By Eric Sagonowsky
The U.S. government’s Operation Warp Speed has already inked COVID-19 vaccine research and manufacturing pacts with major players—excluding Merck & Co., that is. But the group’s description of an as-yet-unnamed vaccine participant matches Merck’s early-stage research, Bloomberg reports.
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By Heather Landi
United Airlines is working with health technology and genomics company Color to roll out the first COVID-19 testing program for air travelers. The airline will offer COVID-19 tests—either rapid tests at the airport or mail-in at-home tests prior to travel—to passengers flying from San Francisco International Airport to Hawaiian airports beginning Oct. 15.
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By Robert King
Insurers Anthem and Humana have revved up efforts to improve food insecurity among their Medicare Advantage members in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
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By Eric Sagonowsky, Angus Liu, Kyle Blankenship, Conor Hale, Fraiser Kansteiner
United Airlines will start screening passengers on certain routes with Abbott's rapid swab test for COVID-19. Americans aware of a recent vaccine safety pledge by nine drugmakers had a more positive view of those companies, a new Harris Poll found. And China scored backing from the WHO before starting its emergency use vaccine program, a Chinese health official said.
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By Tina Reed
The membership warehouse club—which is a division of Walmart—is expanding a telehealth discount with virtual care provider 98point6 to all members after a yearlong pilot.
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By Kyle Blankenship
Maryland biotech Novavax has kicked off late-stage testing for its COVID-19 shot in the U.K. as the hunt for a vaccine hits critical mass—and its U.S. and India trials aren't far behind. To help supply those pivotal trials and a potential commercial rollout, Novavax is partnering with a major generics player.
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By Paige Minemyer
The potential long-term impacts of COVID-19 on how Medicare Advantage's star ratings are calculated remain unclear, experts say.
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