Latest KFF Health News Stories
Editorial writers express views about these and other health topics.
Media outlets report on news from Texas, Arizona, Ohio, Georgia, Wisconsin, Louisiana and Florida,
Future Of Health Care Data Likely To Share Reins With Patients, Shake Off Old Restraints
Interoperability received a nudge from CMS last week when the federal regulators announced a proposed rule to give patients more control over their health information.
Outbreak Of Rare Eye Cancer Mystifies Medical Experts
Ocular melanoma occurs in about 6 out of every 1 million people, but more than a dozen have come down with it, including three friends. “It’s just hard to believe that there’s not a common thread here,” said Pat Cotham, a local health official. In other public health news: healthy habits, kids’ exposure to animals, alcohol risks, gun safety, and more.
For Overworked Primary Care Physicians, Concierge Medicine Can Feel Like Breath Of Fresh Air
Concierge medicine is essentially a contract in which the patient pays an annual retainer to the physician. The model, which is becoming more popular, allows the patients more time with doctors and lets the doctors focus on about eight to ten patients a day instead of upwards of thirty.
University of California’s Oral Arguments Over CRISPR Fail To Move Needle Much, Legal Experts Say
The arguments are part of a patent war between the University of California and the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard. Patents for the gene-editing technology could be worth billions.
Viral Photos Of Overflowing Trash Cans, Dirty Exam Room At VA Clinic Spark Apology And Investigation
“The condition of the room was the way it was when he went in, no other room was offered and no attempt to clean it up was made for the duration of his appointment,” Stephen Wilson, the veteran’s father, posted on social media.
Health Law Coverage Gains Are Slowly Eroding Under Trump Administration, Study Shows
The Commonwealth Fund study also shows disparities across different states in relation to how much they embraced the health law when it was enacted. In the South, 20.7 percent of adults are uninsured, up from 15.8 percent in 2016.
Maine Governor Sued After Refusing To Implement Medicaid Expansion That Voters OK’d Months Ago
Maine Gov. Paul LePage (R) says he won’t expand the program until state lawmakers find a way to fund it under his conditions, despite voters’ approval of a ballot initiative with nearly 60 percent support. Meanwhile, Wisconsin residents sue the state over its refusal to pay for gender reassignment surgeries.
McConnell Touts Measure Aimed At Helping Ease Transition From Opioid Treatment Back Into Workforce
The proposal is part of an opioids legislative package that Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell says lawmakers are crafting. In other news: former Eli Lilly head Kurt Rasmussen is tapped to oversee the National Institute on Drug Abuse’s unit that studies the efficacy and safety of devices and drugs used to treat substance use disorders; Kentucky struggles to handle the autopsies related to the crisis; a VA study offers clues on how hospitals can reduce prescriptions; and more.
CDC Director’s Compensation To Be Cut Following Questions About $375,000 Salary
“Dr. [Robert] Redfield has expressed to Secretary [Alex] Azar that he does not wish to have his compensation become a distraction for the important work of the CDC,” an HHS spokeswoman said.
Loneliness has the same effect on mortality as smoking 15 cigarettes a day, which makes it even more dangerous than obesity, says Cigna, which sponsored the study.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Telemedicine Opening Doors To Specialty Care For Inmates
Getting prisoners to a medical facility can be difficult, so corrections officials are increasingly setting up telemedicine programs for specialized needs, such as psychiatric, cancer and cardiac care.
Telemedicina abre las puertas para que presos reciban atención de especialistas
Expertos aseguran que la salud de los reclusos mejora al ser atendidos por especialistas a través de videoconferencias, con la asistencia del médico del centro penitenciario.
Family Caregivers Are Getting A Break — And Extra Coaching
Across the country, community groups, hospitals and government agencies are stepping in to support the estimated 42 million family caregivers.
Editorial writers look at these and other health topics
Opinion writers express views about health care issues.
Media outlets report on news from Illinois, Colorado, Kansas, Texas, California, Massachusetts, Minnesota, South Carolina, Texas, Ohio, Virginia, Wisconsin, Louisiana and Georgia.
In the midst of the opioid crisis, endocarditis cases are on the rise. The effects from the bacteria are costly and hard to treat, and doctors are warning patients that if they come back with the same problem, they might not get medical care for it. Meanwhile, drugmakers are pushing back against opioid taxes and the Department of Agriculture is sending money to needy communities to help boost services to treat addiction.