Latest KFF Health News Stories
Duodenoscopes are used in 700,000 medical procedures each year, yet tests showed that the devices could not be properly decontaminated between procedures. In 2015, two patients in Los Angeles died and five were sickened by contaminated duodenoscopes.
If Republican lawmakers don’t act on high drug prices, the issue that many voters care deeply about could become a political liability for them. But if they do, it could create a schism in the party and anger the powerful pharmaceutical industry.
Although much of the rhetoric around “Medicare for All” focuses on taking aim at industry giants like hospitals, drugmakers and insurers, some voters in states like Iowa worry about how such a major change would affect their neighbors and friends who simply work in the field. In other news from the election trail: Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt) goes after South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg’s health plan; Andrew Yang reveals proposals on prescription drug prices and care for adults with disabilities and prescription; and more.
The normal open enrollment season wrapped up on Sunday, and experts are expecting the numbers to fall short of last year’s total. But fears of a marketplace collapse are nowhere to be found. “There’s definitely been some erosion, but perhaps not the cratering that some predicted back when the Trump administration announced some of their policy changes affect the ACA,” said Sabrina Corlette, a research professor. In other health law news: advocates call for an extension because of website glitches; a federal appeals court decision is poised to drop any day now; what would happen if the ACA went away; and more.
First Edition: December 16, 2019
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Analysis: In Medical Billing, Fraudulent Charges Weirdly Pass As Legal
After my husband had a bike accident, we were subjected to medical bills that no one would accept if they had been delivered by a contractor, or a lawyer or an auto mechanic. Such charges are sanctioned by insurers, which generally pay because they have no way to know whether you received a particular item or service — and it’s not worth their time to investigate the millions of medical interactions they write checks for each day.
What Would Happen If The ACA Went Away?
The Affordable Care Act has been on the books for nearly a decade. Parts of it have become ingrained in our health system ― and in our everyday life. But this could change, depending on a long-awaited 5th Circuit Court of Appeals decision regarding the law’s constitutionality.
Promising Greater Safety, A Tiny Widget Creates Chaos For Tube Feeders
A standard connector for feeding tubes was supposed to improve patient safety by preventing accidental misconnections to equipment used for IVs or other purposes. But critics say the design instead could keep patients from real food and inadvertently creates a host of new risks, including for vulnerable premature infants.
Must-Reads Of The Week From Brianna Labuskes
Newsletter editor Brianna Labuskes wades through hundreds of health care policy stories each week, so you don’t have to.
Watch: The House Approved H.R. 3, The Pelosi Drug Bill. What Does That Mean?
KHN’s Emmarie Huetteman appeared on PBS NewsHour to discuss efforts on Capitol Hill to curb the cost of prescription drugs.
Opinion writers weigh in on universal health care and other health issues.
Longer Looks: A Runner’s Asthma; Choosing The End; Artificial Intelligence; And More
Each week, KHN finds interesting reads from around the Web.
Media outlets report on news from New York, Missouri, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Minnesota, Illinois, Florida, Georgia, California, Oregon, Indiana, New Hampshire, Texas, and Kentucky.
Very Odd Flu Season: It’s Highly Active Among Young Children, Getting Off To Earliest Start In Years
Another difference is the type of influenza being seen in parts of the south: Type B is preceding Type A. So far, the northeast is being spared, but it’s coming, health specialists warn. Public health news is on aims to get consistent results in psychology studies, ways to reduce the risk of dying, treatment of volcano burn victims, and a potential HIV vaccine, as well.
FDA Reverses Course And Approves Once-Rejected Treatment For Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy
In August, the maker of the treatment, Sarepta, said the FDA rejected the drug over the risk of infections seen in animal experiments. The new approval announcement made no mention of the prior rejection.
“I told them if they didn’t correct this stuff, they’d have a lot of girls who had cancer,” said Dr. Cheryl Young, an OB/GYN. “I told them that, but they didn’t want to hear it, because they didn’t want to spend the money.” News on health care for inmates is on the enormous financial gains of one doctor, as well.
More physicians are eschewing the traditional insurance model and opening clinics based on set fees or subscriptions. Dr. Timothy Wong talks about why he no longer accepts insurance.
The errors highlight persistent issues at the VA, including failures to update antiquated computer systems and the confusion and lack of accountability that has come from an increase in the use of private health care among veterans. News from the administration also focuses on public housing, medical care for immigrants and deferred deportations.
FCC Unanimously Approves Three-Digit Suicide Prevention Number Amid Escalating Crisis In U.S.
The easy 988 number will replace the clunkier 800-273-TALK (8255) for anyone to reach the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. The FCC said in an earlier report that the increased costs that will come from more calls would likely be offset by avoiding medical costs such as hospitalizations or emergency department visits
Some consumers in North Carolina are receiving robocalls that come across like ads for plans with names like “Trump Health Care” touting affordable coverage. But those options are often skimpy and don’t offer even some of the basic coverage Americans have grown used to under the Affordable Care Act. The deadline for signing up for a 2020 plan is Sunday. News comes out of Georgia, Florida and California, as well.