Latest KFF Health News Stories
WHO Declares Coronavirus Outbreak A Global Emergency, But Reiterates Confidence In Chinese Officials
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the declaration comes now because of fears that the coronavirus may reach countries with weak health care systems, where it could run amok. The virus has sickened thousands, mostly in China, and killed about 170.
The award was more than twice the size of the $117 million settlement Johnson & Johnson reached to resolve claims by 41 states and the District of Columbia for similar deceptive marketing accusations arising from the sale of pelvic mesh products.
Amid Ongoing Vaping Crisis And Legal Battles, Altria Takes $4.1B Hit On Juul Investment
Altria bought its stake in Juul as it was looking to shift away from cigarettes. The e-cigarette start-up, at the time experiencing explosive growth, was valued at $38 billion.
A Look At Louisiana’s Unusually Aggressive Strategy For Abortion Battle In Front Of Supreme Court
The case is being closely watched as one of the first big abortion cases in front of the Supreme Court since conservative Justices Brett Kavanaugh and Neil Gorsuch joined the bench.
CMS Administrator Seema Verma and the Trump administration rolled out the new plan on Thursday that would allow states to cap Medicaid spending for adults who were enrolled in the program under the health law expansion. The idea has been a long-held goal for Republicans, but critics say the change would jeopardize medical access and care for some of the poorest Americans.
When The Science Is Fast But The Virus Is Faster
Researchers race to get ahead of the coronavirus, but the outbreak is testing all advances made by scientists to handle an unknown and rapidly spreading pathogen in real time. In other news on the outbreak, Facebook’s vow to tackle misinformation about the virus, the booming demand for face masks, and more.
First Person-To-Person Transmission Of Coronavirus Confirmed In U.S.
The patient is the husband of someone who had come back from Wuhan, China, the epicenter of the outbreak. “The risk to the general public remains low. This person-to-person spread was between two very close contacts, a husband and wife,” said Dr. Ngozi Ezike, director of the Illinois Department of Public Health. Meanwhile, as HHS Secretary Alex Azar takes the reins in dealing the with outbreak in the U.S., President Donald Trump still faces pressure as fears mount. Media outlets report on screenings, evacuations, possible cases in the states, and more.
First Edition: January 31, 2020
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Preeminent Hospitals Penalized Over Rates Of Patients’ Injuries
Medicare cut payments for 786 hospitals because of high infection and complication rates. They included a third of the hospitals proclaimed as the nation’s best in one prominent ranking.
Warren Is Right. Presidents Have The Power To Bypass Congress On Drug Pricing.
But like all of health care, it’s complicated.
No Masking The Best Way To Avoid The Scary Coronavirus: Wash Your Hands
While covering the SARS outbreak as a reporter in China, KHN’s editor-in-chief saw that common sense is the best defense against viral illness.
5 Things To Know About Trump’s Medicaid Block Grant Plan
Federal officials unveiled guidance for states that want to opt out of some of the current funding program and instead seek a fixed payment to gain more flexibility.
Masks Reveal Cultural Disconnect As L.A.’s Chinese Community Braces For Coronavirus
Since two cases of the mysterious new coronavirus were reported in Southern California, Chinese immigrants have begun donning face masks. The practice is common in China but goes against official guidance in the U.S., and that’s causing conflict in local schools.
KHN’s ‘What The Health?’: Remaking Medicaid — Maybe
The Trump administration is proposing to let states have more control of their Medicaid programs in exchange for potentially less money from the federal government. Meanwhile, the dangerous respiratory virus spreading from China is starting to affect trade and transportation along with public health. Kimberly Leonard of the Washington Examiner, Erin Mershon of Stat and Joanne Kenen of Politico join KHN’s Julie Rovner to discuss this and more.
Máscaras revelan desconexión cultural mientras comunidad china de LA se prepara para el coronavirus
En China es habitual ver transeúntes usando máscaras faciales. Pero en los Estados Unidos se trata de un fenómeno nuevo que genera algo de rechazo.
Editorial pages focus on these health issues and others.
Research Roundup: Global Health Care, ACA Coverage Gains, Access To Care, And More
Each week, KHN compiles a selection of recently released health policy studies and briefs.
Media outlets report on news from Kansas, Tennessee, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Washington, Virginia, Iowa, Connecticut, Oklahoma, Ohio, California, Colorado, Oregon and Missouri.
Reuters, which broke news Tuesday about an alleged kickback scheme possibly involving the OxyContin manufacturer, breaks down the current legal charges the company faces. News on the epidemic is on prescription guidelines and a lack of followup care for teens, as well.
Investors Nervous About Anthem’s Medical Loss Ratio As Insurer Forecasts Earnings Below Expectations
Anthem said its medical loss ratio was 89% in the fourth quarter, higher than the 88.1% figure that a consensus of analysts had estimated. Investors closely watch the MLR as a gauge of health spending and insurers’ operational profitability. In other health industry news: short-term plans, Walmart’s bet on primary care, job cuts, worker shortages, and more.