Latest KFF Health News Content

Latest KFF Health News Stories

Senators Release Names Of Nearly 400 Nursing Homes With ‘Persistent Record Of Poor Care’ That Are Not Publicly Identified

Morning Briefing

The list was provided by CMS and released by Pennsylvania Sens. Bob Casey and Pat Toomey. The 400 facilities have similar problems to a small list released by the government, but these were withheld from the public. “We’ve got to make sure any family member or any potential resident of a nursing home can get this information, not only ahead of time but on an ongoing basis,” Casey, a Democrat, and Toomey, a Republican, said in their report.

Political Ad Targets McConnell’s Opposition To Health Law, Hinting At Broader 2020 Strategy From Democrats

Morning Briefing

Health care proved to be a winning issue for Democrats in the 2018 midterm elections, and they are likely to play it up again in 2020. A group looking to unseat Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said its strategy is to use McConnell’s own words to “spotlight his disturbing record” on health care. In other news from the trail: Medicaid takes center stage in the Kentucky gubernatorial race and The Washington Post fact checks an alarming statistic on infant mortality from an Ohio lawmaker in the presidential race.

California Gov. Newsom Proposes Penalty To Fund Health Insurance Subsidies

KFF Health News Original

Gov. Gavin Newsom wants to help an estimated 850,000 Californians pay their health insurance premiums and would fund his plan with a tax penalty on people who don’t have coverage. If he succeeds, California would be the first state to subsidize middle-income people who make too much to qualify for federal financial aid.

Analysis: Why Alexa’s Bedside Manner Is Bad For Health Care

KFF Health News Original

Amazon’s personal assistant is gaining medical skills to provide coaching or transmit and monitor patient data. Besides the loss of the human touch, virtual medicine pursued in the name of business efficiency or profit bodes ill.

Watch: A Status Update On Efforts To Address Surprise Medical Bills

KFF Health News Original

KHN correspondent Rachel Bluth appeared on “PBS NewsHour Weekend” to talk with host Megan Thompson about the continuing problem of surprise medical bills and how the issue is playing on Capitol Hill.

‘You Cannot Put A Price On Your Child’s Life’: Families Push Back On Criticism Over $2.1M Drug

Morning Briefing

Once the FDA approved the treatment of the world’s priciest drug, the conversation over the cost of “miracle” treatments reignited. But for those who will benefit, there is no debate. In other pharmaceutical news: a look at this year’s big bioconference, President Donald Trump’s drug pricing agenda, CVS’ defense of its Aetna deal, and more.

New Drugs Substantially Improving Outcomes For People With Hard-To-Treat Forms Of Cancer

Morning Briefing

Experts say there have been some “wonderful” strides made in drugs to help those battling previously hard-to-treat cancers. But, they say, cost and side effects remain an issue. In other public health news: liquid biopsies, vaccines, doctor burn out, hunger, protection against mosquitoes, and more.

‘Technology Isn’t The Problem. We’re The Problem.’: Teens’ Underlying Issues Need To Be Understood, Researchers Say

Morning Briefing

While it’s tempting to blame social media and gaming for mental health problems among teens, that is a mistake, says Dr. Michael Rich, an associate professor of pediatrics at Harvard Medical School. “What we need to do is look at the whole picture around these young people; we need to look at how kids and how we all are using social media,” he said. Other news on technology looks at a debate over the term “screen time” and pornography on YouTube.

Generation O: The Kids Growing Up In Families That Are Ravaged By The Opioid Crisis

Morning Briefing

“My biggest fear is I’m going to get home and she’ll be dead,” said Cadence Nance, 12, of her mother. Across a country held in the grips of an opioid crisis, chaos, trauma and grief is the norm for children whose parents are addicted to the drugs. In other news on the crisis: painkillers for new moms, Johnson & Johnson’s track record of weathering trouble, an upcoming lawsuit, and more.

Both Sides Of CBD Debate Present Arguments In Front Of A Skeptical FDA Under Pressure To Regulate Booming Industry

Morning Briefing

Acting Commissioner Ned Sharpless launched the agency’s first hearing on CBD products Friday with a laundry of list of questions about cannabidiol. During the 10 hours of testimony that followed, hemp growers, start-up businesses, academic researchers and consumer advocates argued about how FDA should regulate the already booming CBD industry.

With More Flexibility, States Can Become More Nimble In Operating Medicaid Program, CMS Chief Says

Morning Briefing

CMS Administrator talks with CQ about the ways she wants to grant states more flexibility in operating their Medicaid programs. “I like to think about the future in Medicaid where we can say if this is the amount of money we have, these are the flexibilities, and we’re going to hold you accountable for health outcomes,” she said. “If we move to that different type of paradigm, we may see better results from the program in terms of the growth of the program, the costs of the program, and the quality of the program.” Medicaid news comes out of Utah, Illinois and Iowa, as well.