Latest KFF Health News Stories
Listen: How Vaping Regulations Are Playing Out In The States
KHN Midwest correspondent Lauren Weber joined Wisconsin Public Radio’s Rob Ferrett on “Central Time” to discuss the latest on vaping bans and what they mean for vaping trends among youth.
Pharma Stocks Skyrocket Along With Coronavirus Fears
Read about the biggest pharmaceutical development and pricing stories from the past week in KHN’s Prescription Drug Watch roundup.
En 2020, California planea a lo grande en atención médica
Los proyectos de ley de atención médica y las iniciativas presupuestarias de los políticos están llenas de ideas y dólares, y se oponen a industrias poderosas.
Opinion writers tackle these and other health issues.
Media outlets report on news from Puerto Rico, Mississippi, Ohio, Florida, West Virginia, Virginia, Missouri, Maryland, Texas, Colorado, Washington, Wisconsin, California, Oregon and North Carolina.
Risky Move From Thomas Jefferson University Could Reshape Philadelphia’s Health Marketplace
Jefferson is trying to take control of insurer Health Partners Plans Inc. in a deal that could mean Philadelphia consumers and employers could end up paying more for their health care. Hospital and health system news comes out of Georgia, Oregon, New Hampshire, North Carolina, and D.C.
State public health officials have been feeling like their hands are tied as they watch a threat on the horizon. But Congress is now giving them permission to use the opioid funds more broadly. In other news on the opioid epidemic: the threat of benzos, foster families, one city’s plan to address the crisis, and more.
When a 16-year-old went missing in Montana, local and federal law enforcement actually searched for her instead of letting the case go cold. Although it’s a far cry from what needs to be done to address the issue, some advocates say it shows that there is progress being made.
As More And More States Legalize Marijuana In Some Form, National Enforcement Confusion Escalates
There’s a total federal ban on marijuana that’s not expected to lift anytime soon. But at the same time, more than 40 states are expected to have loosened regulations on the drug by the end of 2020. That makes enforcement rather tricky. Meanwhile, research continues on the health effects of the drug.
Guidance To Allow States To Request Block Grant Waivers For Medicaid Programs Expected Soon
Approving state waivers to change Medicaid funding to block grants would be among the Trump administration’s most controversial moves to reshape Medicaid. While supporters of block granting say it gives states more flexibility, critics warn that it creates incentives for states to cut aid for its most vulnerable populations. Meanwhile, Medicaid expansion advocates are frustrated by the last remaining red-state holdouts.
No Major Violent Incidents At Va. Gun Rally After State Officials Braced For The Worst
Thousands and thousands of people flooded the streets, many of them armed, for a pro-gun rally that drew militia groups from outside the state. Virginia officials were worried enough about safety at the event to declare a state of emergency, but it went off without major incident. Meanwhile, a shooting in Kansas City left two dead and more than a dozen wounded.
Psychologists who specialize in treating ministers say that Christian pastors are still regularly fired after church elders discover they suffer from depression, bipolar disorder or other mental-health problems, and there are no protections in place to help them. In other public health news: fish oil, sepsis, doctor-patient relationships, chronic inflammation, safe driving, the burden of being a caregiver, and more.
Wearables May Be Hot, But Telehealth Has Yet To Explode In Popularity With General Public
Tech companies are eager to get into health care, but low engagement rates and drop-offs plague efforts to get the general public to buy into digital health options. In other health and technology news: tech giants’ access to hospitals, rules for artificial intelligence, and wearable devices.
The American College of Physicians said it’s not signing on to specific proposals from the 2020 Democratic candidates, but is broadly supporting a single-payer system or a public option model. In other health care industry and costs news: surprise medical bills, rising spending, the high price of fertility treatments, medical debt, the urgent clinic industry, and more.
Major Change In How Donated Livers Are Allocated For Transplant Allowed To Move Ahead By Judge
The new distribution plan gives more weight to the medical status of critically ill patients waiting for transplant, moving away from a previous system influenced by geography. The federal government approved the policy change in December 2018, but it has not been implemented during court challenges. U.S. District Court Judge Amy Totenberg in Atlanta called the case “difficult and wrenching” in her decision not to permanently block the new rules.
Only Government Intervention Can Fix Market For Antibiotics, WHO Warns
Without government intervention, the United Nations estimates that resistant infections could kill 10 million people annually by 2050. “We urgently need research and development,” said Sarah Paulin, of WHO. “We still have a window of opportunity but we need to ensure there is investment now so we don’t run out of options for future generations.” In other pharmaceutical news: generic prices, updates on the Chris Collins insider trading case, CAR-T therapy, Medicare programs, and drug recalls.
Media outlets cover updates on the coronavius that has the global public health community on high alert during a busy travel season for Chinese residents.
Advocates Blast Trump Administration’s Proposal To Loosen Obama-Era School Lunch Nutrition Rules
Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue says the proposed rules would give schools needed flexibility, but critics say that loosening restrictions creates a loophole that will lead to kids having less nutritious options.
The case will mark the third time the Supreme Court has taken up similar questions about the applicability of the contraception mandate, and it will be the first time it hears such arguments with conservative Justices Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh on the bench.
President Donald Trump reportedly called HHS Secretary Alex Azar following a meeting about elections and polling where he was told that voters trust Democrats more than Republicans on health care issues.