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Articles by Tom Howell Jr.

The HealthCare.gov website is photographed in Washington on Dec. 15, 2017. A burst of sign-ups is punctuating the end of a tumultuous year for former President Barack Obamas health care law. Strong consumer interest around Fridays enrollment deadline for 2018 was seen as validation for the programs subsidized individual health insurance. But the Affordable Care Acts troubles arent over. Even if full repeal now seems off the table, actions by the Republican-led Congress and the Trump administration could undermine the ACAs insurance markets. (AP Photo/Jon Elswick

Idaho reports 95K in Obamacare signups

Nearly 95,000 Idahoans selected a 2018 health plan on the state's Obamacare exchange -- a drop from last year's tally that nonetheless thrilled state officials, citing headwinds from Washington, and adds to previously reported totals from dozens of states that used the federal HealthCare.gov website.

December 27, 2017
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie walks on the stage after President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump spoke on combating drug demand and the opioid crisis in this Oct. 26, 2017, file photo in the East Room of the White House in Washington. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais) ** FILE **

Opioid epidemic fighters aim to break addiction stigma

As federal and state leaders try to catch up with the opioids crisis, analysts say too many people still treat drug addiction as a personal failing instead of a disease and that it's keeping too many Americans from getting the help they need.

December 25, 2017
"We're going to have tremendous Democrat support on infrastructure," President Trump said, but Democrats said Republicans blew the $1 trillion needed to rebuild America's crumbling roads, bridges and rails on their tax cut bill. (Associated Press/File)

Donald Trump seeks Democrats’ help with infrastructure plan

The White House on Sunday said President Trump wants to introduce an infrastructure package in January and reach for a deal with Democrats, a pivot toward bipartisanship after Republican-only efforts on health care and taxes produced mixed results this year.

December 24, 2017
This Tuesday, Aug. 15, 2017 photo shows an arrangement of pills of the opioid oxycodone-acetaminophen in New York. (AP Photo/Patrick Sison) **FILE**

Drug-overdose deaths reached 63,000 in 2016

Drug overdoses continued to soar in 2016, claiming more than 63,000 lives as deaths tied to fentanyl skyrocketed, making it the deadliest opioid for the first time, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Thursday.

December 21, 2017

Obamacare juicier target for GOP after first swipe

After years of trying, Republicans took the first real swipe at Obamacare in their tax-cut bill this week — but far from slaking their thirst, the move has left them all the more eager to root out the rest of the health insurance law.

December 20, 2017
Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, left, Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., and Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., walk to the Republican policy luncheon on Capitol Hill, Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2017 in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

GOP senators ask McConnell to postpone health bills

Key Senate Republicans have asked Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to push critical health care bills into the new year, saying spats over a stopgap to keep the government open made it impossible to stabilize Obamacare now.

December 20, 2017
FILE - This June 16, 2009, file photo shows Zicam Cold Remedy nasal gel in Boston. The Food and Drug Administration on Monday, Dec. 18, 2017, issued a new proposal for regulating homeopathic medicines that have long been on the fringe of mainstream medicine. The agency plans to target products that pose the biggest safety risks, including those marketed for children or for serious diseases. (AP Photo/Eric Shelton, File)

FDA proposes greater scrutiny of alternative remedies

The Food and Drug Administration said Monday it wants to crack down on alternative remedies that are sold as "homeopathic" products but contain potentially harmful ingredients or show no clinical benefit.

December 18, 2017
The HealthCare.gov website is photographed in Washington on Dec. 15, 2017. A burst of sign-ups is punctuating the end of a tumultuous year for former President Barack Obama’s health care law. Strong consumer interest around Friday’s enrollment deadline for 2018 was seen as validation for the program’s subsidized individual health insurance. But the Affordable Care Act’s troubles aren’t over. Even if full repeal now seems off the table, actions by the Republican-led Congress and the Trump administration could undermine the ACA’s insurance markets. (AP Photo/Jon Elswick **FILE**

Obamacare signups reach smooth finish

Obamacare's sign-up deadline came and went this weekend with nary a peep from President Trump, who instead championed a GOP tax bill that repeals a key piece of the 2010 law, leaving it to Democrats and former Obama officials to cheer the embattled program across the finish line.

December 17, 2017