Latest KFF Health News Stories
“This treatment was developed as a result of investment made by the American taxpayers,” said House Oversight Committee Chairman Elijah E. Cummings (D-Md.). “The problem is that Gilead, the company that now sells the drug, charges astronomical prices.” Gilead charged $800 a month for the drug when it was introduced in 2004. The drug now costs nearly $2,000 a month.
The senators unveiled the legislation among a broader national push to protect patients from sky-high surprise medical bills. Although most agree that the patient shouldn’t be stuck with the costs, there is some dispute about how to settle any conflicts between the insurers and the hospitals.
Missouri is poised to pass an 8-week ban on abortions, following Alabama and Georgia’s recent moves to restrict the procedure. Looks at how the issue is playing across the country reveal deep divides between the states as they charge in different directions.
Trump Administration Backpedals On Controversial Plan To Let Medicare Exclude Certain Drugs
When the rule was originally proposed, the Trump administration said that it would give Medicare more leverage to negotiate for better pharmaceutical prices. But opponents of the change say it would endanger patients’ lives.
Eyes are on both Chief Justice John Roberts, who appears to favor an incremental approach to his decisions, and Justice Brett Kavanaugh, who previously mused about what compelling reasons there could be to overturn precedent. Meanwhile, there’s a quieter battle being waged in courthouses across the country.
New Rules Pit Transplant Centers Against Each Other While Judge Again Orders Policy Delay
Doctors and patients in rural areas allege that HHS and United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) were ignoring federal court judge Amy Totenberg’s order to temporarily delay implementing new rules for distributing organs for transplant. Totenberg reissued the order Wednesday night.
Texas Lawmakers Poised To Go Home Without Taking Any Gun Safety Action
Despite support from Gov. Greg Abbott (R-Texas), the Texas Legislature is no closer to voting on tougher firearm storage laws to help prevent mass shootings such as the one at Santa Fe High School when 10 were killed a year ago. Lawmakers are moving forward with a measure to arm more school personnel. Meanwhile, in Washington, D.C., police officials study gun violence to try to understand the causes.
‘This Really Changes The Game:’ Teens Benefit As Much Or More Than Adults From Obesity Surgery
A new study finds that gastric bypass surgery works as well in teenagers as it does in adults: diabetes went into remission for 86% of teens and 53% of adults after the operations, while high blood pressure went down for 68% of teens and 41% of adults. Though 6 million American adolescents are candidates for surgery few get it, in part due to a lack of information on efficacy.
OxyContin Maker Faces Fresh Round Of Lawsuits From 5 More States Over Opioid Epidemic
Kansas, Iowa, Maryland, Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Wisconsin filed suits this week against Purdue Pharma for the drug manufacturer’s alleged role in the national opioid epidemic.
Alabama’s Law May Seem Jarring To Outsiders, But Anti-Abortion Roots Are Buried Deep In The State
Opinion polling has repeatedly shown that a broad segment of Alabama voters, including a majority of women, generally oppose abortion rights. Even before the restrictive ban was passed, only three abortion clinics remained in the state. For most on the ground, this wasn’t as stunning or sudden as it may appear to others.
Carefully Coordinated Campaign From Anti-Abortion Movement Challenges Democrats In Unexpected Ways
Much to the distress of abortion rights supporters, their own polling shows that the right’s message is penetrating beyond the social conservatives who make up a large part of the Republican base. Meanwhile, Democratic candidates continue to speak out against Alabama’s bill as national Republicans try to distance themselves from it.
Most of the bill focuses on reversing steps — largely backed by GOP lawmakers — taken by President Donald Trump to weaken the health law. But the measure also includes language on curbing high drug costs. That put Republicans in the position of voting “no” on a hot-button topic that is at the top of voters’ minds. The legislation is unlikely to make it through the Republican-controlled Senate.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
As ER Wait Times Grow, More Patients Leave Against Medical Advice
Crowded emergency rooms are likely to blame. In 2017, the median ER wait time for patients before admission as inpatients to California hospitals was 336 minutes — or more than 5½ hours.
‘Sham’ Sharing Ministries Test Faith Of Patients And Insurance Regulators
Officials in Washington and other states are cracking down on companies that avoid health insurance regulations by masquerading as faith-based care.
Podcast: KHN’s ‘What The Health?’ States Race To Reverse ‘Roe’
Margot Sanger-Katz of The New York Times, Anna Edney of Bloomberg News and Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico join KHN’s Julie Rovner to discuss the new abortion bans passed in Alabama and Georgia; bipartisan congressional efforts to end “surprise” out-of-network medical bills; and a new public option health insurance plan soon to be available in Washington state.
Opinion writers weigh in on these health topics and others.
Opinion writers express views about the anti-abortion laws being passed in the nation and the future of Roe vs. Wade.
Each week, KHN compiles a selection of recently released health policy studies and briefs.
Media outlets report on news from California, Minnesota, Oregon, Georgia, Idaho, Connecticut, Pennsylvania and Arizona.