 90- or 53-man roster, nor does his $18 million salary. The 49ers could carry an injured player onto the initial roster then slide him to short-term Injured Reserve once Bosa reports. A Week 1 arrival isn’t ideal but it’s better than after Week 1.Why pay this man money he’s not worth? He has never dominated a game, but Chris Jones has, Aaron Donald has, even Clowney. … What game did he put together multiple sacks that changed or dominated a game? (@ezana_mengist)Oh please. Sacks don’t define his impact, and he had a...

As WNBA expansion push grows louder, Bay Area bidders keep quiet

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:49:24 GMT

The race for a WNBA expansion team seems to be heating up.Commissioner Cathy Engelbert has stoked fires by saying the league will have news to announce later this season, and she’s made several public visits to potential expansion cities — including to Denver earlier this month.One place she hasn’t visited publicly is the Bay Area.But sources tell this news organization that the WNBA has made a site visit to San Francisco and the Golden State Warriors’ Chase Center within the past year.The leaders of Oakland’s competing bid — the African-American Sport and Entertainment Group (AASEG) and Everest Talent Management — declined to say whether the WNBA has visited that city. Everest, which recently joined the Oakland bid, is an agency that helps former athletes transition into post-playing careers.The lack of clarity on visits is one of many reasons why the WNBA’s expansion process has left many confused. A bigger reason has been Engelbert’s conflicting comm...

Walters: California unions make major push with strikes, legislation

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:49:24 GMT

This has been a year of labor unrest in California, a state in which unions represent a relatively small fraction of the state’s workforce but wield great political power.The most obvious example is the protracted strikes of actors and writers in Southern California’s iconic entertainment industry, but Tinseltown’s picketers are just some of the workers who have been demanding more in wages and benefits and are willing to walk off the job to get them.There have been 53 labor strikes in California so far this year, involving 276,340 participants, or about 10% of total union membership in the state, according to Cornell University’s Labor Action Tracker. That doesn’t include strikes that began in 2022, either.What’s happening in California mirrors trends in other states, leading to much speculation about underlying factors, such as post-pandemic angst and inflation.As the California Legislature enters the last days of its 2023 session, the growing unrest in workplaces is manifesting i...

Apple-leased Silicon Valley office building is bought as value jumps

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:49:24 GMT

SUNNYVALE — A big Sunnyvale building occupied by tech titan Apple has been bought in a deal that shows pockets of strength can defy the ailments of a feeble Bay Area office market.A veteran real estate firm paid $41 million for the office and research building in Sunnyvale, according to documents filed on Aug. 28 at the Santa Clara County Recorder’s Office.An affiliate managed by BentallGreenOak bought the office and research building, which is located at 825 Stewart Drive in Sunnyvale, the county real estate records show.Office and research building at 825 Stewart Drive in Sunnyvale that totals 75,400 square feet. (Google Maps)The building totals nearly 75,400 square feet and for several years has been fully leased to Cupertino-based Apple.The purchase by BGO 825 Stewart, the BentallGreenOak affiliate, points to rising property values for the office and research building, which occupies 4.3 acres.In 2016, the seller, an affiliate of real estate firm GI Partners, pa...

Work trucks targeted by burglars in Pacifica, tools stolen

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:49:24 GMT

(KRON) -- The Pacifica Police Department received numerous burglary reports on Sunday regarding tools that had been stolen from both contractor and work trucks.All reported thefts occurred between 1:30 a.m. to 6:30 a.m. in the Fairmont, Westview and Pacific Manor neighborhoods. In each incident, the suspect(s) used tools to gain entry into the locked work trucks and took hand and power tools. Family disturbance leaves father dead, SJPD investigating as homicide Pacifica police urges the community to check their home surveillance cameras for any suspicious activity during the early morning hours on Sunday. At this time, the suspect(s) is currently unknown and no arrests have been made. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Pacifica Police Department at 650-738-7314.

2 shot, 1 dead in shooting near Alameda County Sheriff’s Office

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:49:24 GMT

(KRON) -- Two people were shot on Monday near the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office, according to the Oakland Police Department. Just before 5 p.m., officers responded to a shooting in the 2300 block of International Boulevard. Two men were located suffering from gunshot wounds, police said.  Family disturbance leaves father dead, SJPD investigating as homicide One of the men was pronounced dead at the scene. The other man was taken to a local hospital and is currently in stable condition. The victim’s identity has yet to be released until next of kin is notified. Anyone with information is asked to contact OPD’s Homicide Section at 510-238-3821 or the TIP LINE at 510-238-7950.

Panthers acquire WR Ihmir Smith-Marsette from the Chiefs for conditional 2025 7th-round draft pick

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:49:24 GMT

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — With injuries impacting their depth at wide receiver, the Carolina Panthers made a move to acquire wide receiver/returner Ihmir Smith-Marsette from the Kansas City Chiefs in a deal involving a swap of conditional 2025 seventh-round draft picks.The 6-foot-1, 185-pound Smith-Marsette is coming off a strong preseason where he was second in the league with 195 yards receiving on nine receptions. The 2021 fifth-round draft pick by the Minnesota Vikings averaged 21.7 yards per catch, including two 40-plus yard receptions while playing with Chiefs backup quarterback Blaine Gabbert.With the NFL regular season fast approaching, the Panthers are dealing with injuries to three of their top five receivers. DJ Chark, Terrace Marshall Jr. and Laviska Shenault Jr. all sat out the preseason finale.Smith-Marsette spent time with Minnesota and the Chicago Bears the past two seasons, catching five passes for 116 yards and two touchdowns in 2021. He had one catch for 15 yards las...