Latest KFF Health News Stories
The Supreme Court has been deliberating for months over Indiana’s fetal-disposal and genetic-disorder law, and Monday’s silence marks the 14th time the court has deferred action, suggesting an unusual amount of internal wrangling. The move comes after a turbulent week in the states about the hot-button abortion issue. Other news on the topic comes out of Mississippi, Virginia, Kentucky, Georgia and Pennsylvania. Meanwhile, a chain of faith-based clinics sues HHS over its family planning rules.
McConnell Vows To Make Legislation Raising Tobacco Age ‘One Of My Highest Priorities’
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is a longtime ally of the tobacco industry, but he is now leading the charge on raising the national smoking age. While public health officials applaud the move, some worry it allows lawmakers to say they’re taking action while bypassing other measures that would be more effective than just raising the legal age to 21.
‘Medicare For All’ Plan’s Benefits Could Raise Overall Price Tag, But Also Make It More Popular
The “Medicare for All” plans being touted by progressive lawmakers and 2020 presidential candidates include benefits, such as no copays and long-term care coverage, that surpass those of other countries with universal health care. Experts say it raises questions about how realistic the legislation is, but others say they are needed to sway Americans who are happy with their insurance coverage.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Hidden Reports Masked The Scope Of Widespread Harm From Faulty Heart Device
The Food and Drug Administration allowed one company to send 50,000 reports of harm or malfunctions to an internal database even as patients worried about faulty defibrillators lodged in their hearts.
A Medical Sanctuary For Migrant Farmworkers
A former farmworker, now a doctor, runs two clinics in California’s Central Valley providing care — often free of charge — for migrants who don’t have money and are deeply worried about the federal government’s hard-line stance on immigration.
Escalada de violencia contra trabajadores de salud conmociona a los hospitales
Presionan a centros de salud a tomar más medidas de seguridad para prevenir una forma de violencia que ha sido considerada por largo tiempo como “parte del trabajo”.
Supreme Court Declines To Hear Military Medical Malpractice Case
Justices won’t alter the rule that prevents active-duty military members from suing the government for negligence. The challenge came from the family of Navy nurse Lt. Rebekah “Moani” Daniel, who died in 2014 after bleeding to death following childbirth.
Boys Are Still More Likely To Take Their Own Lives, But Girls Are Steadily Narrowing That Gap
Among people in the U.S. ages 10 to 19, suicide has become a leading cause of death. “We want to look at treatments, look at interventions and really take into account the unique needs of girls versus boys,” said Donna Ruch, a research scientist at Nationwide Children’s Hospital.
Easily Accessible Dietary Supplement Could Help Those With Rare Genetic Mutation Stave Off Cancer
Those with the mutation have an 85 percent chance of developing some type of cancer. But a dietary supplement might help them beat those odds. In other public health news: ovarian cancer, autism, pain, masculinity, pancreas health, and more.
Managed Care Growth May Be Cause Of Health Insurance Inflation Rate Hitting Five-Year Peak
Experts also said the increase in the health insurance index could be driven by the fact that insurers’ medical loss ratios may be decreasing as high premiums, particularly in the individual health insurance exchanges, exceed anticipated claims. News on the insurance marketplace in the states comes out of California, Florida and North Carolina.
COO Departs From Billionaire’s Health Initiative Haven For ‘Family Reasons’
The company’s hires–and now departures–have been closely watched as many in the health industry are braced for the new and possibly fierce competition expected to come from the initiative founded by Amazon, Berkshire Hathaway and JPMorgan Chase. Other news from the health industry focuses on the “app economy,” elder care home profits, the legacy of Uwe Reinhardt and violence in the workplace.
Measles ‘Perfect Storm’ Leads To Uptick In Immunization Rates On Island Known For Anti-Vaccine Views
Anti-vaccine sentiments have been deeply rooted on Vashon, a Washington island known for its counterculture lifestyle. But education efforts, shifting views and recent measles cases in the state are driving vaccine rates up. News outlets report on other new measles cases as well as one of Whooping Cough.
A new report points to a corroded well lining at the Aliso Canyon Natural Gas Storage Facility near Los Angeles as the culprit behind the environmental catastrophe in 2015 and 2016. The investigation also says SoCalGas, the company that runs the facility, failed to properly inspect 60 other well leaks.
Synthetic fentanyl, a deadlier drug that is much cheaper to produce and distribute than heroin, has all but replaced heroin, which used to have deep roots in East Coast places like Appalachia, New England mill towns and New York City. In other news on the drug and opioid epidemic: prescription painkillers, needle exchange programs, opioid use in the workforce, and more.
CMS Releases Guidance To Help States Better Monitor ‘Spread Pricing’ That Can Increase Drug Costs
Over the past year, so-called “spread pricing” has generated controversy over allegations that pharmacy benefit managers pocket portions of payments that should go to state programs. CMS is trying to mitigate that with new guidance. In other pharmaceutical news: a false advertising lawsuit, a dispute over immunotherapy, a health-tracking forum, and more.
The new methodology would assume there is little or no health benefit to making the air any cleaner than what the law requires. On paper, that would translate into far fewer deaths from heart attacks, strokes and respiratory disease, even if air pollution increased. The problem is, scientists say, in the real world there are no safe levels of fine particulate matter in the air.
Progressive Democratic lawmakers and candidates are pushing hard for a massive overhaul of the country’s health system, but they’re walking a delicate line with some voters in their own party who want to see “baby step” improvements instead.
As Vice President Mike Pence’s policy work flies mostly under the radar, he has developed his own sphere of influence at the Department of Health and Human Services.
The anti-abortion movement has been making steady gains in the past few years, and scored major victories with three recent restrictive bills passed in Georgia, Alabama and Missouri. The New York Times looks into the network that’s been built up over the past 50 years. Meanwhile, the courts and state legislatures continue to consider abortion-related issues.