Current Events in August 2023

The Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) decision to allow manufacturers to sell Narcan, the name-brand of the drug naloxone which is used to counter opioid overdoses, over-the-counter (OTC) is finally coming to fruition. 

Consumers can expect to see the drug on pharmacy shelves and online for purchase within days. 

Prior to the FDA’s approval, the drug was only available with a doctor’s prescription, limiting access and the number of people who could benefit from it. However, this decision will make it possible for more people in need of Narcan to receive it. 

“As a medical professional and a mom who experienced the unthinkable and lost both of her sons to accidental overdose, I know you can’t put a price on peace of mind and there is no act too great to protect family,” Dr. Bonnie Milas, a physician at Penn Medicine, said in a statement. “Picking up Narcan Nasal Spray at the store is not a sign that your family has ‘a problem.’ In fact, it shows that you are prepared just in case. 

“It’s like buying a fire extinguisher to have at home – having the power to save a life of someone you love, someone you know, or someone who may need another chance.” 

“A steadfast commitment to expanding access to naloxone has always been at the forefront of our work to help save lives and we’re proud to bring Narcan Nasal Spray to many, many more places,” said Paul Williams, senior vice president at Emergent BioSolutions, a manufacturer or Narcan. 

Expanding access to care

Narcan will be sold in two doses of 4 mg each, and the final price will be determined by each individual retailer. However, Emergent BioSolutions said that one of its primary goals is to increase access to the drug, and that includes keeping the price point reasonable. 

The drug currently has a Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of $44.99 for two doses, or $22.50 per dose. Emergent also said it will lower that cost to $41 for two doses for all harm reduction groups, community organizations, and first responders. 

So far, five major retailers have already announced they will sell Narcan in their pharmacies for $44.99: Walgreens, Walmart, CVS, Rite Aid, and Kroger. The drug is expected to be widely available both in stores and online as the rollout begins. 

“We are committed to educating and making it easier for all Americans to have this life-saving medicine available in their first aid kits in case of an emergency,” said Dr. Kevin Ban, executive vice president and chief medical officer at Walgreens. 

“We all must recognize that overdoses can happen to anyone, regardless of age, background, or other factors. As a leading healthcare company, providing access to OTC naloxone creates an opportunity for bystanders, friends, and family members to potentially save a life. In the event of an overdose, every second matters.” 

If you’re hoping for a good Labor Day holiday, you can uncross your fingers when it comes to shopping deals because those will be in full swing.

ConsumerAffairs has checked in at the online and in-store retail level and at grocery stores looking for bargains and here’s what we found. Spoiler alert: One shopping expert says the better deals may happen before the weekend ever makes landfall.

Labor Day bargains

The good folks at RetailMeNot say that there are some heavy hitters already lined up for shopping deals this weekend. In their way of thinking, the best ONLINE sales and deals include:

Wayfair: Up to 70% Off Labor Day Clearance Sale

Amazon: Up to 60% off of Amazon's top deals of the day 

Cabela's: Up to 40% off each order. 

LEGO: Online cash back

Macy's: Up to 65% off furniture, mattresses, rugs 

Rack Room Shoes: $15 Off $99 with promo code “DEAL15”

Columbia Sportswear: 25% off sitewide

Walmart: Up to 50% off

As far as in-store deals, it likes what it sees fromForever 21, Office Depot, and J. Crew Factory. 

BlackFriday.com’s researchers have uncovered some deals of their own, including:

• Mattress sales
• Home decor and furniture sales from Ashley, IKEA, Crate & Barrel, and others
• Tech deals like Dell’s up to 50% off your purchase of a laptop or desktop computer. Samsung is focusing on big ticket items like appliances and TVs, but shoppers can also take advantage of trade-in credit deals on Samsung electronics (smartphones, smartwatches, earbuds). Example: up to $750 instant credit when you purchase the Galaxy S23 Ultra.

Insider tips

Vipin Porwal, CEO and consumer savings expert at Smarty, a popular cash back portal, says that the smartest shoppers will actually hit the stores before the actual Labor Day weekend with add-on savings courtesy of promo codes and cashback rewards.

