Latest KFF Health News Stories
The New West: Smoke In The Sky, A Purifier At Home
Amid forecasts for increasingly unhealthy air due to wildfire smoke, residents in Western states are snatching up home air purifiers. With good reason.
Doctors Argue Plans To Remedy Surprise Medical Bills Will ‘Shred’ The Safety Net
A case of questionable logic.
Watch: What Happened To That $500K Dialysis Bill
After journalists investigate, Fresenius, one of the largest dialysis providers in the U.S., has agreed to waive a half-million-dollar bill. Sovereign Valentine, from Plains, Mont., said it’s a “huge relief.”
The Differences Between ‘Medicare For All’ And A Public Option
KHN’s Julie Rovner appears on CSPAN’s Washington Journal Tuesday and compares two key health programs being touted by Democratic presidential candidates: “Medicare for All” and an optional government health plan, often called a public option.
Incendios modernos presentan nuevos riesgos de salud para los bomberos
Los bomberos se enfrentan a una peligrosa combinación: la exposición al intenso calor producido por la quema de vegetación, y a los combustibles y carcinógenos más comunes en los incendios urbanos.
Editorial pages focus on proposals to stop mass shootings.
Media outlets report on news from Michigan, District of Columbia, North Carolina, California, Massachusetts, Maryland, Connecticut, Florida, New York, Louisiana and Iowa.
The duodenoscope cannot be sterilized through the methods most often used on such tools. They have to be hand-scrubbed and run through a dishwasher-like machine, which means they can retain dangerous bacteria. In other public health news: HIV, Alzheimer’s, measles, sleeping aids, medical mysteries, and more.
Climate Change Raises New Concerns About Large Areas Of World That Could Run Out Of Water
News on the environment looks at the increasing risk of running out of water, a real possibility in 17 countries that use almost all their water, and new evidence that using fans really is OK during extreme heat waves despite warnings to the contrary. Other environmental news comes from California, Georgia and New York.
A proposal to allow all 34,000 jurisdictions to vote on settlement offers is being contested now at the state level. A hearing is scheduled for Tuesday in Cleveland before the federal judge who is overseeing the cases. News on the opioid crisis comes from Minnesota, as well.
Along with the opioid guidance, CMS also is directing states to design and implement a program to track and manage the prescribing of antipsychotic medications for children in Medicaid. Other Medicaid news comes out of New York, Louisiana and Kansas, as well.
Innovative Medicines Canada has in early drafts even urged the country to ban drug exports “unless otherwise permitted by regulation.” The group’s efforts suggest the industry is eager to derail the Trump administration’s plan to allow Americans to import cheaper drugs from their northern neighbor.
President Donald Trump and other lawmakers are boosting the idea of red flag laws, which allow loved ones and law enforcement to take guns away from someone they suspect may hurt themselves or others. Although there’s strong evidence that they reduce suicides, beyond that little research has been done on such protection orders’ effectiveness. Furthermore, psychology experts say a significant number of mass shooters are in their late teens to early 20s, when signs of severe mental illness may not yet be observable.
Following Cries Of ‘Do Something,’ Ohio Governor To Lay Out Proposal On Gun Violence
Gov. Mike DeWine (R-Ohio) said anything was on the table but that any changes must be consistent with the Second Amendment and must be able to pass the Republican-dominated legislature — which could be a tall order. Republican state lawmakers previously opposed former Gov. John Kasich’s attempt to pass a red flag law.
California has some of the strictest gun laws in the country, and Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-Calif.) is taking further action following the weekend shootings. Newsom also said that leaders must address the fact that most shooters are male while talking about prevention. Meanwhile, data show that California’s new ammo background check legislation blocked more than 100 illegal sales in July. Media outlets look at how gun violence is being addressed across the country in the wake of the attacks.
Media outlets cover the aftermath of the latest two mass shootings, including a warning from federal officials that the incidents could spark others across the country. “The FBI asks the American public to report to law enforcement any suspicious activity that is observed either in person or online,” the agency says.
“The overwhelming majority of people with mental illness are not violent and far more likely to be victims of violent crime than perpetrators of violence,” said the American Psychiatric Association. “Rhetoric that argues otherwise will further stigmatize and interfere with people accessing needed treatment.” But what does cause these shooters to lash out? Experts say it isn’t the video games that are also often blamed. There are contributing factors, like a radicalization of ideology, that can prove to be warning signs however.
Congress failed to pass significant reforms following mass shootings in the past, but action following this weekend’s events is especially unlikely considering lawmakers just left Washington, D.C. for a five-week recess. However, President Donald Trump and leading Republicans hint at support for strong background checks and red flag laws.
President Donald Trump addressed the nation after two mass shootings over the weekend, pointing to internet bigotry, white supremacy and mental illness as root causes. “Hate has no place in America. Hatred warps the mind, ravages the heart and devours the soul,” he said. However, the president stopped short of endorsing any sweeping gun control measures, nor did he address charges that his own language and behavior contributes to the culture of racism and violence.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.