Painkillers: U.S. Senators Probe Pharma Ties to Pain Experts, Advocates

Painkillers: Concerned that doctors aren't getting accurate information about highly addictive prescription drugs, two U.S. senators have launched an investigation into financial ties between painkiller manufacturers and pain treatment advocates and other groups that set guidelines for doctors on how to prescribe painkillers, Barry Meier reports for the New York Times.

Medicaid: Primary care doctors who've long complained about paltry reimbursements will now get an average 34 percent raise from Medicaid, the federal health program for the poor, Emily P. Walker reports for MedPage Today. The payments will rise to the level of Medicare payments for treating seniors (which docs say are still too low to cover the cost of care).

Medicare: The AP's David Lightman examines why Republicans want to dramatically transform the formerly politically untouchable Medicare and Social Security programs in this election year.

Mass Clinic: Taking a cue from Remote Area Medical, the U.S. military is running a massive free health clinic in rural Alabama, serving more than 12,000 people in less than two weeks, Jay Reeves reports for the Associated Press.

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