 “Those in the market to upgrade their sports and outdoor items will want to hit pre-Labor Day sales early as the most popular brands and options hitting summer clearance will sell out quickly, including summer active apparel, swimwear and outdoor sporting gear and equipment,” he told ConsumerAffairs.

He cautions that there are things you should resist buying this weekend. “Those looking for colder weather clothing should hold off for just a bit when the fall fashion sales kick in in late September and October, especially when shopping for jeans, jackets, boots and denim when bigger savings and selection are promoted more heavily.”

Your kid buggin’ you about a phone?

Before we move on from the sales deals, one last one: phone plans. If you have bought everything on your student’s must-have list for back to school but are holding out on a phone plan, you’re not alone.

After fielding a study about tech “musts” and how parents are dealing with the situation, Cricket Wireless found a hole it could fill and save budget-minded parents some money.

The company is launching three new online-only, multi-month unlimited plans that it says will save customers up to $300 a year or $30/per month on a single line when – and this is important – they pay in advance.

Here’s quick snapshot of what Cricket is offering:

• Three months of unlimited voice and data when customers pay $120 in advance, giving them a total of $45 in savings.

• Six months of unlimited voice and data when customers pay $210 in advance, giving them a total of $120 in savings.

• 12 Months of unlimited voice and data when customers pay $360 in advance, giving them a total of $300 in savings.

Not wanting to be left behind, MintMobile has gone deal crazy, too. It has plans ranging from 25% off to 50% off with the capper being its unlimited Talk & Text plan -- nationwide coverage, 40GB of 5G and 4G LTE Data, free calls to Mexico and Canada, 10GB Mobile Hotspot, WiFi Calling & Text. But like Cricket, you have to buy the deal in advance – $45 for 3 months of service. After that, though, the prices go up depending on what length of service you can commit to and prepay for.

Grilling out? You’ll save some money there, too

Labor Day weekend is usually the last big grilling day of the year – something not lost on meat producers, for sure. The latest Urner Barry Retail Rundown says that grocery shoppers should be aware of what’s going on with these meat essentials:

Beef: Choice cutouts are currently down about 6.5% from their summer peak but are nearly 16% above a year ago. Ground beef has been averaging around $5.72 discounted, a 5.9% year-over-year increase. Tenderloin last checked in at $19.17 per pound, $1.80 higher than the same week in 2022. 

Pork: “Meanwhile, wholesale pork prices trended well below year-ago levels throughout 2023 so far and have also drifted lower since the year-to-date high hit in mid-July,” said Urner Barry’s Courtney Shum. Shum says grocers have gotten aggressive with pork prices, so brats and chops are looking like a better bank for the BBQ buck than beef products are. 

For example, center-cut pork loin averaged 10 cents per pound lower than a year ago; shoulder roasts were at $2.08 per pound last week, slightly below Labor Day weekend in 2022; and fresh bacon averaged $5.91 discounted, down 11.9% from last year.

Chicken: What’s coming out of the hen house is a mixed bag, however. Because we’re headed into football season, wing prices are up because demand is up, but fresh chicken breasts are about 50 cents per pound lower than a year ago, and legs and thighs should be found for under $3 a pound.

Seafood: Shum didn’t offer any price points but did say that seafood continues to dominate ad space with 27.5% of total retail buying opportunities, so you should expect some good deals there, too.

It’s taken a year for President Biden’s lower-cost prescription drug law, included in the Inflation Reduction Act, to find its way toward becoming official, but that day has come.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has announced that Medicare is now able to directly negotiate the prices of prescription drugs, positively impacting the finances of millions of Americans.

The first 10 drugs covered under Medicare Part D selected for negotiation under the Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program include:

1. Eliquis (Prevention and treatment of blood clots)

2. Jardiance (Diabetes; Heart failure)

3. Xarelto (Prevention and treatment of blood clots; Reduction of risk for patients with coronary or peripheral artery disease)

4. Januvia (Diabetes)

5. Farxiga (Diabetes; Heart failure; Chronic kidney disease)

6. Entresto (Heart failure)

7. Enbrel (Rheumatoid arthritis; Psoriasis; Psoriatic arthritis)

8. Imbruvica (Blood cancers)

9. Stelara (Psoriasis; Psoriatic arthritis; Crohn’s disease; Ulcerative colitis)

10. Fiasp; Fiasp FlexTouch; Fiasp PenFill; NovoLog; NovoLog FlexPen; NovoLog PenFill (Diabetes)

A promise of transparency

“Transparency” gets ballyhooed a lot in the consumer world, but CMS brass is going on record that it’s serious when it uses that word.

