Dendreon issued a statement in response to the coverage assesment emphasizing that the opening of the analysis does not prevent Medicare contractors from covering the treatment or represent a change in Medicare policy.

FORBES: Why Medicare Is Reviewing Provenge

Only last month 20 organisations, including patient groups such as Age UK and the Alzheimer's Society and medical organisations like the British Medical Association and Royal College of Physicians, put their names to a joint statement criticising the "often inaccurate" coverage the issue was getting.

BBC: The dilemma over care for the dying

It was the question that dominated coverage of the story from that moment until Wednesday morning's statement.

FORBES: Sheriff Shot Down

In a statement last week, the IRS blamed a decline in some performance measures, including a drop in audit coverage and collections, on an 8% decline in its workforce since 2010, plus a doubling of the staff it has assigned to fight identity theft refund fraud.

FORBES: As IRS Tax Filing Season Begins, Bad News For Honest Taxpayers

In a statement on its website, Vodafone underlined what it saw as a weakness in EE's 4G - indoor coverage.

BBC: UK's first 4G mobile service launched in 11 cities by EE