Latest KFF Health News Stories
Editorial pages focus on these and other health topics.
Opinion writers express views on Dr. Ronny Jackson, the nominee for Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and the policies of the department.
Research Roundup: Smoking Cessation, Trends In Infectious Diseases
Each week, KHN compiles a selection of recently released health policy studies and briefs.
Media outlets report on news from Georgia, Kansas, California, New Hampshire, Connecticut, Arizona, Maryland, Michigan and Oregon.
Medically Assisted Suicide Measure Sails Through Hawaii Legislature On Way To Governor
The governor has signaled support for the legislation, and it is likely to make it into law. In other news out of state legislatures: mental health funding, school nurses and surprise medical billing.
Virginia Lawmaker Who Switched Stance On Medicaid Expansion Was Braced For Backlash. It Never Came.
“I’ve been to Republican mass meetings. I’ve been out and about, ballgames, this and that,” Del. Terry Kilgore said. “What I’ve heard people say is, ‘Hey, what you said made sense. We don’t mind helping people if they’re helping themselves.’” Virginia is in the midst of a hot debate over the issue, with the House wanting to expand the program and the Senate refusing to budge. Outlets report on Medicaid and work requirement news out of Minnesota and Colorado, as well.
In many cases there were warning signs from the attackers before the violent outbursts escalated. In other public health news: super-resistant gonorrhea, nutrition guidelines, knuckle-cracking, aging, workplace death, and dementia.
The Opioid Epidemic By The Numbers; Insurers Taking A Role In Fighting The Crisis
Media outlets report on a wide range of issues involving the opioid crisis: from overdose deaths, to treatment, to lawsuits against drugmakers.
Judge Shoots Down Challenge To California Law Requiring Coffee To Carry Cancer Warning Label
The judge said that those challenging the requirement failed to show that the threat from the chemical at the center of the case was insignificant.
Watchdog Finds FDA Properly Conducted Review Of Abortion Pill When Relaxing Guidelines
The FDA’s decision to lower the dosage to 200 milligrams from 600 milligrams, decrease the number of visits a woman must make to her doctor to two from three, and extend the amount of time to take the drug from seven weeks to 10 weeks had drawn fire from anti-abortion activists and Republicans.
Former CVS Executive To Lead HHS’ Efforts To Curb High Drug Prices
Daniel Best will lead the HHS’ initiatives to tackle drug prices, a key talking point in President Donald Trump’s campaign and presidency. Meanwhile, FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb has mapped out his plan to get more biosimilars to the marketplace, and students want UCLA to ease access to a prostate cancer drug developed on campus.
New CDC Chief Embraces Science, Vows To Tackle AIDS Epidemic And Opioid Crisis In Emotional Speech
“I’m a little nervous. I’m an outsider,” CDC Director Robert Redfield said in an address to the agency during his second day on the job. “I didn’t grow up here in CDC, but I hope you accept me as a member of the family and accept my wife, because we’re here to serve side by side with you.”
Walmart In Preliminary Talks To Buy Humana Amid Flurry Of Acquisitions, Mergers In Health Industry
If there’s a deal—and if regulators and shareholders approve it—Walmart would transform overnight into one of the nation’s largest health insurers.
David Shulkin has been outspoken about his belief that he’s been targeted by political foes within the agency. But there’s an unspoken rule in Washington that ousted cabinet secretaries should go quietly into the night. Shulkin is taking a different approach.
Although Rear Admiral Ronny Jackson, President Donald Trump’s physician and pick to lead the embattled Department of Veterans Affairs, has been praised for his expertise as a doctor, critics point out that he does not have much management experience.
Whether to privatize care for veterans has become a hot-button topic, especially since billionaire conservative brothers Charles and David Koch turned their attention to the cause. Former Veterans Affairs Secretary David Shulkin earned the esteem of veterans’ groups for fighting against that tide, but with a new secretary poised to take over, the future is unclear.
Time’s Running Out: The Frail In Puerto Rico Face End Of Hurricane Relief Programs
Some of the safety-net programs set up after Hurricane Maria devastated Puerto Rico are being disbanded.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
‘Aggressive’ New Advance Directive Would Let Dementia Patients Refuse Food
Supporters call it the strongest move yet to document a patient’s advance wishes in cases of severe dementia. Critics say it would deny basic care to society’s most vulnerable.
Podcast: KHN’s ‘What The Health?’ VA Secretary Out, Privatization In?
In this episode of KHN’s “What the Health?” Julie Rovner of Kaiser Health News, Sarah Kliff of Vox.com, Anna Edney of Bloomberg News and Alice Ollstein of Talking Points Memo discuss President Donald Trump’s firing of David Shulkin, the secretary of Veterans Affairs, and Shulkin’s claim that he was forced out by those who want to privatize VA health care.