“Promoting transparency and engagement continue to be at the core of how we are implementing the new drug law and the Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program, and that is why we set out a process for the first round of negotiation that engages the public throughout,” said Dr. Meena Seshamani, deputy administrator and director of the Center for Medicare. 

Hold your horses

Don’t head down to the drugstore asking for a price break, yet. CMS says the manufacturers of these drugs first have to agree to the process. Those companies have until October 1 to sign off on that and then will have until September 2024 to make that commitment real.

At that point, CMS will publish the "maximum fair prices” for those 10 drugs, but it will be another two years – 2026 – until the negotiated prices for those drugs go into effect.

However, there may be a short-term option. With CVS Caremark offering lower prescription costs with its new Cost Saver program and Kroger doing a deal with Mark Cuban's CostPlus Drugs, it's possible that those 10 drugs destined for price decreases might become available at a better price point sooner than 2026.

On top of all the magic a smartphone can do, you can add another trick: injure you or make you sick. 

Apple is warning users that if they sleep next to their iPhone while they’ve got it plugged in and charging they could be putting themselves in a dangerous position with a risk of fire, injury, or electric shock.

And if we’re playing the odds, six out of every 10 people who read this story are putting themselves in that position, according to a new phone use study by Reviews.org. Those researchers found that 60% of Americans sleep with their phones.

"Sustained contact with warm surfaces for long periods of time may cause discomfort or injury," the company explained in a list of precautions.

In addition to the common sense type things like avoiding situations where your skin is in contact with a digital device or the adapter/charger for a long time, Apple also says “don’t sleep on a device, power adapter, or wireless charger, or place them under a blanket, pillow, or your body, when it’s connected to a power source.”

And that’s just the beginning

In a separate warning, AT&T and the National Library of Medicine say parents of “typical” high schoolers are in for a rude health awakening – that a kid’s smartphone can have as many as 17,000 bacterial gene copies on it.

Add some more to that, too. New research from Florida Atlantic University said that 95% of smartwatch wristbands it tested were covered with bacteria.

“It’s easy to forget that the microbes on phones and tablets can transfer to your hands and face,” an AT&T spokesperson told ConsumerAffairs.

Heard enough?

If that research is concerning, AT&T offers five tips to help keep your devices clean – and your family healthy.

1. Keep your phone clean just like you'd keep your hands clean.

• Make sure the device is turned off.

• Make sure all accessories are removed.

• Remove any debris with a soft cloth or rag.

• Use disinfecting wipes or wipes containing 70% isopropyl alcohol to clean your device.

• Avoid ports, microphones, speakers, and other areas where liquid can seep.

• Avoid spraying, pouring, or dipping your device directly into liquids. Use a cloth to apply the product.

• Avoid damaging the device surface by not using compressed air.

• Let the device air-dry completely before using.

2. Sharing your device with others should be done with caution. If you want to share photos, add a new number, or let your kids play a game, don't give it to them. “Sharing is not caring when it comes to sharing germs,” AT&T said.

3. Sanitize and charge your device at the same time with a UV sanitizer. AT&T suggests the UV sanitizer made by Samsung since it also wirelessly charges the phone while it’s cleaning it.

4. You should protect your screens with an antimicrobial screen protector. There’s a good number of options out there at the moment – some at as much as 80% off.

5. Making calls with hands-free accessories such as earbuds is a good idea. 

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has come down hard on American Airlines, fining the carrier $4.1 million for violating federal statutes and a Department’s rule.

Specifically, the government agency is punishing American for keeping passengers aboard planes on the tarmac for three hours or more without providing them an opportunity to get off the aircraft.

It’s the largest fine DOT has ever levied for a violation of the “tarmac rule.” And apparently, this is not a one-off case.

