Latest KFF Health News Content

Latest KFF Health News Stories

Teen Suicide Spiked By 70 Percent In Span Of Ten Years. What’s Going On?

Morning Briefing

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

Morning Briefing

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

Morning Briefing

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

Morning Briefing

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

Morning Briefing

“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.

Trump Talks Tough On Drug Traffickers, Immigrants, But Leaves Out Funding Details For New Opioid Plan

Morning Briefing

“If we don’t get tougher on drug dealers, we are wasting our time,” President Donald Trump said in New Hampshire while offering an overview of his plan to fight the opioid crisis. While some advocates lauded elements of the blueprint, questions about additional money and a focus on punishment raised some concerns.

Adults Skipping Vaccines May Miss Out On Effective New Shingles Shot

KFF Health News Original

Federal health officials recommend that adults get a number of vaccinations, including protections against shingles, the flu, pneumonia, tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis. But immunization rates are generally low.

Congress Tackles The Opioid Epidemic. But How Much Will It Help?

KFF Health News Original

President Trump, speaking Monday, called for a tough-on-crime federal approach. Meanwhile, on Capitol Hill, legislative strategies to combat this pressing public health problem are gaining momentum, but experts are not certain these approaches will make a difference.