Latest KFF Health News Stories
Experts Weigh In As Warren Scrambles For Plan To Pay For ‘Medicare For All’
Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) has promised to unveil a plan on how to pay for “Medicare for All” after receiving criticism that she was being vague on the details. But experts say it is going to be a struggle to both please progressives and avoid a middle class tax increase.
First Edition: October 25, 2019
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Los Angeles Vape District A Black-Market Gateway
A seedy section of downtown Los Angeles has become the go-to place for those who trade in wholesale — and sometimes counterfeit — vaping products. As more people fall ill with a mysterious lung disease linked to e-cigarette use, the manufacture and distribution of vaping products face increased scrutiny.
KHN’s ‘What The Health?’: All About Medicaid
Medicare’s sister program actually covers more people than Medicare. It’s complex and sometimes confusing, but Medicaid is critical to states, health care providers and the more than 70 million people it serves. In this episode of KHN’s “What the Health?” host Julie Rovner interviews Diane Rowland, formerly EVP and Executive Director of the Medicaid Program at the Kaiser Family Foundation and one of the nation’s top Medicaid experts. Then Rovner, Margot Sanger-Katz of The New York Times, Tami Luhby of CNN and Joanne Kenen of Politico discuss some of the current debates surrounding Medicaid and its future.
A medida que evolucionan los dispositivos para vapear, aparecen nuevos peligros
Investigadores encuentran más evidencia de que la forma en que los dispositivos de vapeo y los líquidos electrónicos interactúan podría dañar a los consumidores.
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Media outlets report on news from Colorado, Connecticut, California, Pennsylvania, Washington, New York, Maryland, North Carolina, Ohio, Massachusetts, Iowa, Utah and Arizona.
While there’s a big push to mine medical data from patient records, research, medical devices and technology such as smartwatches, privacy protections don’t appear to go far enough, according to new research. Other news on health technology is on finding jobs for autistic people, anti-vaccine Facebook content, substitutes for stethoscopes, stress from social media use, and a Montana data breach, as well.
FDA Wants Women To Receive Stronger Warnings About Risks Associated With Breast Implants
The FDA proposed on Wednesday that manufacturers detail possible complications from the devices, including rare cancers, a range of other symptoms and the need for additional surgeries. The move is a response to complaints from patients who said they weren’t adequately told about potential problems before surgery.
The possible failure of the program to launch as successfully as health officials had hoped could signal struggles ahead with similar initiatives targeting the social detriments of health.
Stephen Hahn Of Texas’ M.D. Anderson Cancer Center To Be Nominated As Head Of FDA, Reports Say
Dr. Stephen M. Hahn has been long eyed as a contender for the spot, and would replace acting chief Ned Sharpless if he was nominated. Current and former colleagues of Hahn’s describe him as being collegial, funny and intensely smart.
Those in the health industry are closely watching the giant’s move as it dips its toes into the health care space.
As Vaping Devices Evolve, New Potential Hazards Emerge
The technology for vaping has changed over the years, and researchers are finding more evidence that the way vaping devices and e-liquids interact could harm consumers.
In a $260 million settlement between drug companies and two Ohio counties, the plan to donate the drug that helps treat addiction makes up a big chunk of that money. Experts, however, say the primary barrier to getting more people into treatment is not the cost of the drug. On top of that, an analysis shows that for Teva Pharmaceuticals, the donation of the drug will not cost the company as much as it seems like it will.
To Stop Mass Shootings, Law Enforcement Should Employ Anti-Terrorism Tactics, Barr Tells FBI
Attorney General William Barr’s memo to the FBI focused on utilizing “effective disruption and early engagement tactics that were born of the posture we adopted with respect to terrorist threats.” In other news, while some schools are hardening their security, others are looking for a more holistic approach to keeping kids safe.
The second round of blackouts are going into effect and while some might be shorter than the last time, more customers might be affected this weekend when stronger winds are forecast. News on California wildfires looks at the slow recovery efforts in Paradise, as well.
Many Taking Biogen’s Enthusiasm Over Revived Alzheimer’s Drug With Largest Grain Of Salt Possible
The Alzheimer’s research field has been littered with crushing disappointments and there aren’t many who are convinced Biogen’s drug will produce anything but another one.
More than a million children have been dropped from state Medicaid rolls since 2017. While government officials tend to frame that as a success story resulting from a stronger economy, advocates say instead that many of those children are probably going without any insurance at all. In other Medicaid news: Arizona hits pause on work requirements; a look at gubernatorial races that could be swayed by Medicaid issues; and more.
Anthem’s medical-loss ratio was higher than anticipated. The company said that the MLR has been pushed up by its Medicaid business, an issue it also flagged last quarter.
Twenty more insurers are joining the federal exchanges and the average premium for the benchmark plan will drop by 4% next year in the 38 states using the federal Obamacare exchanges. While the Trump administration credits its own efforts, health experts were quick to push back on that, saying instead that the marketplace is stronger because insurers have raised rates high enough in recent years to make selling plans on the exchanges a profitable businesses.