DOT said its investigation found that American kept dozens of flights stuck on the tarmac for long periods of time without letting passengers off. In addition to the fine, American has been ordered to cease and desist from violating the law. 

“This is the latest action in our continued drive to enforce the rights of airline passengers,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. “Whether the issue is extreme tarmac delays or problems getting refunds, DOT will continue to protect consumers and hold airlines accountable.”

Investigation results

DOT said its Office of Aviation Consumer Protection (OACP) found that between 2018 and 2021, American allowed 43 domestic flights to remain on the tarmac for lengthy periods without providing passengers an opportunity to deplane, in violation of the Department’s tarmac delay rule. 

DOT also found that none of the exceptions to the tarmac delay rule, including the safety and security exceptions, applied to those flights. In addition, on one of the 43 flights, passengers were not provided with food and water as required. 

The investigation report said most of the delays occurred at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport and that the delays covered by the investigation affected a total of  5,821 passengers. 

DOT said American Airlines had already made $2.05 in refunds to affected passengers so that amount will be deducted from the fine. DOT said it encourages that practice so that affected passengers are more quickly compensated.

After years of complaints from travelers, DOT has started a new rulemaking process aimed at requiring airlines to provide compensation and cover expenses for amenities such as meals, hotels, and rebooking when airlines are responsible for stranding passengers. 

After a two-year DOT push to improve the passenger experience, the department said the 10 largest airlines now guarantee meals and free rebooking on the same airline and nine guarantee hotel accommodations as part of the Department’s Airline Customer Service Dashboard. 

Hyundai Motor America is recalling 37,997 model year 2021-2023 Elantra HEVs.

A software error in the motor control unit may cause unintended vehicle acceleration after the brake pedal is released.

Unintended vehicle acceleration can increase the risk of a crash.

What to do

Dealers will update the motor control unit software free of charge.

Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed October 17, 2023.

Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at (855) 371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 248.

That $100-off NFL Sunday Ticket and NFL+ deals we told you about recently? Looks like those were just the beginning.

A number of tech sources say the floodgates have opened and now everyone from Apple to YouTubeTV are rolling out their own red carpet deals trying to lock consumers in for the fall when new movies and shows typically pop up like crazy.

“Back in the old days of cable, keeping your TV bill in check required routine calls to customer service, followed by desperate pleas for a lower rate and/or threats to cancel your service,” CordCutterWeekly’s Jared Newman, says.

“With streaming TV, things work a bit differently. While you can’t call up Netflix or HBO to ask for a lower price, you can often snag discounts on streaming services if you know where to look.”

Streaming service deals

Newman’s latest A-Z list of hard-to-beat deals (as of August 25, 2023) includes the following and lists detailed instructions on his site:

Apple TV: Get three months for free from Best Buy or Target, or two months direct from Apple. New subscribers only, but with Apple’s Family Sharing, multiple family members can redeem these offers and share with the rest of the group.

Bally Sports+: Save $5 per month in select markets.

DirecTV Stream: $10 off your first three months.

NFL Sunday Ticket: In addition to the $100-off Fanduel deal ConsumerAffairs already reported, football fans can get the service for $50 off through YouTube, plus four months of Max for YouTube TV subscribers. 

Paramount+: One month free (including Premium) with promo code BILLIONS, BIGBROTHER25, or THECHI. New and returning subscribers only.

Peacock: Save $3.50 per month on Premium (with or without ads) with code NTSEL3HMWTDP54N.

Sling TV: Get half off your first month, or get five months of Orange+Blue+Sports Extra for $274. New subscribers only.

Starz: Get three months of Starz for $3 per month.

YouTube TV: First three months for $65 per month. (Reg. $73 per month.) Frontier and WOW internet customers can save $10 per month for a year. New subscribers only.

Newman suggests that if you can’t take advantage of a “new subscribers only” deal because you signed up with the company earlier, consider using a masked or secondary email address to sign up again.

“You can also set up a limited-use credit card so you don’t get auto-billed at regular price after the promo period,’ he said.

