Latest KFF Health News Stories
States are trying to avert the upcoming catastrophe with plans that support care for aging residents. The moves come as Americans are having fewer children and living longer — in many instances, living longer with chronic conditions such as dementia.
Anthem Beats Q2 Expectations But Worries About Medicaid Business Has Shares Sliding
The company’s medical-loss ratio, which represents the share of premiums paid out in claims, was 86.7% in the quarter, higher than the 85.8% that a consensus of analysts had anticipated, according to their research notes. In other health industry news: a social care network from CVS and Aetna, Tenet’s decision to spin off as a separate company, Bayer’s legal mess, and more.
Threats To Marketplace From Lawmakers, Administration Wearing Thin On Health Care Investors
“There are a significant number of investors who are completely on the sidelines from the industry,” SVB Leerink biopharma analyst Geoffrey Porges said. “And you can pick your ‘until’: until the proposed rule on Medicare international reference pricing is announced, or until the next Democratic debate, or until the election. There’s a lot of ‘until’s.”
In response, the plaintiffs need to show that the companies were conspiring with one another and acting in concert, a person familiar with the defense’s strategy tells The Washington Post. That’s difficult to do because the companies are fierce competitors. Meanwhile, under oath, Cardinal Health counsel Jennifer Norris said that her company has no obligation to protecting public health. And an Associated Press analysis found that the amount of opioids as measured by total potency continued to rise early this decade even as the number of pills distributed began to dip.
“When we are in the White House, we will address the need for more black doctors, more black dentists, more black nurses and more black mental health providers who can provide culturally competent care in their communities,” said Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), a 2020 hopeful. Meanwhile Sanders’ campaign continued to go after former Vice President Joe Biden for his rhetoric over “Medicare for All.”
Senate’s Measure Targeting High Health Care Costs, Surprise Medical Bills Kicked To The Fall
Although Senate health committee Chair Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) had previously said he hoped to get something out before recess, it’s now looking like the measure won’t be done until lawmakers come back after August.
Legislation Setting Health Care, Safety And Hygiene Standards For Detained Immigrants Passes House
Along with the standards, the legislation bars Border Patrol from denying lawmakers access to the facilities and it directs the agency to provide adequate training for its officers to carry out the new requirements. In other news on the immigration crisis: HHS plans to phase out temporary facilities to hold detained children and officials testify that the agency is still sharing information about separated families.
Textured Breast Implants That Have Been Linked To Unusual Cancer To Be Recalled Globally
The recall in the United States was at the request of the FDA, which said that more than 80 percent of the 570 confirmed cases of the lymphoma worldwide have been linked to Allergan implants. The agency is not recommending women with the implants have them removed because the cancer is so rare.
Medicare Spent $2.8 Billion On Drugs That Other Wealthy Countries Wouldn’t Cover Or Recommend
“Other developed nations assessed drugs based on value … but the U.S. remains one of the few developed nations that doesn’t,” said Alexander Egilman, a researcher at Yale. “We all say we spend too much on drugs, and this approach seems to be working for other countries, based on outcomes, such as lifespans. So why aren’t we considering this?” In other pharmaceutical news: dark money, former FDA chief Scott Gottlieb’s new position, off-label marketing practices, and more.
According to reporting from Reuters, sources say the proposal would be much broader than the administration’s previously disclosed proposal to lower prices on physician administered, or Part B, drugs by tying prices to lower costs in other countries.
The bipartisan proposal released from the Senate Finance Committee this week has won praise from a number of Washington’s loudest drug pricing advocates, but the magnitude of the proposal has even some of Washington’s most outspoken drug pricing experts grappling with its long-term implications. Meanwhile, HHS Secretary Alex Azar is throwing his weight behind the legislation.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Your Go-To Guide To Decode Medical Bills
Kaiser Health News gives you a user-friendly toolkit to help patients understand some of the ins and outs of medical billing, what to do if you receive a surprise medical bill and things to keep in mind before getting medical care.
First Kidney Failure, Then A $540,842 Bill For Dialysis
He needed the lifesaving treatment — he never expected a half-million-dollar bill for 14 weeks of care.
On A Mission To Help People Control Diabetes — And Save Money On Insulin
Patients with Type 2 diabetes are often steered toward medicine or insulin treatment. But with additional support, it’s possible to use diet and exercise to control blood sugar. The rising price of insulin drives patients to lower their dependence on the medicine.
Perspectives: Outrageous Insulin Prices Are More About Perverse Incentives Than Corporate Greed
Read recent commentaries about drug-cost issues.
Editorials and opinion writers give their perspectives on a wide range of health topics from organ donations to transparency to food stamps and more.
News outlets report on stories related to pharmaceutical pricing.
Media outlets report on news from Massachusetts, California, Maryland, Ohio, Texas, Georgia and Virginia.
Computer Scientists Have Developed An Algorithm That Can Pick Out Almost Any American In Databases
Through 15 attributes–such as gender, ZIP code and marital status–an algorithm can identify 99.98% of Americans. The study shows just how at risk patients are as more and more health care data goes up online. In other health and technology news: heart-tracking wearables and screen time woes in doctors’ offices.