Latest KFF Health News Stories
First Edition: August 22, 2019
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Feds Pave The Way To Expand Home Dialysis — But Patients Hit Roadblocks
What changes are needed to bring home dialysis to more patients — especially older adults, the fastest-growing group of patients with serious, irreversible kidney disease? We asked nephrologists, patient advocates and dialysis company officials for their thoughts.
Shopping Abroad For Cheaper Medication? Here’s What You Need To Know
Americans routinely skirt federal law by crossing into Canada and Mexico or tapping online pharmacies abroad to purchase prescription medications at a fraction of the price they would pay at home. Is it safe? Not necessarily. Here’s some advice.
¿Buscas medicamentos más baratos en el exterior? Esto es lo que debes saber
Los estadounidenses eluden la ley federal cruzando a Canadá y México, o recurriendo a farmacias en línea en el extranjero para comprar medicamentos recetados a una fracción del precio que pagarían en casa.
Opinion writers weigh in on these and other health issues.
Editorial pages focus on issues surrounding gun violence.
Researchers have found that flag football players receive many smaller hits to the head than those playing contact football, and they’re falling down on nearly every play. “This idea that there is no contact at all is fairly naïve,” said Robert C. Lynall, co-author of a study done at Georgia. Public health stories focus on artificial intelligence, vaping, PTSD treatments, a dehydration patch, e-cig TV ads, state fairs and cannabis research, as well.
Media outlets report on news from Mississippi, Oregon, Florida, Georgia, Ohio, Wisconsin, New York and California.
Former FDA Chief Urges Agency To Loosen Restrictions On Drugs To End Early Pregnancy
Former FDA Commissioner Dr. Jane Henney says Mifepristone is still heavily regulated despite having been proven safe and effective. “I think the FDA has shown a willingness to … take action,” Henney said. “I believe it’s important for them to do another review in light of the safety information we know about this drug.” In other news, clinics react to the Planned Parenthood’s decision to forgo Title X funds and ousted Planned Parenthood head Leana Wen announces her new job.
The FDA came down hard on Novartis, subjecting the company to a public flogging over the data manipulation that, at the end of the day, didn’t effect patients’ safety. But the issue is too important to give anyone a pass, officials say. “It may sound like we’re kind of bureaucratic paper-pushers, but it’s more than that,” said FDA’s Dr. Peter Marks. “It’s making sure that the whole ecosystem understands that when people are working on these things that are highly technically complex, that they have to work truthfully and accurately.”
Alaska Governor Vetoes Bill To Restore Sharp Medicaid Cuts
Following the move by Gov. Mike Dunleavy and earlier action by the Alaska’s legislature, the state’s Medicaid program is expected to be cut by about 22%. Those state spending cuts mean Alaska will receive at least $127 million less in federal Medicaid matching funds. Medicaid news comes out of Oklahoma and Ohio, as well.
Reuters reports that the division Cigna is looking to shed involves disability and life insurance. The move echoes ones made by other insurers looking to focus on health care. In other health industry news: a slew of departures from Apple’s health team, price transparency, hospital chains and purchases, and more.
Top government officials flagged “disturbing” data around opioids and addiction back in 2006 and requested urgent action be taken. Then-U.S. Surgeon General Richard Carmona agreed to issue a call to action. But then the momentum fizzled after a new surgeon general came on and 13 years later, the crisis continues to grip the country.
No hay Joe Camel, entonces ¿por qué hay avisos de cigarrillos electrónicos en TV?
Los cigarrillos electrónicos contienen nicotina, que es altamente adictiva y puede dañar el cerebro en desarrollo de los adolescentes.
The influential panel of experts says that women with previous breast, ovarian, fallopian-tube or abdominal cancer diagnoses who have completed treatment should be assessed for mutations of the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes, as should women with ancestry more predisposed to those mutations.
Endo And Allergan Reach Settlements That Will Allow Them To Bow Out Of Landmark Opioid Trial
The trial, which is scheduled to begin Oct. 21 in Ohio, is largely viewed as a bellwether of how hard drugmakers will be hit over claims that they played a role in the opioid epidemic. Both Endo and Allergan are small players, and much of the spotlight will be on Purdue Pharma and Johnson & Johnson.
Robert Morris Levy was indicted on three counts of involuntary manslaughter and 28 counts of mail fraud, wire fraud and false statements to law enforcement officials. Department of Veterans Affairs officials said in January that outside pathologists reviewed nearly 34,000 cases handled by Levy and found more than 3,000 errors or missed diagnoses dating back to 2005.
Both the Trump and Obama administrations have railed against the tight restrictions put in place by the Flores agreement, which dictates the way immigrant children are treated when they are held in custody. As early as Wednesday, DHS could release new regulations that replace those protections. The New York Times takes a look at this history, the impact and the frustrations that have come from the agreement. In other news on immigration: more states sue over “public charge” rule, officials say detainees won’t be vaccinated for the upcoming flu season, and the government eyes a California location for a new shelter.
President Donald Trump spoke with NRA chief Wayne LaPierre about the possibility of universal background checks. At the end of the call, the president reassured LaPierre that those were off the table. Meanwhile, following Trump’s claims that mental illness was at the root of the recent mass shootings, federal officials made sure no government experts might contradict him. Agency staffers were warned not to post anything on social media related to mental health, violence and mass shootings without prior approval. Other news on gun violence and safety focuses on young voters and Facebook sellers.
First Edition: August 21, 2019
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.