Latest KFF Health News Stories
Novartis Becomes Second Pharma Company To Pull Back On 2018 Price Increases
Recently, Pfizer was lambasted by President Donald Trump over its price hikes and announced it would roll them back. Novartis, which is dealing with a public relations crisis from its contact with Trump’s personal attorney Michael Cohen, said it is following suit: “We thought that was prudent, given the dynamic environment we’re currently in,” said Chief Executive Vas Narasimhan.
States are taking on more power as the Trump administration and Republicans chip away at federal regulations, leaving the landscape bumpy and uneven. Meanwhile, the National Federation of Independent Business, after lobbying for years, said it won’t set up an association health plan because the new rules laid out by President Donald Trump are unworkable.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Children With Disabilities Endure Long Waits For Life-Changing Medical Equipment
Some California children with serious health care problems wait more than a year for wheelchairs, bath benches, commodes, specialized crutches and other crucial medical equipment. Critics blame the delays on a confusing bureaucratic maze of private insurers and public programs.
From Crib To Court: Trump Administration Summons Immigrant Infants
At least 70 infants have been ordered to appear in immigration court. Experts believe some were separated from their parents.
De la cuna a la corte: la administración Trump cita a bebés inmigrantes
Al menos 70 pequeños menores de 1 año han sido citados en los últimos diez meses para enfrentar sin sus padres sus procesos de deportación.
Opinion writers focus on these and other health topics.
Read recent commentaries about drug-cost issues.
The Next Big Question Over Amazon’s Foray Into Prescription Drugs: What Will It Do About PBMs?
News outlets report on stories related to pharmaceutical pricing.
Media outlets report on news from Massachusetts, Ohio, Texas, Oklahoma, California, Texas, Puerto Rico, Wisconsin, North Carolina and Missouri.
There’s currently no federal law for schools to test for lead. In other public health news: an Alzheimer’s test, chronic brain injuries, gene-editing, aspirin, vaping, sleep and more.
Study Sheds Light On Need For More Research About Teens’ Smartphone Usage, ADHD Symptoms
The research suggests that there’s at least a casual link, but experts don’t know the extent of the connection.
Trends With Anti-Anxiety Pills Hearken Back To Early Days Of Opioid Crisis
Experts say that not only is overprescribing of “benzos” putting people at risk for dependence, but are also exacerbating overdoses from opioids. News on the drug epidemic comes out of New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut and Florida, as well.
Previous rulings have mostly come down on the side of the person who does not want to have the baby, with the idea that no one should be forced to become a parent. But new legislation in Arizona favors the party who intends to help the fertilized eggs “develop to birth.”
In other news on veterans health care, a new top health official is named at Veterans Affairs but only temporarily, and the Kansas medical board revokes the license of a former VA doctor.
Despite Topping Profit Expectations, UnitedHealth Underwhelms Some On Wall Street
The insurer lost customers from a core business: administering health coverage for large employers. CEO David Wichmann said that the company is not performing to its full potential and went on to tout digital health as a key part to its future success.
Doctors Sue Anthem Over Company Policy On Not Paying For Some Emergency Care Costs
The insurer instituted the policy with the goal of cutting down unnecessary emergency room visits, which drive up health care costs. But the doctors say Anthem violated legal requirements that insurers cover care in a situation where a “prudent layperson” would believe he or she was experiencing an emergency.
Court’s Decision On Kentucky’s Work Requirements Shouldn’t Discourage Other States, CMS Chief Says
CMS Administrator Seema Verma says the agency is working on ways to move forward while still respecting the court’s decision to block Kentucky’s work requirements. Meanwhile, in November, Idaho voters will get to weigh in on Medicaid expansion.
Appeals Court Delivers Latest Blow To Hospitals By Rejecting Challenge To 340B Changes
The program helps hospitals cover charity costs related to prescriptions drugs. Last July, the Trump administration proposed slashing its higher reimbursement for the drugs by about 27 percent. A judge ruled that the hospitals had challenged the changes prematurely as none of them had taken effect yet, and the court of appeals on Tuesday affirmed the decision.
FDA To Encourage Drugmakers To Seek Over-The-Counter Approvals With Aim Of Lowering Prices
“Our ultimate goal with modernizing our regulatory framework for nonprescription drugs is to help facilitate a market that is more competitive, enables greater access to medical products, empowers consumers in their health care decisions, and provides more affordable options for Americans,” FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb said.