In abstract terms, the program’s mandatory, regional design is a great way to test whether new payment incentives can lead to more rational, and perhaps less expensive, prescribing behavior. But the reality is that the change may have negative consequences for doctors and hospitals whose payments will drop. “Does it make a ton of sense in theory? Yes. Is it a more rational payment system? Yes,” said Avalere's Caroline Pearson. “But in the meantime, it causes a lot of disruption.”   read more

Residents first reported problems in the wells in 2008. The water that came out of their faucets turned cloudy, foamy and discolored, and it smelled and tasted foul. Homeowners, all of whom had leased their land to Cabot, said the water made them sick with symptoms that included vomiting, dizziness and skin rashes. A state investigation found that Cabot had allowed gas to escape into the region's groundwater supplies, contaminating at least 18 residential wells.   read more

At least 20 other states allow 17-year-olds to vote in presidential primaries or caucuses, though rules sometimes vary based on political party, according to FairVote, an organization that tracks electoral issues. The ruling could provide a boost for Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders. Younger voters are among his key supporters, and his campaign also filed a federal lawsuit over the policy for 17-year-old voters.   read more

The checks are planned for 664 sites where the military has conducted fire or crash training. The Navy is giving bottled water to its personnel at the Naval Auxiliary Landing Field Fentress in Chesapeake, Virginia, and is testing wells in a nearby rural area after the discovery of perfluorinated chemicals in drinking water, which the federal Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry says may be associated with prostate, kidney and testicular cancer, along with other health issues.   read more

The New Hampshire House on Wednesday rejected a bill that would have made it crime for women to expose their breasts or nipples in public. Bill supporters had cautioned that allowing women to go topless at beaches could lead to them also going topless at libraries and Little League games. But a report urging the bill's rejection said, "In a state with an average temperature of only 46 degrees, the risk of rampant nudity seems rather low."   read more

The closely watched case between Amarin and the Food and Drug Administration could strengthen the drug industry's hand in the ongoing debate over promoting drugs for uses that have not been declared safe and effective by regulators. Pharmaceutical experts said companies would likely pursue more aggressive legal action against FDA, in light of the settlement. "We would expect companies throughout the country to ask courts to provide the same legal reasoning," said attorney John Fleder.   read more

Christopher Jessop testified that church security ran his son off the road, and that the Marshal's Office helped cover it up. Nicknamed the "God Squad," church security is said to keep an eye out for outside law enforcement. Jessop also testified that the Marshal's Office failed to investigate dozens of incidents of vandalism against his vehicle. The jury awarded him $1 million. Another $1 million will go to John Cook, a man repeatedly denied a water connection on a property to park his trailer.   read more

“Basically we are being taxed for being women,” said Cristina Garcia, a California legislator. New York assemblywoman Linda Rosenthal called the taxes “a regressive tax on women and their bodies.” Now a growing number of advocates want periods put squarely on the public agenda, and are demanding that businesses and government take menstruation into consideration when they design facilities, develop budgets, supply schools or create programs. And they want free tampons in every public restroom.   read more

The Army concluded that a technicality in legislation passed in 1977 prevented the WASPs from being buried at Arlington. It didn't give them status with the armed services, and so did not confer the right to be buried there. “Think of the irony that at the same time the Pentagon is opening up all missions to men and women in the military they are closing the door to the women who were pioneers,” said Rep. McSally, referring to Defense Secretary Carter’s decision to open combat roles to women.   read more

While naturalizations generally rise during presidential election years, Trump provided an extra boost this year. He has described Mexicans as drug-traffickers and rapists. He has vowed to create a deportation force to expel the estimated 11 million immigrants here illegally, evoking mass roundups of the 1950s. “Donald Trump never! Never!” said Minerva Guerrero Salazar. “He has no conscience when he speaks of Latinos. And he is so rude. I don’t know what kind of education his mother gave him.”   read more

The issue has divided students, with classmates on both sides of the issue lobbying lawmakers, signing petitions and speaking out on social media. Faculty members have publicly opposed the measure, choosing to follow the lead of their school presidents, the chancellor and regents. Concerns from college officials that guns on campus would be dangerous for students and faculty and costly for schools are being countered by gun rights advocates and gun-friendly lawmakers.   read more

The judge disagreed with the argument that testing requirements for the helmet and gas mask would not burden Singh's religious rights. She also stated that the Defense Dept didn't explain how Singh's beard would pose a potential safety hazard when Special Forces members in war zones can grow beards. She said the Army "singling out" Singh was "unfair and discriminatory" and that such treatment "has a clear tendency to pressure the plaintiff, or other soldiers [seeking] religious accommodation..."   read more

Today Anna will tell a story that has become all too familiar among U.S. law students. Since graduating and passing the bar, she has yet to find a full-time, salaried job as a lawyer. From there, though, her story has taken an unusual twist: Anna is the first former law student whose case against a law school, charging that it inflated the employment data for its graduates as a way to lure students to enroll, will go to trial.   read more

The 9/11 terror attacks spurred calls to shut down the reactors here, amid concern of a similar attack. Then the Fukushima nuclear accident in Japan raised fears of a natural disaster on Indian Point. Now, the planned expansion of a natural gas pipeline across Indian Point property is again putting the power plant in a harsh glare. Elected officials, residents and environmental activists have criticized the project, saying that a rupture of the pipeline could unleash a nuclear catastrophe.   read more

The issue shows the real-world consequences of the current impasse between President Obama and the Republican-controlled Senate. The number of vacancies at federal agencies is growing, and congressional action on nominees has slowed in the final year of the administration. The Justice Dept. said the court decision “threatens to permanently impair an important presidential power,” to make temporary appointments to vacant positions throughout the government.   read more

Rep. Gallagher is a sponsor of a bill that would make it a misdemeanor for women to show their breasts or nipples in public with "reckless disregard" for whether it would offend someone. Gallagher and Rep. Spanos said New Hampshire could lose tourism dollars if women are wandering public places with their breasts uncovered. The bill drew national attention after a male lawmaker said if women want to show their breasts in public they should be OK with men wanting to "grab" them.   read more