Morning Headlines 4/6/17

FDA Nominee Scott Gottlieb Commits to ‘Gold Standard’

Scott Gottlieb, President Trump’s nominee to run the FDA, had his confirmation hearing before the Senate HELP Committee today, during which he committed to upholding the “gold standard of safety and efficacy,” but noted that he believed there were ways of modernizing and expediting clinical trials without compromising safety.

Missouri senator says he’ll end years of opposition to prescription drug database

In Missouri, efforts to implement an opioid prescription drug monitoring database faces renewed opposition from the Missouri Medical Association, which opposes any legislation requiring doctors to check the database before writing opioid prescriptions.

Thousands of brokers exit HealthCare.gov as plan commissions go unpaid

Insurance resellers are exiting the exchange markets as payers stop paying commissions on a variety of plans. Utah-based insurance broker Craig Paulson explains, “they’re not paying commissions on platinum plans, and they are not paying them for special enrollment plans which cover some of the sickest patients.”

How Redesigning The Abrasive Alarms Of Hospital Soundscapes Can Save Lives

After a recent hospital stay filled with slamming doors and beeping medical equipment, ambient electronic musician Yoko K. Sen proposes using sound design to reduce alarm fatigue and make hospitals calmer places for patients.