Latest KFF Health News Stories
Virginia Lawmakers Mull Tightening Work Requirements As They Negotiate Medicaid Expansion
The state lawmakers returned to Richmond for a special session to iron out problems with the budget, which had been stymied by what to do with the state’s Medicaid program.
A new paper finds that some drugs approved under a special law to bring “breakthrough” treatments to market faster are not actually significant scientific advances. In other pharmaceutical news: Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) lashes out at drugmakers for using tax windfalls to help shareholders; insurers are starting to pass rebates directly on to consumers; and the SEC and the FDA both launch investigations into two different clinical trials.
Lawmakers Grill NIH Director Over Institute’s Cozy Relationship With Alcohol Industry
NIH Director Francis Collins assured the lawmakers he was “aggressively” investigating the ethical concerns over scientists’ reported attempts to woo the industry into funding a study that touts the benefits of moderate drinking.
The Health Law Has Had Some Topsy-Turvy Months. Here’s A Look At Where Things Stand.
The health law has gone through many changes in the past year or so; Modern Healthcare offers a look at the current state of affairs.
As Ryan Announces Retirement, A Look Back At How He’s Steered Health Policy While In Congress
House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) is leaving behind a mixed legacy on health care, and giving up on some of his dreams to reform entitlement programs like Medicare.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
What We Know And Don’t Know About Memory Loss After Surgery
Memory problems and trouble multitasking are among the symptoms of POCD, a little-known condition that affects a substantial number of older adults after surgery.
FDA Launches Criminal Investigation Into Unauthorized Herpes Vaccine Research
The Food and Drug Administration rarely prosecutes research violations, but its criminal division is looking into the experimental herpes vaccine research by Southern Illinois University professor William Halford.
Medical Marijuana’s ‘Catch-22’: Federal Limits On Research Hinder Patients’ Relief
Suffering Americans seek medical marijuana as an alternative to opioids and other powerful pharmaceuticals. Though legal in 29 states, some doctors say the lack of strong data makes it hard to recommend.
¿Hay una forma normal de envejecer?, científicos lo explican década por década
Hay procesos biológicos y cambios en el organismo vinculados a la edad, que forman parte de lo que los geriatras consideran un envejecimiento normal.
Make Room For Baby: After Giving Birth, Duckworth Presses Senate To Bend Rules
The Illinois Democrat is the first sitting senator to give birth. She’s using the opportunity to call for adjusting Senate rules to accommodate new parents.
Editorial pages focus on these and other health topics.
Read recent commentaries about drug-cost issues.
Generics Companies Who Make Bread-And-Butter Pills Instead Of Fancy Blockbusters Face A Crisis
News outlets report on stories related to pharmaceutical pricing.
Media outlets report on news from California, D.C., Arizona, Utah, Minnesota, Alabama, Rhode Island, Virginia, Louisiana, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, Wisconsin, Maryland, Florida, Tennessee, Delaware, Missouri and Connecticut.
Lessons Learned From Treating Victims Of Boston Marathon Bombing Have Led To Key Medical Advances
“The collective experience in the aftermath of the Boston Marathon bombing was a very positive one in the medical community because there was a lot of crosstalk between military and civilian surgeons,” said Dr. Benjamin Potter, chief of orthopedics at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Maryland. In other public health news: cancer, HIV, embryos, vaccinations, and aging.
Life Expectancy Varies Greatly Among States, But Is Worse In Deprived Areas
Recent improvements could be lost to substance abuse, suicides, obesity and diabetes — conditions that are already driving increases in premature deaths in nearly half the states, according to the study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
The study found that a single severe brain injury increased the risk of later dementia by 35 percent, a mild brain injury increased the risk by 17 percent, and each additional brain injury added to the danger.
The measure that would put the state in charge of setting prices on certain health services is backed by labor unions and patient advocates. But providers are expected to come out strongly against it. Media outlets report on more hospital news out of Texas, Missouri and Massachusetts, as well.
Even With New GOP Support, Virginia Lawmakers See Long Road Ahead To Medicaid Expansion
The lawmakers are returning to work today to kick off a special session devoted to working out the budget. Earlier negotiations were derailed by a stalemate over what to do with the state’s Medicaid program.