Latest KFF Health News Stories
CDC officials say they’re not sure why younger people who are having less sex are acquiring more STDS, but a new bill moving through the House to increase spending on STD prevention could help. Public health news is on CBD, pros and cons of genetic tests, limiting sports time for teens, childhood obesity, insecticides, getting young kids hooked on sugar, smart aging, and dementia, as well.
An analysis by ProPublica reveals that more than 2,500 physicians received at least half a million dollars apiece from drugmakers and medical device companies in the past five years alone. More than 700 of those doctors received at least $1 million. In other news on the health industry, costs and insurance: workers’ benefits, refunds from insurers, out-patient surgery policies, universal coverage, and more.
Numerous women who had the once-popular, hammock-like devices implanted claim they caused severe pain, bleeding, infections and other complications. About 25,000 U.S. women with complications have sued Johnson & Johnson, the company said. Those lawsuits aren’t affected by the settlement.
Earlier this year, the agency that oversees Border Patrol said its agents averaged 69 trips to the hospital each day across the country. Although hospitals have typically been treated as “sensitive locations” that are generally free of immigration enforcement, the rule is discretionary and ambiguous when an enforcement action begins before a trip to a hospital or when an immigrant is already in custody.
Judge Dan Polster, who is overseeing the nationwide opioid case against drug companies and distributors for their alleged role in the epidemic, wants the sides to come to a resolution before it goes to court. The trial is set to kick off on Monday if talks fall through. While the negotiations center around the major players — AmerisourceBergen, Cardinal Health and McKesson — plaintiffs’ lawyers say they hope such a deal would have a domino effect on the remaining defendants.
Juul Temporarily Halts Online Sales Of Flavored E-Cigarettes, But Critics Say That’s Far From Enough
Data shows “that 64 percent of high school e-cigarette users now use mint or menthol flavors and this number is growing all the time,” said Matthew Myers, president of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. However others said Juul’s decision to halt sales of flavors like manjo, crème, fruit and cucumber would hurt adult smokers. Meanwhile, the cases of the vaping-related lung illness continue to climb.
Pelosi’s Signature Drug Plan Marches Forward Even As Speaker Clashes With Trump On Other Issues
Lawmakers bickered over the pros and cons — “jaw dropping savings” that come with a warning that some pharma companies may not develop as many new drugs — but in the end House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s drug plan passed out of the House Energy and Commerce Committee as well as the Education and Labor Committee. There had been a chance that Pelosi could get President Donald Trump on board as he’s previously supported the proposals in the plan. But that became less certain in recent days with the impeachment proceedings.
Upcoming Ruling On Health Law Poised To Be Huge Headache For Trump Heading Into 2020 Election
The ruling on the law’s constitutionality, expected in the next few weeks, could reignite the same concerns that helped propel Democrats into taking back the House in the 2018 midterm elections. It would also possibly let the Democrats re-frame their messaging, which has been centered on pro- or anti-“Medicare for All,” a plan that’s losing popularity in the polls.
First Edition: October 18, 2019
We’ll Be Back Soon: KHN’s First Edition will not publish Monday-Wednesday next week. We’ll be back in your inbox on Thursday, Oct. 24.
While we’re gone, send us a haiku for the first-ever KHN Halloween Health Care Haiku Competition. Read the rules. After all… Goblins wear white coats, and not much is spookier, than the health system.
Whistleblower Alleges Medicare Fraud At Iconic Seattle-Based Health Plan
A lawsuit against Group Health surfaces as the White House promotes Medicare Advantage for seniors.
In Hamburg, ‘Gesundheit’ Means More Than A Wish For Good Health
Even with Germany’s generous universal coverage, sizable health disparities persist between Hamburg’s wealthier and poorer neighborhoods. Two health centers are among those trying to close the gaps.
Sen. Grassley Questions UVA Health On Findings From KHN Investigation
A letter from the Senate Finance Committee chairman questions the University of Virginia Health System about its financial assistance policies, billing practices and prices.
KHN’s ‘What The Health?’: Democrats Do Drugs (Prices)
House Democrats start legislative work on House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s prescription drug pricing bill; health is again a featured player in the Democratic presidential candidate debate; and courts around the country hold up President Donald Trump’s health agenda. This week, Margot Sanger-Katz of The New York Times, Tami Luhby of CNN, and Joanne Kenen of Politico join KHN’s Julie Rovner to discuss these issues and more. Plus, for “extra credit,” the panelists recommend their favorite health stories of the week.
Opinion writers weigh in on these health care cost issues and other health topics, as well.
Research Roundup: Options For Coverage Reform; Housing Codes; Medicare Payments; And More
Each week, KHN compiles a selection of recently released health policy studies and briefs.
Media outlets report on news from Mississippi, Florida, California, Missouri, North Carolina, Utah, New Hampshire, Indiana, Wisconsin and Georgia.
“If you had kids suddenly dying at these rates from a new disease or infection, there would be a huge outcry. But most people don’t even know this is happening,” said Lisa M. Horowitz, a pediatric psychologist at NIH.
Stat News talked to eight experts about which interventions would be most helpful for the brain-wasting disease that has no cure. While, the U.S. has tripled spending on the disease since 2015, there’s been little effort to manage spending or research priorities. Other public health news looks at the call for flu shots, banished unvaccinated students, autism, concussions, safe playgrounds, seniors’ falls, baby food, “brain tingles,” and arthritis, as well.
The Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Commission, which was set up to investigate the high school shooting in Parkland, also found that Florida ranks near the bottom among states in per capita spending on mental health at about $36 annually per resident.
CMS warned state Medicaid programs in 2015 that they may be violating federal law by restricting access to hepatitis C medicines, but restrictions are still in place for many states. Other Medicaid news comes out of California, Tennessee and Michigan.