Latest KFF Health News Stories
Negotiators for the House and Senate smoothed out the differences between their two versions on the massive opioid package that lawmakers are banking on as a winning talking point before the midterms. Not included in the final version of the agreement was pharma’s push to use the legislation to roll back a provision that puts them on the hook for covering more drug costs for Medicare beneficiaries. News on the crisis comes out of Minnesota, D.C., and New Jersey, as well.
First Edition: September 26, 2018
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Taken For A Ride: After ATV Crash, Doctor Gets $56,603 Bill For Air Ambulance Trip
After an accident in an all-terrain vehicle crushed a doctor’s left arm, he was whisked by air ambulance to the closest trauma center for specialized care. Soon he was fighting over the $56,603 bill.
Medicare Eases Readmission Penalties Against Safety-Net Hospitals
Penalties will total $566 million for all hospitals. But many that serve a large share of low-income patients will lose less money than they did in previous years.
Readers And Tweeters Slice And Dice Precision Medicine, Step Therapy
Kaiser Health News gives readers a chance to comment on a recent batch of stories.
Putting Oversized Health Care Costs Upfront — On T-Shirts
The Maryland Health Care Commission has created a consumer education campaign that puts the costs of common health care procedures on a place where people might see them – T-shirts.
En Florida, padres critican requisito escolar que obliga a revelar la salud mental de sus hijos
El nuevo requisito es parte de una ley aprobada por la legislatura estatal después del tiroteo de febrero en la escuela secundaria Marjory Stoneman Douglas, en Parkland.
5 respuestas sobre la nueva propuesta migratoria de “carga pública” de Trump
La administración busca penalizar a inmigrantes que quieran obtener la residencia permanente y que hayan usado beneficios públicos, incluidos los de salud.
Sobredosis de opioides en el trabajo, una realidad que empleadores ignoran
En ciertas industrias, como la de la construcción, el consumo de opioides es una constante con la que pocos empleadores están preparados para lidiar.
Editorial pages focus on these health care topics and others.
Media outlets report on news from Ohio, South Carolina, Florida, Utah, D.C., Arkansas, Texas, Iowa, California, New Hampshire and Minnesota.
Former Facebook Content Moderator Files Lawsuit, Says Images She Witnessed Gave Her PTSD
Facebook employs more than 7,500 workers to monitor written posts and images. Director of communications Bernie Thomas says Facebook ensures “that every person reviewing Facebook content is offered psychological support and wellness resources.” However, the lawsuit claims workplace safety guidelines aren’t followed.
Rebranding as WW, the 55-year-old company is also creating new rewards programs and blending in popular cultural trends like mindfulness, connecting with others and moving more.
Sepsis can be a catastrophic, life-threatening condition, and patients in the study require critical care. But, in an effort to determine which method works best against sepsis, the patients are limited to one type of treatment. In other public health news, malaria, birth centers, Ebola, and recovery from paralysis.
Judge Dismisses Clinical Labs’ Challenge To A Multibillion-Dollar Medicare Reimbursement Cut
U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson said that the court has no jurisdiction to hear the case because Congress “expressly precluded judicial review” of such issues. Meanwhile, as Medicare’s open enrollment season creeps closer, there are some traps for new beneficiaries to avoid.
Democratic Candidate In Massachusetts Gubernatorial Race Snags NARAL Support
NARAL Pro-Choice Massachusetts PAC says it needs a “vocal champion” and has found one in Democrat Jay Gonzalez, who is running against Republican incumbent Gov. Charlie Baker. More news on midterm races and ballot initiatives comes out of Massachusetts, Tennessee and Texas.
Money Managers Betting On Stability, Success Of Health Care Stocks
Rising interest in health care stocks coincides with surging profits across the industry. Plus, the needs of an aging population are expected to insulate companies from a downturn.
The pledge called on countries to develop national action plans to reduce demand for illicit drugs through education, expand treatment efforts, strengthen international cooperation on justice, law enforcement and health, and cut off the supply by stopping production.
Lawmakers, Advocates Accuse Pharma Of Trying To Hijack Opioid Bill With ‘Doughnut Hole’ Change
The pharmaceutical industry has been trying to get Congress to change a law passed earlier this year that requires drug manufacturers to provide deeper discounts to Medicare beneficiaries whose spending on prescription drugs falls within a range called the coverage gap. The fast-moving, massive opioid package seemed like a perfect opportunity for the drug companies, but the move is sparking outrage from some lawmakers and consumer advocates.
The company says that it’s offering the generic treatment so that it can lower costs for patients, but skeptics say Gilead’s expensive hepatitis C drugs has put them behind competitors who are offering much cheaper versions. Meanwhile, an Associated Press investigation finds that it’s been mostly business as usual for pharma, despite President Donald Trump’s vows to cut drugs costs.