Latest KFF Health News Stories
Perspectives: States Should Be Able To Demand Fair Price On What They Pay For Drugs
Read recent commentaries about drug-cost issues.
News outlets report on stories related to pharmaceutical pricing.
Media outlets report on news from Massachusetts, Missouri, Georgia, North Carolina, Virginia, Illinois, New Hampshire, Arizona, Minnesota, Tennessee, Connecticut, Oregon, California, Wisconsin, New York and Iowa.
Deadline To Bid On Contract To Run Nation’s Organ Transplant System Extended
UNOS, the nonprofit organization that holds the contract now, has faced little competition over the last few decades. A shakeup could mean big changes for organ donations in the country. In other public health news: damaged lungs, exercise, mental health services and E. coli.
Text With Primary Care Doctors: No Need To Trek To The Office For Basic Care
98point6 has developed an app that lets patients connect via chat to a licensed primary care doctor. It is currently live in 10 states, with plans to reach all 50 by the end of the year. “Our mission is to make primary care more accessible and more affordable, inspiring early and frequent use,” said co-founder Robbie Cape.
Veterans With Chronic PTSD See Dramatic Decrease In Symptoms After Taking Ecstasy
After being treated with the street drug, 68 percent of the patients no longer met the clinical criteria for PTSD. “I was finally able to process all the dark stuff that happened,” said Nicholas Blackston, 32, a study participant.
A device called the Bridge is supposed to ease symptoms of withdrawal, but specialists are doubtful that the electronic nerve stimulator works. In other news on the drug crisis: Attorney General Jeff Sessions says he would have tough questions for drugmakers if he was still in Congress; Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) speaks about her family’s experience dealing with addiction; a look at babies who are born exposed to hepatitis C; and more.
Many expect Cecile Richards, who lead the organization for 12 years, to shift to politics next. In other women’s health news: anti-abortion groups urge President Donald Trump to cut Planned Parenthood off from family grants; Iowa lawmakers move forward with 6-week abortion ban; a brochure on abortion stirs controversy; and more.
Kansas has filed a request to impose a three-year limit for recipients, following which they could be dropped from coverage forever. CMS Administrator Seema Verma had planned to announce the agency’s decision on Tuesday, but canceled at the last minute.
FDA Targets Vaping Products That Resemble Juice Boxes, Candy In Latest Nicotine Crackdown
Warnings were issued to 13 manufacturers, distributors and sellers. The action comes one week after the FDA disclosed a nationwide crackdown on underage sales of Juul e-cigarettes, which have become popular among some teenagers as a way to vape at school and in public.
Defense Department Launches Investigation Of Ronny Jackson Following Misconduct Allegations
The allegations came to light during Dr. Ronny Jackson’s VA nomination process, and were based on complaints by active-duty and retired military officers who had worked in the White House Medical Unit.
The “All Of Us” initiative’s goal is to enroll 1 million people in a research effort aimed at developing “personalized” methods of prevention, treatment and care for a wide variety of diseases. And, after news broke that the capture of the alleged Golden State Killer was made possible by genetic information found on the internet, NIH Director Francis Collins wants participants to know their data will be carefully shielded.
Dr. Harold Bornstein also said that the 2015 letter, in which he described then-candidate Donald Trump to be “astonishingly excellent” health, had been dictated to him by Donald Trump.
Getting Rid Of Individual Mandate Is Bad Idea, Former HHS Secretary Tom Price Admits
“Younger and healthier people may now not participate in that market and consequently that drives up the costs for other folks,” said Dr. Tom Price, who was a fierce opponent of the health law during his tenure in Congress and while leading HHS.
Diseases Spread By Ticks, Mosquitoes And Fleas Reaching ‘Astronomical Levels’
The CDC report shows the number of reported cases of vector-borne diseases jumped from 27,388 cases in 2004 to more than 96,000 cases in 2016. Officials say there’s no need to hide indoors, but people should be vigilant, especially with children.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
As Proton Centers Struggle, A Sign Of A Health Care Bubble?
Companies pushed proton machines and counted on advertising, doctors and insurers to ensure a steady business treating cancer. But the dollars haven’t flowed in as expected.
‘A Persistent Puzzle’: Californians Embrace Medicaid — But Food Stamps? Not So Much.
The Golden State ranks near the bottom in its enrollment of eligible people in the food assistance program known as SNAP. Now state officials want to tap its robust Medicaid rolls to boost SNAP signups.
Postcard From D.C.: Kicking Around The ACA? For Tom Price, That’s So 2017.
The former secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services says the law eliminating penalties for most people who don’t have insurance coverage will hurt the insurance marketplaces.
Ayudan con arte a que los cuidadores familiares tengan un merecido recreo
Hay cerca de 42 millones de personas que cuidan a un familiar, adulto o niño, enfermo como un trabajo de tiempo completo. Programas de arte les ofrecen un respiro.