Latest KFF Health News Stories
Biden-Sanders Rift Over Health Care Is Front-And-Center At Key Labor Union Event
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and former Vice President Joe Biden represent two sides of the health care debate within the Democratic party. Jostling for the labor vote — considered important for Democratic candidates — they took shots at each other’s plans. The separate remarks from the candidates came on the same day that a standoff between the United Auto Workers and General Motors escalated, with GM shifting health-care costs to striking workers.
The money from the sales of the opioids will go to the plaintiffs, but some states, other leaders and advocates are worried it will become a vicious cycle. “It’s disgraceful,” said Ed Bisch, of Pennsauken, N.J., who was among the first parents to take on Purdue Pharma. His son died of an OxyContin overdose at 18 in 2001. “If they keep on selling OxyContin, there’s going to be more and more accidental addicts.”
Despite doing all the right things to curry favor with lawmakers and the president, in the end Juul wasn’t able to protect itself from regulation. Meanwhile, as states rush to pass restrictions on vaping products, experts wonder how much of an effect the flood of legislation will really have.
Companies Cashing In On Weakened Regulations For Health Care Coverage Under Trump Administration
As Republicans and the Trump administration chip away at the health law, the window is opened for bad actors to trick customers into buying health plans that offer almost no coverage.
First Edition: September 18, 2019
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Perspectives: Big Pharma’s Willingness To Play Games With Patent System Is Hurting American Patients
Read recent commentaries about drug-cost issues.
Drugmakers Hurrying To Get ‘Miracle Cures’ To Market Are Making Mistakes In Their Haste
News outlets report on stories related to pharmaceutical pricing.
Voices: How Should California Address The Needs Of Its Aging Population?
By 2030, an estimated 1 in 5 Californians will be 65 or older, and the state is creating a “master plan” to address their needs. Lawmakers, advocates, local officials and others gathered in Sacramento on Monday to tackle issues of greatest concern, such as long-term care and housing for low-income seniors.
As Texas Cracks Down On Abortion, Austin Votes To Help Women Defray Costs
The Austin City Council is setting aside $150,000 in city funds to help local women seeking an abortion pay for related costs, such as transportation or child care.
Editorial pages focus on the health care topics and others.
Media outlets report on news from Utah, Tennessee, Oklahoma, Massachusetts, California, Connecticut, Ohio, Georgia, Wisconsin, California, Arizona and New Hampshire.
However, Oklahoma has agreed not to enforce the ban until the state Supreme Court considers an emergency motion from the plaintiffs. Meanwhile, U.S. senators are asking Google to make sure its maps are accurately pointing users to abortion providers rather than crisis pregnancy centers. Abortion news comes out of Texas and Indiana, as well.
Back in March, the organization kicked off a multi-million dollar campaign against the pharmaceutical industry. Since then they’ve stormed lawmakers’ offices, ramped up their ad campaigns, and even rented planes to fly over beaches. “I can’t really think of another time when there’s been this strong a message in opposition to an entire industry,” said John Rother, the group’s former head of policy.
The institute was funded almost entirely by Goliaths of the agribusiness, food and pharmaceutical industries nearly four-decades ago. “What could possibly go wrong?” Amit Srivastava, the coordinator of the advocacy group India Resource Center, asked sarcastically. “To have a covert food lobby group deciding public health policy is wrong and a blatant conflict of interest.” In other public health news: the fading measles outbreak; thoughts and prayers; deaths among children; pregnancy and more.
More than 3 million women experienced rape as their first sexual encounter, according to a new study, which surveyed women ages 18 to 44 in the U.S. For many who work in field of rape prevention, the number wasn’t surprising. “This study quantifies what we see . . . every day,” said Gina Scaramella, executive director of the Boston Area Rape Crisis Center.
President Donald Trump met again with aides Monday to discuss proposals to address gun violence in an effort to create a plan, the details of which he’s been playing close to the vest. The White House expects to release the package of proposals this week. House Majority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) have been vocal this week about pressing the president to include the House-passed universal checks.
Connecticut To Eliminate Religious Exemptions For Vaccinations, Joining Handful Of Other States
Connecticut is one of 31 states that reported measles cases this year, part of the worst outbreak of the disease in the U.S. since 1992. Meanwhile, in California, Gov. Gavin Newsom defends his eleventh-hour changes to a controversial vaccination law.
Medical records have become a hot target for hackers looking for troves of data. ProPublica launched an investigation into just how easy the servers are to breach. Meanwhile, a San Diego couple is being charge with stealing trade secrets allegedly to use the information to market their biotech company.
The “public charge” rule makes it more likely that a legal immigrant who uses benefits such as Medicaid, food stamps and housing assistance will be identified as a “public charge,” jeopardizing their potential to get a green card and become a U.S. citizen. The Trump administration policy has already drawn legal challenges from nearly 20 states.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced that the state will pump $20 million into a public awareness campaign as well as crack down on sales of illicit products. While he says he lacks the authority to ban the products outright, Newsom said he would like to sign a bill if the legislature sends him one. Lawmakers were quick to agree. Meanwhile, a man in Tulare County, Calif. becomes the seventh confirmed fatality in the national vaping-related illness outbreak.