NPR: “For the first time since 2014, death rates in the U.S. declined and life expectancy showed a modest uptick, according to new data released in two reports Thursday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Life expectancy at birth in 2018 was 78.7 years, 0.1 year longer than the previous year.” (That’s about six weeks, or approximately how much time you’ve spent watching impeachment hearings…) NPR: Life Expectancy Rose Slightly In 2018, As Drug Overdose Deaths Fell.

+ “A pop-up would appear, asking about a patient’s level of pain. Then, a drop-down menu would list treatments ranging from a referral to a pain specialist to a prescription for an opioid painkiller.” Bloomberg: Health-Records Company Pushed Opioids to Doctors in Secret Deal With Drugmaker. (When a scourge is so bad that it reverses life expectancy trends, there’s gonna be plenty of blame to go around…)