The [Friday] Papers

"Two major insurers are charging much more than others for several common HIV and AIDS medications in Illinois, drawing complaints from AIDS advocates that the companies may be trying to discourage high-cost patients from choosing their plans on the federal health insurance marketplace," the Tribune reports.

"Several standard treatments cost more than $1,000 per month on many Coventry Health Care and Humana plans, while some of the same drugs cost as little as $35 on plans other insurers sell on the exchange, according to an AIDS Foundation of Chicago analysis."

Wow. What does Coventry and Humana have to say for themselves?

"Our goals are to help our members be healthy and access the care they need by assisting with the strict patient compliance that these specialty medications require while keeping our health plans affordable," Coventry spokesman Rohan Hutchings said in an e-mail.

The e-mail was not available for further questions.

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When are reporters going to stop doing this? And shouldn't their editors prohibit it? I know that would make journalists even bigger hypocrites than they already are when they issue e-mail statements instead of facing questions about their work, but still.

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"A recent Harvard study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found evidence that insurers were adversely tiering HIV and AIDS drugs on 12 of 48 plans sold on the federal exchange in 12 states. People with midrange 'silver' plans that were adversely tiered would pay about $3,000 more per year for their drugs than those in other plans, according to the study."

Isn't that insurance terrorism? It certainly is the face of evil.

Problematic Problem Landlords List
"The 25-unit apartment building that hugs a corner in Chicago's West Garfield Park neighborhood failed almost 50 inspections during a nine-year period. In late January, the building and its owner landed on the city's first list of 'problem' landlords," the Tribune reports.

"But a few weeks before being included on the much-touted list, one that was initially going to label landlords as 'bad' before the city's Law Department stepped in, the building changed hands. The new owner, Pangea Properties, is undertaking a $1 million-plus renovation of the now-empty property and wants to know how to get its building off the list."

Well, that's gonna happen, isn't it?

"A Tribune review of city and county records tied to the 45 landlords and properties on the list found a quarter of the entries to be questionable or contain outdated information."

Oh.

"Some of the buildings are long vacant. A few are in demolition court, meaning the city is asking to tear them down. One functions as a single-room occupancy building. Others have tenants but the buildings have changed owners, and not recently."

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A bad landlords list is probably a good idea, but I just assumed when the city put this one out that was done with the mayoral campaign in mind.

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Rahm's Next Job
Because he's on the verge of unemployment, we have a few suggestions.

Rahmfeld
If Rahm wrote Seinfeld.

Beachwood Photo Booth: Waiting Room
Reading corner.

Fantasy Fix Baseball Draft Guide Pt. 1
Rizzo vs. Abreu vs. LaRoche vs. Bryant.

Palm Desert Dispatch: The Hot Stove Luncheon
No pepper; too many strikeouts.

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Weekend Beachwood
* The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #40: Rose vs. Kane is in post-production.

* The Week In Chicago Rock is in pre-production.

* The Beachwood Radio Hour #46: The Homan Chronicles is in pre-production.

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TweetWood
A sampling.

Ald. Burke's street plowed 14 times btwn Wed & Thurs. Plows left most nearby side streets UNTOUCHED! http://t.co/0lVu98ySpT @RahmEmanuel

— 19th Ward Parents (@19thWardParents) February 26, 2015

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Rahm is out today but still not taking questions

— Lauren FitzPatrick (@bylaurenfitz) February 26, 2015

But the Tribune editorial board wanted him to level with us!

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Untruth in Advertising: "Mega" is the metric prefix for million, so the Mega-millions Lottery should pay trillions of dollars

— Neil deGrasse Tyson (@neiltyson) February 25, 2015

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wine bars were invented because some people like to go out drinking without having fun at all

— Wendy Pfeffercorndog (@lorenacupcake) February 26, 2015

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Rahm voters: Richer, whiter. http://t.co/qyVBFT3Nfr #ChicagoElection2015

— Beachwood Reporter (@BeachwoodReport) February 27, 2015

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As Chuy Gracia tries to expand his coalition, wondering if Jews for Jesus has formed yet.

— Beachwood Reporter (@BeachwoodReport) February 27, 2015

The answer is Yes; follow the TL.

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Dock Walls, again, will moderate MT @fox32news: Emanuel, Garcia agree to FOX 32 debate, 2 others ahead of runoff pic.twitter.com/w8yXOIJtA6

— Beachwood Reporter (@BeachwoodReport) February 27, 2015

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FOX 32, NBC and WTTW announce they will each host a debate between #TheDresses.

— Beachwood Reporter (@BeachwoodReport) February 27, 2015

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The Beachwood Tip Line: To be real.

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