Mashable is also all over the dealscape and particularly excited about Paramount+’s deal because the service is home to all of the favorite classic MTV and Nickelodeon faves, not to mention a load of live sports via CBS Sports. Paramount+ also has the new’ish Scream VI, and recent seasons of RuPaul's Drag Race. 

Its “best deals” list – again, as of Aug 22, 2023– includes these:

Disney+:Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+ (with ads) — $12.99/month (save $12.98/month); and Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+ (no ads) — $19.99/month (save $15.98/month).

Max: The streaming service formerly known as HBO Max is loaded with deals: 

• Max (with ads) — $99.99/year (save $1.66/month).

• Max (no ads) — $149.99/year (save $3.50/month).

• Max Ultimate (no ads) — $199.99/year (save $3.33/month).

• Try it with a seven-day free trial with Amazon Prime.

Netflix: Netflix also has a couple of partnership deals going, such as:

• Verizon customers can get a year of Netflix for free when they buy MasterClass or Duolingo through Verizon play+.

• T-Mobile customers with Go5G and Go5G Plus plans can save between $9.99 and $15.49/month on Netflix Basic or Standard.

No 'deals,' but there are also 'free trials'

The Mashable folks say there are several services that aren’t offering deals, per se, but that they do offer some decent free trials, especially if someone wants to binge on a program they’ve been dying to watch.

Those are:

Amazon Prime Video: No current subscription deals, but try it with a 30-day free trial.

AMC+: No current deals, but try it with a seven-day free trial.

FuboTV: Interested consumers can test out the service with a seven-day free trial or skip the trial to get 20% off. And new subscribers get 30 days free of FuboTV Pro if you're a My Best Buy Plus or Total member (save $74.99).

Philo: No current standalone deals, but try it with a seven-day free trial.

Showtime: No current standalone deals, but try it free for 30 days with Paramount+ using code NEWHOME.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has been busy in recent weeks. After approving the first over-the-counter contraceptive and the first postpartum depression drug, the agency is taking action in the fight against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). 

The FDA has officially approved a vaccine, Abrysvo, for pregnant women during weeks 32 through 36 of pregnancy that would help protect their babies from RSV. 

“RSV is a common cause of illness in children, and infants are among those at highest risk for severe disease, which can lead to hospitalization,” said Dr. Peter Marks, director of the FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research. “This approval provides an option for health care providers and pregnant individuals to protect infants from this potentially life-threatening disease.” 

Safety of the vaccine

Abrysvo was approved for protection against RSV in adults over 60 back in May. To test the efficacy in infants, researchers conducted two clinical trials, the first of which included 3,600 pregnant women who received the Abrysvo vaccines and 3,600 who received a placebo. The second trial cut down the participants to 100 women in each group. 

There were a few side effects that emerged in both clinical trials. Many of them were common for any vaccine: muscle pain, headache, pain at the injection site, and nausea. 

However, some of the side effects posed health risks to the women and their pregnancies. The studies found that preterm births occurred in 5.7% of the women who received the Abrysvo vaccine, compared with 4.7% of women who received the placebo, though it still is unknown if this is in direct correlation to the drug. 

There was also a higher risk of jaundice, low birth weight, and preeclampsia in women who received the vaccine – 1.8% of these women developed the high blood pressure condition, compared with 1.4% who received the placebo. 

Researchers found that administering the vaccine in the latest weeks of pregnancy – weeks 32-36 – is likely to lower the risk of preterm birth. 

Vaccine efficacy

Based on these two studies, the researchers found that Abrysvo was effective at lowering infants’ risk of developing severe RSV within three months and six months of birth. 

One group of study participants included 3,000 pregnant women between 32 and 36 weeks, half of whom received the Abrysvo vaccine, while the other half received a placebo.

Compared to those who didn’t receive the vaccine, the risk of severe lower respiratory tract disease (LRTD) – an infection caused by RSV – decreased by 90% in the first three months of life, and by 76.5% in the first six months of life. 

Similarly, the risk of respiratory tract disease was nearly 35% lower in the first three months for those who had been vaccinated, while the risk was over 57% lower in the first six months. 

More work will continue to be done on the drug to better understand some of the health risks, including preeclampsia.