Latest KFF Health News Stories
The closures revolve around the facilities’ use of ethylene oxide, a gas that, while critical for cleaning the equipment, can be hazardous at elevated levels.
Hospital And Physician Consolidation Has Thwarted Payers’ Efforts To Reduce Health Care Cost Growth
Researchers find that following mergers, hospital systems used their larger size to seek higher reimbursement, including through “all-or-none” contracting. Even smaller hospitals leveraged their position as alternatives to win higher rates. Other hospital news comes out of: D.C., Connecticut, New Hampshire, Wisconsin, Ohio and Illinois.
Gov. Gavin Newsom said the state is working to ensure enough pharmacies are kept open on generators in communities without electricity so that residents have access to needed medications. Meanwhile, mandatory evacuations affected nearly 180,000 people. On Sunday, Newsom visited three evacuation centers in Petaluma, including one where three dozen patients from a skilled nursing facility specializing in dementia care were taken.
Veterans Embrace The Power Of Animals To Help With Mental Health Struggles
From dogs to horses, animals are helping veterans cope with PTSD and other mental health struggles.
Pediatricians Recommend Obese Teens Get ‘Safe And Effective’ Surgery To Control Weight
Children who have not gone through puberty may not be mature enough to understand the life-changing implications of surgery but age alone shouldn’t rule it out, experts say. The new guidance was issued Sunday by the American Academy of Pediatrics
Following the release of the study, the FDA announced it will hold a vote on whether the synthetic progestin hormone called Makena should be left on the market. In other women’s health news, cannabis use is increasing among expectant mothers to fight morning sickness, but it’s linked to pre-term births.
Data Continues To Point To THC As A Main Culprit In Vaping-Related Lung Illness Outbreak
Of those who have fallen ill, about 85 percent reported using THC-containing products. But health officials say they’re continuing to look at a wide range of chemicals in trying to determine the causes for the outbreak. Meanwhile, NPR takes a look inside command central and at the doctors who are scrambling to investigate the disease.
For Warren, The Devil’s In Figuring Out Who Pays For ‘Medicare For All’
The answer to that could be politically tricky for Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.). Progressive rival Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) says he’d pay for such a move with a tax increase for the middle class. If Warren follows that path, it could put off some voters. Meanwhile, South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg maintains he never supported a “Medicare for All” plan that would end the option for private insurance.
Those fees can often reach hundreds or even thousands of dollars. It currently costs $540 to renew a green card, while applying for citizenship costs $725. The move is the latest by the Trump administration to target immigrants’ use of government aid, such as food stamps and Medicaid.
Several roadblocks, including intraparty divisions and impeachment proceedings, threaten to derail any progress on drug pricing — a rare issue that had inspired bipartisan hopes earlier in the year.
First Edition: October 28, 2019
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Farmworkers Face Daunting Health Risks In California’s Wildfires
October marks not only fire season in California, but also the peak of the grape harvest. In areas not imminently threatened by the explosive Kincade Fire in Sonoma County’s fabled vineyards, workers labored through heat and smoke, or faced lost wages.
Snooze You Can Use: California Legislates More Sleep For Better Health
Other states may follow California’s new law requiring later start times for middle and high school students. The new law highlights the importance of better sleep, which will once again be on people’s minds as most of America — but not all — sets the clock back an hour early next month.
States Try A Gentler Approach To Getting Medicaid Enrollees To Work
Facing GOP pressure to install work requirements for adults getting Medicaid coverage, some states seek instead to offer more opportunities for job training.
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.
Vape District en Los Angeles, una puerta de entrada al mercado negro
Una sección de cinco cuadras del centro de Los Ángeles que solía ser parte del Toy District se ha convertido en la zona cero del país para el comercio de cannabis falsificado.
Editorial writers weigh in on these health topics and others.
Media outlets report on news from Illinois, California, Idaho, Iowa, Alaska, Ohio, Louisiana, Wisconsin, Florida and Texas.
Each week, KHN finds interesting reads from around the Web.
Factors driving down America’s score include the risks of social unrest and terrorism, as well as low-public confidence in government. The report grades the efforts of 195 countries. Public health news is on the declining number of children in foster care, ”auto-brewery syndrome,” portable MRI, autism screenings, suicidal police officers, dementia, pros and cons of non-monogamy, and high fives for eating yogurt and fiber.