Latest KFF Health News Content

Latest KFF Health News Stories

Whistle Blower Claims Federal Employees Working With Evacuated Patients Didn’t Have Proper Training, Gear

Morning Briefing

HHS staff members were sent to Travis Air Force Base and March Air Reserve Base and ordered to enter quarantined areas, including a hangar where coronavirus evacuees were being received, the complaint said. They were not provided safety-protocol training until five days into their assignment, said the whistleblower, who is described as a senior leader at the health agency.

Pence To Sign Off On All Coronavirus Messaging; White House Says Move Isn’t Intended To Muzzle Health Officials

Morning Briefing

President Donald Trump put Vice President Mike Pence in charge of the country’s coronavirus response. They’re looking to tighten control of the information being released about the outbreak after some early fumbling that led to mixed messages delivered to an edgy public. Meanwhile, Pence named Ambassador Debbie Birx as the “White House coronavirus response coordinator” — installing a czar-like figure under him to guide the administration’s response. And Pence continues to face scrutiny for his handling of an HIV outbreak when he was governor of Indiana.

Colorado Forges Ahead On A New Model For Health Care While Nation Waits

KFF Health News Original

Since gaining control of the House, Senate and governor’s office, Colorado Democrats are pushing an aggressive health care agenda. With measures to create a public insurance option, welcome drug importation, lower drug prices, curtail surprise billing and cap insulin copays, the state is becoming a likely model for health policies at the federal level.

High Court Revisits Abortion Law Akin To One Struck Down In 2016

KFF Health News Original

The justices will hear a case Wednesday involving a Louisiana law requiring abortion providers to be able to admit patients to a nearby hospital. But four years ago, the court said a similar Texas law was unconstitutional.

New California Coronavirus Case Reveals Problems with U.S. Testing Protocols

KFF Health News Original

Disease experts say a new coronavirus case in California underscores the need for more widespread community testing for the illness, as well as problems caused by the delays in getting functional coronavirus test kits to state and local public health agencies. 

KHN’s ‘What The Health?’: Prepping For A Possible Pandemic

KFF Health News Original

Official Washington is sitting up and taking notice of the threat from the novel coronavirus as Congress and the Trump administration prepare for a potential pandemic. Meanwhile, the Democratic candidates for president are still arguing about “Medicare for All.” Joanne Kenen of Politico, Kimberly Leonard of the Washington Examiner and Shefali Luthra of Kaiser Health News join KHN’s Julie Rovner to discuss this and more. Also, Rovner interviews NPR’s Sydney Lupkin about the latest “Bill of the Month” installment.

Tarea del día: deletrear y ponerse los anteojos

KFF Health News Original

Al menos el 20% de los niños en edad escolar en los Estados Unidos tienen problemas de visión. Pero según los CDC, menos del 15% tiene un examen de la vista antes de empezar el jardín.

Critics Assail J&J’s Sponsorship Of High-Profile Physician Conference Exploring Conflict Of Interests

Morning Briefing

Johnson & Johnson is underwriting the conference scheduled for June. “The pharmaceutical sponsorship is a problem for a conference on this topic. We need to extract medical research, education, and practice from the all-pervasive and distorting influence of industry,” said Fiona Godlee, the editor-in-chief of BMJ, who rejected an invitation to appear as a panelist. Physician news is also on consolidated practices.

One Of Nation’s Largest PBMs Express Scripts May Be Hit With Subpoena Over Failing To Provide Insulin Price Info

Morning Briefing

Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) threaten Cigna Corp.’s Express Scripts with a subpoena after they say the pharmacy benefit manager failed to comply with an investigation of rising insulin costs. Meanwhile, lawmakers seek answers on how unofficial advisers may have influenced President Donald Trump’s decision to endorse a risky antidepressant for veterans.

Teaching Police About Autism: Advocacy Groups Hold Seminars In N.J. About Why Some Children Might Run From Law Enforcement

Morning Briefing

They’ve trained hundreds of thousands of officers about how to approach people with special needs. Public health news is on pedestrian deaths, widowhood and dementia, migraines, adult obesity, an E. coli outbreak, mental health, and children and nature, as well.

Biden Says Trump Wants To Fingerprint Food Stamp Recipients. Turns Out It Was Bloomberg Who Touted Such A Plan.

Morning Briefing

The Washington Post fact checks recent claims former Vice President Joe Biden made about the Trump administration’s food stamp policy changes. In other news from the campaign trail: Michael Bloomberg’s previous public health policies, the immigrant population’s affect on the elections, and “Medicare for All” ads.