Latest KFF Health News Stories
Global Cancer Deaths, New Cases Expected To Jump As Populations Age, Lifestyles Change
“These new figures highlight that much remains to be done to address the alarming rise in the cancer burden globally and that prevention has a key role to play,” said Christopher Wild, director of WHO’s International Agency for Research on Cancer. In other news on cancer, researchers unlock the mysteries of the BRCA1 gene variants.
Evacuations pose a number of dangers for fragile patients, some of whom may need oxygen or intravenous medications, and it can be hard for caretakers to decide whether it is more beneficial to leave or stay.
Just 23 percent approve of steps President Donald Trump has taken to lower high drug costs, but only 20 percent approve of what Democrats in Congress are doing and 16 percent approve of how Republicans are handling the problem. Meanwhile, HHS Secretary Alex Azar promises the administration has “disruptive” changes coming.
Number Of Detained Immigrant Children Has Ballooned To Highest Ever Recorded
Meanwhile, the number of families that have been arrested crossing the border illegally in the last 11 months is the highest in five years.
The package includes a $5.1 billion increase for the Department of Veterans Affairs, including $1.1 billion to pay for a law President Donald Trump signed in June to give veterans more freedom to see doctors outside the troubled VA system.
FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb announced aggressive measures against any retailers who are selling e-cigarettes to minors and warned manufacturers of a potential ban on flavored e-cigarette liquids.
The device will be the first electrocardiogram ever to be available over the counter. Apple’s pivot toward a health care focus for the wearable comes after struggling to convince customers that they need the watches.
Advocates Secure $1M In Pledges To Go To Susan Collins’ 2020 Opponent If She Votes Yes On Kavanaugh
Republicans decried the “antics” as attempted bribery. Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) is being closely watched as one of the few Republicans who could block Brett Kavanaugh as the next Supreme Court justice. Meanwhile, Kavanaugh explains his use of the term “abortion-inducing drugs,” which set off a firestorm last week.
Gov. Asa Hutchinson (R-Ark.) said, “I don’t like that number,” but still touted the benefits of the new work requirements. Arkansas is the first state to drop Medicaid beneficiaries because of the rules, which are gaining traction in red states. Thousands more Arkansans will be at risk of losing their benefits next month if they have not complied with the requirements.
Dr. Leana Wen, who personally relied on Planned Parenthood as a child of a low-income family, has repeatedly challenged the Trump administration’s women’s health policies in court. “I see how the single, biggest health catastrophe of our times is the threat to women’s health,” Wen said. “I am deeply troubled by how women’s health issues are singled out, stigmatized and attacked.”
An estimated 8.8 percent of the population, or about 28.5 million people, did not have health insurance coverage at any point in 2017. That was slightly higher than the 28.1 million in 2016, but did not affect the uninsured rate.
Insurer To Purdue Pharma: We Won’t Pay For OxyContin Anymore
Embattled drugmaker Purdue Pharma defends OxyContin as some insurers are dropping the drug in favor of other abuse-deterrent opioid painkillers.
First Edition: September 13, 2018
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Much Touted For Cancer, ‘Precision Medicine’ Often Misses The Target
Doctors and hospitals love to talk about the patients they’ve saved with precision medicine, and reporters love to write about them. But the people who die still vastly outnumber the rare successes.
Trying To Protect Seniors, The Most Vulnerable, From Formidable Foe Florence
With Hurricane Florence predicted to slam the Southeast’s coastline Friday, health officials scramble to dodge the storm and keep older residents safe.
In Trump’s First Year, Nation’s Uninsured Rate Unchanged
The Census Bureau reports that the nation’s uninsurance rate was 8.8 percent in 2017 but notes that the rate did increase in 14 states.
Opinion writers express views on these health issues and others.
Opinion writers weigh in on dividing lines between the pro-life and pro-choice movements.
Read recent commentaries about drug-cost issues.
How PBMs Can End Up Pocketing Nearly $200 For A Bottle Of Pills Costing Less Than $6
News outlets report on stories related to pharmaceutical pricing.