Latest KFF Health News Content

Latest KFF Health News Stories

Immigrants’ Health Premiums Far Exceed What Plans Pay For Their Care

KFF Health News Original

Immigrants accounted for nearly 13 percent of premiums paid to private plans but only about 9 percent of insurers’ expenditures, according to a new study in Health Affairs. The cost of care for the group of native-born customers, however, exceeded their premiums.

California Governor Knocks Down Proposal To Open Safe Injection Site In San Francisco

Morning Briefing

“After great reflection, I conclude that the disadvantages of this bill far outweigh the possible benefits,” Gov. Jerry Brown wrote in a veto message. The legislation was one of several health care related measures on Brown’s desk. Others addressed gun control, abortion medication and mental illness.

Nutrition Studies Plagued By ‘Credibility Problem,’ Critics Say

Morning Briefing

A Cornell University food researcher’s discredited work is symptomatic of a pervasive problem with food and health studies, according to a group of scientists, who say part of the problem stems from the need to publish often. In other public health news, there are reports on flu, twins, pregnancy, nursing homes, living donors, teen girls, anxiety, vaping and more.

Coming Forward To Report Sexual Assault Is Complex, Layered Issue For Victims

Morning Briefing

Experts look at the reasons why reporting sexual assault can be a traumatic decision for victim. Meanwhile, as the allegations against Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh grip the attention of the nation, sexual assault survivors are trying to cope with triggered memories.

U.S. Judge’s Ruling Keeps Open Last Abortion Clinic In Kentucky

Morning Briefing

The law requiring advance agreements with hospitals and ambulance services did not protect the rights of women to make their own choices and had “no impact on the vast majority of the rare post-abortion complications,” U.S. District Judge Greg Stivers wrote. News on abortion comes out of Ohio, also.

Only Branded Companies Can Market Drugs For Off-Label Use Now But Two Senators Want To Change That

Morning Briefing

Generics drug companies can’t launch the process to ask the FDA to be able to market the drug for off-label use. In some cases, the brand drug is pulled, and only the generic remains. “The result is that these drug labels get frozen in time,” said FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb.

Sloan Kettering VP Has To Hand Over $1.4M Windfall From Biotech Company In Center’s Effort To Contain Ethics Crisis

Morning Briefing

The Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center has come under the microscope for potential breaches regarding financial conflicts-of-interest. On Friday, the Manhattan-based cancer center issued a memo to thousands of employees, announcing that it would restrict some interactions with for-profit companies.

Midnight Journeys To Move Immigrant Children To Texas Tent City Play Out Across Country

Morning Briefing

To deal with the surging shelter populations, which have hovered near 90 percent of capacity since May, a mass reshuffling of detained immigrant children is underway and shows no signs of slowing. Hundreds of children are being shipped from shelters to a West Texas tent city each week, totaling more than 1,600 so far. Meanwhile, the Trump administration is seeking authority to block abortions sought by undocumented immigrants under 18.

Medicaid Expansion As A Democrat Talking Point In A Red State? It’s Not As Far-Out As It Once Might Have Been

Morning Briefing

Most of Democrats’ past attempts to campaign on the health law’s Medicaid expansion have fallen flat, but state Rep. Beto O’Rourke talks about bringing more people into the program at every campaign event as he campaigns against Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas). O’Rourke isn’t the only Democrat pushing expansion — gubernatorial hopefuls are seizing on the issue as well.