Latest KFF Health News Stories
NIH To Investigate Claims That Officials Courted Alcohol Industry To Fund Drinking Study
Scientists had suggested that the study would support the benefits of moderate drinking, according to reports, when soliciting donations from private companies.
Azar’s Emphasis On Price Transparency Cheers Advocates Despite Lack Of Concrete Details
But experts say the cost-reduction potential of greater price transparency is limited because only a small percentage of total U.S. healthcare spending is on services for which patients truly can comparison shop.
Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.) sent a letter to President Donald Trump voicing concerns about Dr. Robert Redfield, who is being vetted to lead the CDC. Redfield was investigated in 1994 for misrepresenting data to promote an AIDS vaccine, though the probe concluded that the errors did not constitute misconduct. Earlier in his career, Redfield also advocated for policies like mandatory patient testing for HIV and for segregating HIV-positive Army soldiers.
Supreme Court Justices Signal Skepticism Over ‘Crisis Pregnancy Centers’ Law
During arguments, justices from across the ideological spectrum questioned whether the California law, that requires centers licensed by the state to post notices that free or low-cost abortion, contraception and prenatal care are available, singles out clinics run by antiabortion groups.
Prospects Dim For Market Stabilization Bill As Congress Hustles To Avoid Shutdown Deadline
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) is open to bringing the bill to the Senate floor but it’s unclear whether McConnell would present the bill as a stand-alone or as an amendment to the spending omnibus.
Insurers’ Financial Well-Being Has Improved After Rocky First Years Of Health Law, Report Finds
Industry officials, however, say the health of a company can’t be judged by stock prices alone, and many of the biggest publicly traded companies have pulled back on the individual insurance market. Meanwhile, Democrats are getting ready to use expected premium increases against Republicans in the midterms.
Perspectives: Drugmakers Are Unfairly Restricting Competition, And Congress Needs To Act
Read recent commentaries about drug-cost issues.
Dozens Of Hospitals Want In On New Nonprofit Generic Drug Company Aiming To Curb High Costs
News outlets report on stories related to pharmaceutical pricing.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Reporter’s Notebook: The Tale Of Theranos And The Mysterious Fire Alarm
Health care tech startup Theranos was riding high back in 2014. But when a reporter raised questions, its media reps circled the wagons.
Clash Over Abortion Hobbles A Health Bill. Again. Here’s How.
As Congress considers a bipartisan bill to help hold down premium prices on the health law’s marketplaces, a long-standing fight over abortion reappears.
Are There Risks From Secondhand Marijuana Smoke? Early Science Says Yes.
Scientists are finding that, just as with secondhand smoke from tobacco, inhaling secondhand smoke from marijuana can make it harder for arteries to expand to allow a healthy flow of blood.
Editorial pages focus on these health topics and others.
Media outlets report on news from Minnesota, Texas, Maryland, Ohio, Illinois, Arizona, California, Kansas and Florida.
Teen Suicide Spiked By 70 Percent In Span Of Ten Years. What’s Going On?
USA Today examines the unique struggles facing teens in a digital age. In other public health news: where to sit on an airplane to avoid getting sick; disparities in autism diagnoses; gut microbes; disease detectives; and more.
Tennessee Lacks Legal Standing To Sue Over Medicaid Benefits For Refugees, Judge Rules
Tennessee had sued the government over its requirement that the state provide Medicaid benefits to refugees or risk losing funds. Meanwhile, the Tennessee House voted to direct the governor to take steps toward adding work requirements to the state’s program.
Remarkable Cancer Drugs Come With Fatal Side Effect For Some, And Researchers Don’t Know Why
The class of drugs known as checkpoint inhibitors causes an inflammation of the heart muscles. As the use of the drugs expands, researchers are sure that more people will develop deadly heart conditions. In other pharmaceutical news: FDA approval for rare drugs; lung cancer treatments; lawsuits over antipsychotic drug side effects; and right-to-try legislation.
Prominent GOP Senator Voices Support For Shulkin As Trump Mulls Possible Replacement
Sen. Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.) has made the case to President Donald Trump that VA Secretary David Shulkin has done “a great job” despite a few bumps in the road. Some reports have suggested Trump wants to replace him with Fox News personality Pete Hegseth, who Republicans know would be difficult to confirm in the Senate.
Swift Legal Action Follows In Wake Of Miss. Governor Signing 15-Week Abortion Ban
“We are saving more of the unborn than any state in America, and what better thing we could do,” Gov. Phil Bryant (R-Miss.) said. But some lawyers argue the law violates longstanding Supreme Court precedent that states may not ban abortions before they are deemed viable outside the womb, which is generally at about 24 to 26 weeks.
Supreme Court To Hear Arguments In ‘Crisis Pregnancy Centers’ Case
The case, coming out out of California, brings together two contentious issues: freedom of speech and abortion. However, whatever the court decides would affect the legality of the procedure.