Latest KFF Health News Stories
Research from the maker of Camel cigarettes showed that nicotine salts were a key ingredient in making the product palatable and addictive, a Los Angeles Times investigation uncovered. Juul’s salts contain up to three times the amount of nicotine found in previous e-cigarettes. In other news on the vaping crisis: more states sue Juul, President Donald Trump’s decision to back off a flavor ban angers advocates in both parties, a House panel approves its own ban, and more.
The Associated Press investigated the marketing techniques of Mundipharma, the Sacklers’ Chinese affiliate, and found that the tactics the company is using mirror ones used by Purdue Pharma at the beginning of the U.S. opioid epidemic. Meanwhile, the judge overseeing the consolidated opioid case set a trial date for the lawsuit against major pharmacy chains. Other news on the national drug crisis comes out of Florida, as well.
Politico has obtained emails that show federal officials and contractors discussing the possibility of boosting CMS Administrator Seema Verma’s public persona with high-profile articles in magazines like Glamour. Federal officials are prohibited from spending taxpayer dollars for publicity purposes, or using their public office for private gain. In other news, Verma criticized hospitals and insurers for fighting against price transparency efforts.
Trump Insists Surprise Walter Reed Visit Was ‘Very Routine’ As Speculation Continues Over His Health
President Donald Trump said that the coverage of his visit worried first lady Melania Trump into think he’d had a heart attack. Meanwhile, the White House is re-framing the visit as a “check-up” rather than a physical.
‘Medicare For All’ Continues To Dominate Attention In 2020 Race As Dems Gear Up For Tonight’s Debate
With Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) refocusing attention with her new plan on how to pay for “Medicare for All,” the topic is likely to get plenty of airtime at Wednesday night’s debate.
First Edition: November 20, 2019
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Perspectives: Don’t Believe The Rhetoric, Most Drug Companies Aren’t That Innovative Anyway
Read recent commentaries about drug-cost issues.
Read about pharmaceutical development and pricing stories in this week’s Prescription Drug Watch round up.
The Case Of The ACA’s Disappearing Taxes
When passing the Affordable Care Act, Democrats touted the fact that they had included many measures to pay for the bill’s expanded coverage. But nearly 10 years later, many of the “pay-fors” have been eliminated.
New California Law May Expand Use Of HIV Prevention Drugs, With Caveats
Legislation that takes effect next July will let people buy the medications without a prescription for a limited period. Medical professionals say it’s a step in the right direction but will not significantly increase the use of the medicine without additional efforts.
Para bebés con problemas de audición, nuevas pruebas abren un mundo de sonidos
Al 98% de los bebés en el país se les hace la prueba de audición en los primeros días después del nacimiento. Los que necesitan ayuda son referidos de un inmediato a un especialista.
Vacuna “gratuita” contra la gripe tiene un costo sorprendentemente alto
En una pequeña muestra de una aseguradora, Kaiser Health News encontró diferencias dramáticas entre los costos para sus propios empleados.
Opinion writers weigh in on Elizabeth’s Warren’s proposals for ‘Medicare For All’ and other health issues, as well.
Media outlets report on news from Virginia, Missouri, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Connecticut, Georgia, California, Oregon, Ohio, Florida and Maryland.
The study published Monday in JAMA recruited 2,600 men from online social network and music sites. Half of them were sent four free test kits. The rest got a link to a local testing service. Overall, 25 infections were detected in the self-testing group, versus 11 in the other group. Public health news is on P&G’s new focus on wellness, free E-books on health, healthy gatherings, retraining physicians for blood pressure testing, duvet dangers, autism, taking modern care to the poorest countries, and remedies for hearing loss in newborns, as well.
Rules requiring prior authorization from insurance companies for buprenorphine exist in at least 40 states, preventing doctors from immediately being able to provide treatment to help prevent overdoses. News on the opioid crisis focuses on Purdue Pharma’s media campaign to hide the truth and criminal penalties for dealers, as well.
“Hey Twitter, the whole point of this ad campaign is to raise awareness,” Gov. Kristi Noem of South Dakota said in response to the furor over the campaign. “So I think that’s working … #thanks #MethWeAreOnIt.” In South Dakota, from 2014 to 2018, the state saw a 200 percent increase in people seeking treatment for meth-related addiction.
The nonprofit Center for Science in the Public Interest studied 39 “fertility” supplements and found no evidence they increase a woman’s chance of conceiving. In other women’s health news: health disparities between the rich and poor, and the challenges of being a female athlete.
The fact that Jeffrey Epstein was able to commit suicide in one of the country’s most secure jails has thrown a spotlight on the bureau that has for years dealt with accusations of serious misconduct. Other news on prison issues comes out of Arizona.
The hospital was one of only three centers in the country that specialized in treating the boy’s rare condition, but the insurer kept telling the family to find care closer to home. While the company eventually relented, the family was left wondering why it has become so hard to get needed care. Other health care costs news focuses on a public insurance option and the actual cost of a flu shot.