Latest KFF Health News Stories
First Edition: September 20, 2019
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Hill Hodgepodge: Pelosi Draws From Democrats, GOP And Trump For Drug Plan
The House speaker announced her plan for lowering drug prices, which includes negotiations between drugmakers and federal health officials.
Invasive Mosquitoes Plunge Deeper Into California
Invasive mosquito species capable of carrying dangerous viruses such as Zika, dengue and yellow fever have been detected in 16 California counties. There’s no evidence the mosquitoes have transmitted these diseases within the state, but health officials urge residents to take steps to slow their spread.
How Cruise Ship Passengers Should Prepare For Sickness Or Injury At Sea
Passengers on massive cruise ships could be struck by norovirus or accidents ranging from falls to broken bones. Then what?
KHN’s ‘What The Health?’: Tennessee Seeks Medicaid Changes
Tennessee wants to convert its Medicaid program to a block grant. But is its plan legal? Meanwhile, Congress continues to struggle with legislation to rein in prescription drug prices and surprise medical bills. This week, Anna Edney of Bloomberg News, Jennifer Haberkorn of the Los Angeles Times and Kimberly Leonard of the Washington Examiner join KHN’s Julie Rovner to discuss these issues and more. Rovner also interviews Dr. Marty Makary, author of the new book “The Price We Pay” about why health care costs so much.
¿Qué fue peor: la borrachera de la despedida de soltero o la cuenta por tratar la resaca?
Recuperarse después de su despedida de soltero resultó en una factura médica que inicialmente fue de $12,460, en total. Más del doble del costo de su boda.
Dispositivos de “vapeo” camuflados desconciertan a padres y escuelas
Un mouse de computadora. Una funda para el celular. Mochilas. Unidades USB. Las opciones de kits de “vapeo” que se anuncian en internet son muchas y muy coloridas.
Opinion writers weigh in on these health care topics and others.
Editorial pages focus on homelessness and the Trump administration’s focus to address it in California.
Each week, KHN compiles a selection of recently released health policy studies and briefs.
Media outlets report on news from California, Colorado, Michigan, Missouri, Florida, and Texas.
Gov. John Bel Edwards made Louisiana the only state in the Deep South to embrace Medicaid expansion. The line of attack from his two main opponents, though, isn’t about the expansion itself but about the implementation, which suggests that if one of them wins they won’t take steps to rollback the coverage. Medicaid news comes out of North Carolina, as well.
The drug–which contains low doses of three blood pressure drugs and a cholesterol drug–has been tested in the United States for the first time. But many U.S. doctors have seen little need for the polypill, preferring to tailor medications individually.
How Libraries Have Become Public Health Hubs In The Middle Of Rural Health Deserts
Public libraries are offering things like yoga and diabetes prevention courses that help improve the health of those they serve who may struggle to access such resources elsewhere. But the libraries struggle with funding as well. In other public health news: tainted drugs, social determinants, children’s drinks, gliomas, and more.
Most of the 24 states rejecting the Purdue deal are led by Democrats, who will argue that the Sackler family should be held more accountable than the current settlement does. The lawyers believe that the family has taken measures to protect their own personal wealth from any fallout.
The agency has expressed worry that unsupported claims about gene-drug links could be dangerous if they spur patients to start, stop, or switch medications in inappropriate ways. But the American Clinical Laboratory Association says the warnings could stifle a burgeoning industry.
Which Was Worse: The Bachelor Party Hangover Or The Hangover From The ER Bill?
One groom’s bachelor party hangover illustrates how emergency room bills have become major headaches for many Americans.
“Millions of women rely on cost-free birth control under the ACA, and this administration’s unacceptable inaction continues to misinform them about the access to which they’re entitled,” said California Attorney General Xavier Becerra. News on women’s health comes from Ohio and Missouri also.
The site-neutral payment policy is one of CMS Administrator Seema Verma’s central efforts to try to curb hospital consolidation and lower costs. In other health industry news: mergers, electronic health records and the financial health costs of environmental disasters.
A Look At What Health Items Are In The House Democrats’ Stopgap Spending Bill
Among other things, the bill would extend funding until November for the community mental health services demonstration program, would extend the matching rate for Medicaid funding for U.S. territories and would delay the reduction in the allotments for Medicaid disproportionate share hospitals.