Latest KFF Health News Stories
Reports that Brigham Young University-Idaho wouldn’t accept Medicaid as acceptable insurance for students prompted an outcry of criticism. The university had claimed the change was due to the impracticality for the local medical community to provide for the health care needs for the students, but local providers disputed that reasoning.
CMS revamped its system to help beneficiaries navigate Medicare enrollment, but the newly redesigned tool has been causing confusion for many instead. The flawed results being shown include inaccurate premium estimates, incorrect prescription drug costs and inaccurate costs with extra help subsidies.
Lawmakers Optimistic About Breaking Stalemate On Stalled Surprise Billing Negotiations
While many in Congress are agreed that something must be done to address surprise medical bills, the lawmakers have been split over which of a handful of strategies to choose in moving forward. In other health industry and insurance news: record-high debt, gender pay gaps, state health exchanges, and more.
‘Trying To Reduce Anxiety’: Instagram Explores Ways To Take Away Likes, Improve Mental Health
By removing users ability to see how many likes their followers got but allowing them to see likes on their own posts, might make social media less stressful. But marketing agencies say the change would not be beneficial for businesses looking to market through high-profile users. Other news on mental health comes from California, Connecticut, Wisconsin and Illinois.
The Wall Street Journal lifts the curtain on the behind-the-scenes work to build a public health legal challenge against a big company. In other public health news: football and CTE, caregivers, bias in science, dementia fears, screen time for toddlers, foster care, and more.
Even though food experts have been warning people for years, the cultural norm of washing the turkey at Thanksgiving has persisted.
Guards Facing Charges In Epstein’s Suicide Say Blame Lies With Systemic Failures In Prison System
Jeffrey Epstein’s death has thrown a spotlight on the federal prison system, which has been plagued by staff shortages and chronic violence accusations for years.
In Lawsuit, Generic Drug Group Says California’s Ban On Pay-To Delay Deals Would Hurt Competition
The FTC, however, says the deals cost U.S. consumers an estimated $3.5 billion annually. In other pharmaceutical news: anti-trust probes, a billionaire couple’s work to move the House drug pricing bill through, the strategy behind Novartis’ recent acquisition, brain boosting supplements, and more.
FDA Approves New Sickle Cell Drug As Part Of Flood Of New Treatments For The Disease
“Everybody’s been waiting for this moment where the flood gate of new treatments is opening,” said Dr. Biree Andemariam, chief medical officer of the Sickle Cell Disease Association of America. But the new drug is expensive: Global Blood Therapeutics priced Oxbryta at $125,000 a year.
PhRMA To Yank Millions In Funding From Nonprofit Geared Toward Helping Those Addicted To Opioids
PhRMA, which is responsible for 90 percent of the Addiction Policy Forum’s funding, will walk back and then end its support by 2020. The forum was at the eye of previous controversy, with critics blasting the fact that most of its funding came from the drugmakers who they said were responsible for the crisis in the first place. News on the opioid epidemic comes out of Massachusetts and Ohio, as well.
In the months after Customs and Border Protection rejected the recommendation, at least two children died after being diagnosed with the flu while in custody.
CDC scientists have been scrambling to understand the mysterious vaping illness that has spread across the country in recent months. The Washington Post looks at the bumps and successes they’ve had along the way.
Warnings are being issued at all levels of the party–from union members to candidates running in swing states. “We won in Kentucky and Louisiana, barely, in part, because we won on health care. I don’t think we can afford to lose on health care,” Gov. Gina Raimondo (D-R.I.) said. Meanwhile, industry opponents for “Medicare for All” are starting to go after the moderates’ health plans as well. In other election news, Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) has a plan to expand mental health treatment.
First Edition: November 26, 2019
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
California’s Working Mothers Get Stronger Support For Workplace Lactation
A new state law that takes effect Jan. 1 requires employers to provide spaces where women can pump their breast milk comfortably and privately, with access to electricity, running water and refrigeration.
The Complex Realm Of Cloud Chasers, Coil Builders And Other Vape Modders
Vaping has produced a diverse community with all sorts of sub-specialties. Finding your tribe can be more complex than finding your Harry Potter house.
A Young Immigrant Has Mental Illness, And That’s Raising His Risk Of Deportation
Behavioral problems, criminal arrests and limited access to health care leave a father worried his 21-year-old son will be deported to Mexico.
Diferente a la cocaína de antes: más muertes por droga contaminada
El poderoso opioide fentanilo a menudo se mezcla con cocaína, convirtiendo el estimulante en un asesino mucho más grande que la droga del pasado.
Opinion writers weigh in on these health care topics and others.
Media outlets report on news from Indiana, Texas, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Arkansas, California, Kansas, Georgia, North Carolina, Virginia, Ohio, New Hampshire, Connecticut, Florida, Minnesota, and Missouri.