Latest KFF Health News Stories
Media outlets report on news from Virginia, Idaho, Colorado, Utah, California, Minnesota, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Illinois, Connecticut, Indiana, North Carolina, Louisiana, Iowa and Missouri.
Being unable to provide themselves with food, follow medication schedules and maintain homes are growing problems for the elderly, according to HHS. Public health news is on epilepsy, breastfeeding, obesity, risks of parabens, sugary drinks, rare childhood cancer, teen depression, skin lightening, miscarriages, longevity and exercise, heart disease symptoms in women, and stroke recovery, as well.
“Folks are desperate to do something,” says Lily Eskelsen García, president of the National Education Association. “And what happens when you’re not sure what that something is, is you just make stuff up.”
Since Roe V. Wade Was Decided, Louisiana Has Passed 89 Anti-Abortion Bills
A new study looks at which states have most aggressively tried to legislate abortion since it was made legal in 1973. Indiana came in second to Louisiana with 63 measures. Meanwhile, in Kansas, a Republican state lawmaker has accused the governor of personally pressuring Democrats to vote “against their own faith” on an abortion amendment.
In November, 75 days before North Carolina was set to abandon its fee-for-service Medicaid model and essentially turn the management of the $14 billion annual program to managed care companies that had been awarded contracts, the state secretary of Health and Human Services put on the brakes. Lawmakers along with the governor are trying to figure out what comes next. Medicaid news comes out of Missouri, as well.
Even When Patients Plan Ahead A Significant Number Can Be Walloped By Surprise Medical Bills
A new survey that examines how Americans are effected by surprise medical bills finds a slight decline in the number of people worrying about the issue, but far less of a dip than there has been in the past. Meanwhile, Congress continues to work on legislation to address the problem, but with so many powerful stakeholders with strong opinions, progress is slow.
The VA said the planning with Cerner is “proceeding deliberately and thoughtfully to adhere to the project’s ten-year timeline, which calls for a rolling implementation schedule through 2027.” Other health technology news is on AdventHealth’s plans to switch from Cerner and privacy issues, as well.
Don’t Look At Wall Street To Get A Good Read On Scope Of Virus Threat
Stocks may be rallying, but investors are making assumptions that public health experts warn about. Meanwhile, most financial experts believe China faces a short but sharper economic shock than originally thought. And China warns against an overreaction from other countries in the form of trade restrictions.
Quarantined Cruise Ship A Textbook Example Of How Not To Handle A Crisis, Experts Say
The number of infected patients on the quarantined cruise ship off the coast of Japan continues to climb along with the frustration and anger of those on board. Other global news from the outbreak includes the release of about 200 American evacuees from quarantine, people in Georgia who are self-monitoring, a British “super spreader,” and more.
In the past drugmakers have stepped up during times of public crisis to take over the development of a drug, but that can also leave them burned in the end. “I don’t work for the companies, I’m not like a drug company fan,” said Ron Klain, who served as Ebola czar in the Obama administration. “But there’s no question that a lot of them lost a lot of money trying to produce an Ebola vaccine.”
Experts say the coronavirus outbreak may be hitting its peak in the epicenter where the crisis started, but it will likely spread elsewhere. Meanwhile, medical experts are worried that because of false negatives on tests, the number of patients is being vastly under-recorded. Media outlets also take a look at the politics at play within China as leaders handle the outbreak.
“Having a name matters to prevent the use of other names that can be inaccurate or stigmatizing,” said WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Sanders Secures Win In New Hampshire, With Moderates Buttigieg And Klobuchar Hot On His Heels
Sen. Bernie Sanders won the New Hampshire Democratic primary in part because of his support for a single-payer health system. But South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg and Sen. Amy Klobuchar, who both oppose “Medicare for All” in favor of a more moderate plan, finished second and third.
First Edition: February 12, 2020
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Perspectives: Coronavirus May Help Confirm Drugmakers’ Long-Held Suspicions About China’s IP Stance
Read recent commentaries about drug-cost issues.
Read about the biggest pharmaceutical development and pricing stories from the past week in KHN’s Prescription Drug Watch roundup.
Conservative Indiana Adopted Needle Exchanges But Still Faces Local Resistance
Indiana was ground zero for shifting ideas about needle exchanges after a small town had an HIV outbreak in 2015 brought on by needle-sharing. But even as other parts of the country start to embrace needle exchanges amid the ongoing opioid epidemic, the sites remain controversial in Indiana. Only nine of the state’s 92 counties have them, after a series of closures and reopenings.
When Your Doctor Is Also A Lobbyist: Inside The War Over Surprise Medical Bills
As lawmakers consider bills to protect patients against surprise medical bills, doctors have waged a stealth on-the-ground campaign to win over members of Congress. Here’s how they did it.
Estrategia defensiva contra cuentas médicas sorpresa: establecer los propios términos
Las cuentas sorpresa son el saldo que suele aparecer sin invitación cuando al paciente lo atiende un proveedor que no está en la red del plan médico.
Opinion writers weigh in on these health care topics and others.