The U.S. government reached a deal with pharmaceutical companies to cut the prices Medicare pays for some of their most expensive and popular medications.

The selected drugs, which include blood thinners Eliquis and Xarelto, diabetes medications such as Jardiance and Januvia, and treatments for heart failure and autoimmune diseases, accounted for $56.2 billion in Medicare spending in 2023 alone, according to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

The new prices are set to take effect in 2026 and are expected to save the Medicare program $6 billion in the first year and reduce out-of-pocket costs for Medicare beneficiaries by $1.5 billion. Nearly 9 million of the 54 million people with Medicare Part D coverage were dispensed one or more of the 10 drugs that are the subject of the price reductions. Read the full story here›

How ready is your immune system to fend off illnesses? Many know vitamin C, a balanced diet, sufficient sleep, and regular exercise can improve immune function, but fewer understand the importance of muscle.

Muscles are now recognized as organs due to their vital roles in regulating metabolism, producing hormones, and communicating with other organs. Dr. Sandeep Palakodeti, an internal medicine doctor and founder of Rebel Health Alliance, told The Epoch Times that this reclassification helps us appreciate muscles’ extensive functions, not just in movement but also in regulating overall body health, including the immune system.

“Healthy skeletal muscles boost immunity by reducing inflammation and improving immune cell function,” Dr. Palakodeti said. Read the full story here›

The Federal Reserve Bank of New York’s Empire State Manufacturing Survey—a monthly survey of 200 companies—contracted for the ninth consecutive month in August as business activity in the state weakened.

The report identified a decline in new orders and stagnating shipments. Employment levels fell while hours worked cratered. Input price pressures rose at a slower pace, and selling price increases were little changed. Despite the poor reading, companies were optimistic that business conditions will improve over the next six months.

Meanwhile, the Philadelphia Fed’s Manufacturing Business Outlook—a monthly survey of roughly 250 manufacturers in Delaware, eastern Pennsylvania, and southern New Jersey—unexpectedly turned negative for the first time since January and eased from a three-month high. Researchers found an overall drop in manufacturing activity amid slower growth in new orders and shipments. Read the full story here›

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