Category: Policy & Legislation

Finally: FDA to Allow OTC Hearing Aids without a Prescription

Posted on by Devon Herrick

On Tuesday the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) finally cleared the way for over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aids. Yes, this is a “no-brainer”, and the most obvious question is: why did it take so long? The law allowing the FDA to approve OTC hearing aids was passed in five years ago, in August 2017.

Under the new rule, people with mild to moderate hearing loss should be able to buy hearing aids online and in retail stores as soon as October, without being required to see a doctor for an exam to get a prescription.

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Tuesday Links – 16 August 2022

Posted on by John C. Goodman
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Is TikTok Addictive Like Caffeine and Cocaine?

Posted on by Devon Herrick

Perhaps Big Social Media is the next Big Tobacco lawsuit for states to pursue settlements to bolster state coffers. Proposed legislation that would allow prosecutors to sue social media companies after kids became hooked on their products failed to pass out of committee in California. According to The LA Times:

California lawmakers on Thursday rejected a proposal that could have forced some popular social media platforms such as Instagram and TikTok to pay fines for using features they know can harm children.

The bill would have let the state attorney general or other local prosecutors sue social media companies for as much as $250,000 per violation for knowingly using features that can cause children to become addicted to their products-type.

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Friday Wrap Up

Posted on by John C. Goodman

President Biden listens to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer before signing the Chips Act at the White House, Aug. 9. PHOTO: EVAN VUCCI/ASSOCIATED PRESS Reminds me of Augustine’s prayer about chastity Part of the problem is that some of the bill’s promised price cuts don’t kick in for years. Killing the 5% coinsurance for Medicare recipients…

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