Latest KFF Health News Stories
¿Cuidado de salud mental asequible? El acceso es cada vez más difícil
En 2017, 70,237 estadounidenses murieron por sobredosis de drogas y 47,173 por suicidio, según los CDC. En 2018, casi el 20% de los adultos sufrieron una enfermedad mental.
Editorial pages focus on these health topics and others.
Opinion writers weigh in on efforts to curb teen vaping.
Media outlets report on news from Maryland, Pennsylvania, District of Columbia, Florida, Minnesota, Arizona, New York, Rhode Island, Georgia, Texas, Oregon, Massachusetts, California, and Kansas.
U.S. Territories On Path Toward ‘Medicaid Cliff’ As Congress Drags Its Feet Over Funding
If Congress doesn’t increase the amount of designated money by the end of the year, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Guam say they would need to cut their Medicaid rolls in half, while Puerto Rico says it would need to cut back dental and prescription drug services. Medicaid news comes out of Kansas and North Carolina, as well.
Republican Sen. Joni Ernst of Iowa says that Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) is blocking the legislation because he wants to hurt her reelection chances. Meanwhile, Schumer says Ernst’s version of the bill shows she “is simply afraid of the NRA.”
The entire night security cameras showed that nobody entered the wing where Jeffrey Epstein had been left alone in his cell, the indictment said, despite requirements to make rounds to check on prisoners every 30 minutes. Epstein’s suicide has put a spotlight on issues with quality and safety measures within the federal prison system.
Two patients taking part in the trials have been free of transfusions to treat their diseases for months, showing the ”revolutionary” technology is working and the new cells are engrafting in bone marrow, researchers say. But they caution about celebrating too early. Public health news is on unwelcome changes in psychiatric wards, pledges to eradicate polio, harsh discipline of black girls, anal cancer, illiteracy’s impact on dementia, functioning with brain malformations, an app for recovery from addiction, and exercise’s benefits for older, sedentary people.
On Transgender Day of Remembrance, Many Victims’ Loved Ones Left Without Closure, Justice
Vigils will be held Wednesday to remember transgender people killed over the past year. For many, the day marks just how far there is left to go when it comes to securing a safe future for transgender people.
Research from the maker of Camel cigarettes showed that nicotine salts were a key ingredient in making the product palatable and addictive, a Los Angeles Times investigation uncovered. Juul’s salts contain up to three times the amount of nicotine found in previous e-cigarettes. In other news on the vaping crisis: more states sue Juul, President Donald Trump’s decision to back off a flavor ban angers advocates in both parties, a House panel approves its own ban, and more.
The Associated Press investigated the marketing techniques of Mundipharma, the Sacklers’ Chinese affiliate, and found that the tactics the company is using mirror ones used by Purdue Pharma at the beginning of the U.S. opioid epidemic. Meanwhile, the judge overseeing the consolidated opioid case set a trial date for the lawsuit against major pharmacy chains. Other news on the national drug crisis comes out of Florida, as well.
Politico has obtained emails that show federal officials and contractors discussing the possibility of boosting CMS Administrator Seema Verma’s public persona with high-profile articles in magazines like Glamour. Federal officials are prohibited from spending taxpayer dollars for publicity purposes, or using their public office for private gain. In other news, Verma criticized hospitals and insurers for fighting against price transparency efforts.
Trump Insists Surprise Walter Reed Visit Was ‘Very Routine’ As Speculation Continues Over His Health
President Donald Trump said that the coverage of his visit worried first lady Melania Trump into think he’d had a heart attack. Meanwhile, the White House is re-framing the visit as a “check-up” rather than a physical.
‘Medicare For All’ Continues To Dominate Attention In 2020 Race As Dems Gear Up For Tonight’s Debate
With Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) refocusing attention with her new plan on how to pay for “Medicare for All,” the topic is likely to get plenty of airtime at Wednesday night’s debate.
First Edition: November 20, 2019
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Perspectives: Don’t Believe The Rhetoric, Most Drug Companies Aren’t That Innovative Anyway
Read recent commentaries about drug-cost issues.
Read about pharmaceutical development and pricing stories in this week’s Prescription Drug Watch round up.
The Case Of The ACA’s Disappearing Taxes
When passing the Affordable Care Act, Democrats touted the fact that they had included many measures to pay for the bill’s expanded coverage. But nearly 10 years later, many of the “pay-fors” have been eliminated.
New California Law May Expand Use Of HIV Prevention Drugs, With Caveats
Legislation that takes effect next July will let people buy the medications without a prescription for a limited period. Medical professionals say it’s a step in the right direction but will not significantly increase the use of the medicine without additional efforts.
Para bebés con problemas de audición, nuevas pruebas abren un mundo de sonidos
Al 98% de los bebés en el país se les hace la prueba de audición en los primeros días después del nacimiento. Los que necesitan ayuda son referidos de un inmediato a un especialista.