Latest KFF Health News Stories
The legislation targets President Donald Trump’s newly expanded short-term plan coverage, which for the Democrats has become a proxy for the Republicans’ supposed willingness to roll back protections on preexisting conditions. Meanwhile, the administration announces its plans for maintenance downtime for the federal health law registration website, Healthcare.gov.
One of the main health care promises featured in Republican campaign ads this cycle is that theirs is the party that will protect Medicare as it is — even though entitlement program changes have long been desired by GOP leadership. News about the midterm elections comes out of Tennessee, Maine, Texas, California and Ohio, as well.
First Edition: October 10, 2018
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Doctors Give Medicare’s Proposal To Pay For Telemedicine Poor Prognosis
Federal officials are proposing that Medicare pay doctors for a 10-minute “check-in” call with beneficiaries. But many doctors already do this for free, and the plan would require a cost-sharing charge of many patients.
No More Secrets: Congress Bans Pharmacist ‘Gag Orders’ On Drug Prices
Congress approved two bills last month that prohibit provisions keeping pharmacists from telling patients when they can save money by paying the cash price instead of the price negotiated by their insurance plan.
Editorial pages cover a variety of health care topics.
Media outlets report on news from California, Texas, Maryland, New Hampshire, Washington, Ohio, Minnesota and Florida.
On The Hunt For The Most Impressive Doctors And Researchers On The Cusp Of Launching Their Careers
Stat announces its list of “Wunderkinds,” a collection of postdocs, fellows, and biopharma employees working with more senior scientists, who are “are blazing new trails as they attempt to answer some of the biggest questions in science and medicine.”
Extreme Weather Stresses Mental Health, Finds New Report That Paints Dire Picture On Climate Change
Researchers found that in warmer summers the mental health problems increased by about the same amount of percentage points as degrees. Short-term weather patterns, like rainy days, are also linked to an increase of self-reported symptoms. In other public health news: gene-editing, impotence, bullying, HPV, breast cancer and more.
Getting The Church Involved Helps Significantly Reduce Hypertension In Black Communities
The sense of trust that comes with community churches can help patients with heart risks to more fully commit to a wellness plan. Meanwhile, a study looks at the Southern diet’s link to heart disease.
Some residents are being treated with “ultrahigh intensity” rehab in their last week of life, which has experts looking at who is benefiting from that decision. Meanwhile, CMS aims to increase its enforcement actions of nursing home staff in cases of elder abuse. Nursing home and elder care news comes out of Kansas and Florida, as well.
People buying drugs like Xanax online are taking the pills, not realizing that they are fake and some are tainted with a potent opioid. The mistake can be fatal. Meanwhile, a drug rehab center in North Carolina is facing a lawsuit over allegations that it sent its patients out to work while pocketing the wages.
The decisions can be made by state judges without notifying the biological parents, and the cases are hard to track at a federal level. Meanwhile, the number of young children forced to have a day in court is ever-increasing.
Planned Parenthood’s political arm only began scoring Supreme Court nominees in 2005, so Justices David Souter, Sandra Day O’Connor and Anthony Kennedy pre-date that shift. Moreover, Planned Parenthood even praised O’Connor’s nomination. The office of Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) acknowledged the error she made when defending her vote for Brett Kavanaugh.
President Donald Trump’s recent speeches criticizing “Medicare For All” misrepresent the actual pros and cons of the plan. Media outlets fact check his and 2018 candidates’ claims about health care.
An analysis of campaign ads for the upcoming midterms reflects polls that find that the percentage of Americans who hold favorable views of the law has surpassed the share opposing it — a gap that has grown since Republicans’ failed repeat efforts. But many candidates focus on buzzwords like “preexisting conditions” rather than naming the contentious law itself. Media outlets take a look at advertisements and campaigns in races across the country.
First Edition: October 9, 2018
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Spurred By Convenience, Millennials Often Spurn The ‘Family Doctor’ Model
These young adults are looking for medical care that is convenient, fast and offers cost transparency. They frequently seek treatment at retail clinics, urgent care centers or other options.
Black Market For Suboxone Gives Some A Glimpse Of Recovery
Addiction experts argue that buprenorphine, which drug users buy on the street, actually saves lives because it is used in place of more dangerous substances, like heroin and fentanyl.
Viewpoints: Eating Disorders Do Not Discriminate By Gender — Boys Can Get Them, Too
Editorial pages focus on public health.