Latest KFF Health News Stories
Although the Trump administration’s rule focuses on government aid programs, the fallout could ripple into additional public health areas like vaccination rates. Pediatricians are worried that “throughout the community there’s significant reluctance now and fear to access health care services that people need both to treat illness and to stay healthy,” said Dr. Jeffrey Duchin, chief of communicable diseases for the Seattle and King County Health Department.
A Look At How David Koch Contributed To The Health Care Landscape
David Koch, who died on Friday, donated large sums of money to medical research, as well as health care lobbying. But he’ll most likely be remembered for his political efforts with his brother.
Judge Expected To Rule Today In Oklahoma Opioid Case Over What Role Drugmakers Played In Epidemic
The decision from Cleveland County District Judge Thad Balkman is expected this afternoon. The case is closely watched as a bellwether for other pending litigation against drugmakers. Meanwhile, investigators are starting to utilize data to combat the opioid crisis, new information emerges about a company the DEA once referred to as the “kingpin within the prescription drug cartel,” and scientists look at how gender plays a role in pain.
Many of President Donald Trump’s supporters at his rallies not only cite drug prices as one of their top concerns — a trend polling consistently shows to hold true for voters nationally as well — but don’t even realize the president has been vocal about the issue in the past. In other pharmaceutical news: the pricey Duchenne drug and the future of Alzheimer’s treatments.
Some patients in states that have pledged to support Planned Parenthood won’t even notice a difference after the organization decided to reject federal funding instead of being forced to comply with what it deemed a “gag rule” on its providers. But others will face shutdowns, longer waits, reduced staffs and higher fees, among other changes.
First Patient Dies Of Mysterious Lung Illness Linked To Vaping As Cases Tick Up Across The Country
Officials remain stumped by the infection-like symptoms, not knowing whether the illness has been caused by marijuana-type products, e-cigarettes, or some type of street concoction that was vaped, or whether a contaminant or defective device may have been involved. CDC officials have not released the name of the Illinois patient whose death was the first to be linked to the disease.
Democrats Working To Flip The Senate Want Nothing To Do With ‘Medicare For All’
Although “Medicare for All” has saturated the presidential campaign, Senate candidates in battleground states are staying focused on the more moderate playbook that worked for House Democrats in 2018. Meanwhile, the uninsured rate is rising, likely keeping health care front-and-center for the elections.
First Edition: August 26, 2019
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Coming Out About Mental Health On Social Media
Talking about your mental health on social media is a thing, and it could actually help.
Why Red Wyoming Seeks The Regulatory Approach To Air Ambulance Costs
Wyoming is taking on expensive air ambulance bills by trying to expand Medicaid to cover transport for all patients. This is a big change: a red state seeking to control what’s been a growing free-market bonanza.
Doctors Fight Legislation Prompted By Sex Abuse Scandals
In response to recent high-profile sex abuse cases, some California lawmakers want doctors to give patients more information about pelvic exams, and then get a signature proving they did. Doctors in the Golden State and beyond are pushing back.
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.
Hace años, este doctor relacionó un misterioso mal pulmonar con el “vaping”
Este verano, funcionarios federales comenzaron a investigar un brote nacional de enfermedades pulmonares graves relacionadas con el vapeo que ha afectado a más de 150 pacientes en 16 estados.
Longer Looks: Racking Up The Steps; Confusing Diet Advice; And The Price Of Cellular Therapies
Each week, KHN finds interesting reads from around the Web.
Opinion writers weigh in on these public health issues and others.
Editorial pages focus on topics devoted to ending gun violence.
Media outlets report on news from Illinois, Connecticut, Virginia, North Carolina, Michigan, Minnesota, California, Louisiana, Florida, Tennessee and Missouri.
The Connecticut legislature passed a law this year that allows the state to reduce Medicaid money to nursing homes that don’t maintain at least a 70 percent occupancy level. The facilities that will be hit the hardest are hoping to challenge the cuts. Medicaid news comes out of Georgia and Colorado, as well.
Diagnosing brain diseases like Parkinson’s can be complicated, but doctors are more likely to treat men for the diseases and label women as having “functional disorders.” In other public health news: air pollution dangers; sitting less; DNA database privacy issues; and skewed genetic databases.
Opponents of the changes have deemed them a “gag rule.” Planned Parenthood had also announced that it will not accept the federal funds with the constraints in place. Abortion news comes out of Indiana and Missouri, as well.