Latest KFF Health News Stories
Lawsuit From Fired Juul Executive Claims Company Knowingly Shipped 1 Million Tainted Nicotine Pods
Siddharth Breja, a former senior vice president of global finance for Juul, filed a lawsuit on Tuesday based on claims that he was retaliated against for raising concerns about the contaminated shipment. Breja describes a “reckless” and “win-at-all costs” culture at Juul, primarily driven by the company’s former CEO, Kevin Burns, who was replaced in a management shake-up last month. A Juul spokesman said in a statement that the claims are “baseless.”
Health care was a winning issue in the 2018 midterms, helping the Democrats re-take the House. But now Democratic candidates fighting for competitive seats worry that, should one of the supporters of Medicare for All be the presidential candidate, they’ll be painted with the same brush as the person at the top of the ticket. Meanwhile, the issue of funding such a single-payer plan continues to dominate the conversation on the election trail.
All signs point to the marketplaces finding stable footing after the tumultuous first years. Not only have premiums moderated, but more insurers are returning to the marketplace with an eye on profitability. But pending legislation on the constitutionality of the law could throw the markets for a loop once again. Open enrollment kicks off on Friday. Meanwhile, Senate Democrats failed to pass a mostly symbolic proposal that would have blocked Trump administration efforts to chip away at the health law.
First Edition: October 31, 2019
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Haiku Winner Unmasked! From Gobs Of Frightening Entries, One Rises Above
KHN’s first annual Halloween Haiku Contest gave us chills. And, based on a review by our expert panel of judges, here’s the winner and a sampling of finalists.
Grief Grew Into A Mental Health Crisis And A $21,634 Hospital Bill
She spent five days in the hospital undergoing psychiatric care. The bill she got is about the same price as a new Honda Civic.
Health care writers weigh in on these health issues and others.
A Trial Targeted Children At Risk Of Developing Diabetes. But Funding Cuts Send Families Spinning.
Screenings gave families a heads up about a child’s chances of developing life-threatening Type 1 diabetes while also allowing researchers to find new ways to try to treat the disease. Public health news is on domestic abuse and texting, young people’s video habits, a spike in heart failure deaths, walking’s affect on sleep, mysterious headaches, and alternatives to secure schools.
Media outlets report on news from New York, Colorado, California, Missouri, California, Michigan, North Carolina, North Dakota, Texas, New Hampshire, and Wisconsin.
The United Mine Workers of America multi-employer pension plan is projected to become insolvent in the early part of the next decade, and Murray Energy, which filed for bankruptcy Tuesday, is the last major contributor to the fund. Coverage for coal miners has been a hot-button topic as cases of black lung climb.
“There’s been a lot of concern about people getting off the rolls with this or lowering services or taking money away,” Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee said. “That isn’t the intent at all of the block grant proposal. It’s to actually increase services and funding for our TennCare population.” Conservatives have long pushed for states to move toward block grants, but advocates worry people will lose coverage. Medicaid news comes out of Ohio, as well.
The company recalled 33,000 bottles after the FDA found traces of asbestos in the powder. But it said testing done by third-party labs proves that the product is safe.
More Than 800 To Be Laid Off As Humana Looks To Cut 2% Of Workforce By End Of Year
Humana spokeswoman Kate Marx stated the company began evaluating its “work and cost structure” this year but didn’t say where cuts will be made. Other news on the health industry and systems looks at: hospices, acquisitions, hospitals, new clinics, and more.
‘Deeply Troubled’: Democrats Express Dismay Over Trump’s Hesitation On Banning Flavored E-Cigs
Pressure mounts on HHS six weeks after it announced plans to restrict sales on all non-tobacco flavors. “With each day, more children continue to be lured to e-cigarettes by flavors such as fruit, candy, and mint or menthol,” Senate Democrats said in a letter to the administration. Other news on vaping is from Florida, Georgia, Iowa and Colorado.
Perspectives: The Elephant In The Room When It Comes To High Cancer Drug Costs Needs To Be Addressed
Read recent commentaries about drug-cost issues.
Rock-Bottom Drug Prices For Older Generic Drugs Contribute To Worsening Shortages, FDA Says
A weekly round-up of stories related to pharmaceutical development and pricing.
Number Of Detained Children At Border In Last Year Surpasses Any Previous Record
“These are numbers that no immigration system in the world can handle, not even in this country,” Mark Morgan, the acting commissioner of United States Customs and Border Protection, told reporters. “And each month during the fiscal year, the numbers increased. You saw them. We all saw them.”
The National Weather Service office took the unusual step of labeling the fire weather conditions an “extreme red flag” warning to impart the severity of the situation. In other news on the wildfires: California’s disparities are put on display during disasters; a deepening skepticism emerges around PG&E’s power outage plan; parents worry about calming anxious children; and more.
FindTreatment.gov utilizes an obscure directory maintained by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, but it adds user friendly tools like the ability to search based on treatment type. News on the opioid crisis comes out of Pennsylvania and Minnesota, as well.
Although the FDA doesn’t have to follow the guidance, the vote could call into question the use of the medication, which to this point has been viewed as standard treatment. Other pharmaceutical news looks at Alzheimer’s research, as well as a recall of a generic version of Xanax.