Latest KFF Health News Stories
Opinion writers focus on topics surrounding the opioid epidemic.
Opinion writers focus on these health care topics and others:
Editorial pages look at these and other health care issues in the news.
Media outlets report on news from Virginia, Iowa, Washington, California, Minnesota, Pennsylvania and Georgia.
Future Of Medical Marijuana Remains Uncertain In Missouri As Bill Dies In Committee
Now, the state’s voters will get to weigh in on the issue at the voting booth in November. Also, the latest developments on marijuana from Michigan and Colorado.
Concerns Rise As California Hospitals Provide Few Details Following Crash Of Information System
While Sutter Health executive officer Sarah Krevans says everyone was provided “high-quality, safe patient care,” during the outage, patients, doctors and nurses describe a different picture. More hospital news is reported out of Illinois, Washington and Texas, also.
Incoming NRA Chief Blames School Shootings On ‘Youngsters Who Are Steeped In A Culture Of Violence’
Oliver North, the new National Rifle Association president, also said the problem could stem from the many young boys who have “been on Ritalin” since their early childhood, and recommended that schools focus on “fortifying” their campuses. Meanwhile, the Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center made a plea for blood donations to help the victims of last week’s Texas school shooting. Also, in related news, the St. Louis Post Dispatch reports on the range of gunshot injuries seen at St. Louis Children’s Hospital.
‘Watch And Wait’ Is Tough For Cancer Patients But More Are Opting For Treatment Option, Study Finds
With the harsh side effects of cancer medicines, and a growing concern over overtreatment, a strategy of “watchful waiting” — which includes regular blood tests, scans and doctor visits — can be the right approach to some cases.
Netflix Series ’13 Reasons Why’ Returns But With New Emphasis On Suicide Prevention Efforts
Some critics of the series, which showed a suicide and sexual assault in graphic detail, blame the first season for glamorizing suicide.
Among Surgery’s Potential Complications For Older Patients: Cognitive Losses
The Washington Post reports on this condition, which is known as post-operative cognitive decline. Though symptoms present in many ways, patients who experience it often face memory problems, difficulty multitasking, learning new things and setting priorities. Also in the news, the New York Times offers some tips on how to age well and stay at home.
Health And Wellness Roundup: Hope For Migraine Sufferers; And What About That Numb Thumb?
Media outlets also report on the changing zeitgeist about the dangers of mothers sleeping with their infants and how barbershops may offer a teaching opportunity regarding heart disease, among other topics.
For people who can’t afford addiction treatment, rehab centers sometimes offer another option: work in exchange for care. But Reveal investigations have found instances of abuse and exploitation at some programs. The latest is Recovery Connections Community outside of Asheville, N.C. In other news on the national drug epidemic: the behavioral health care shortage and a Massachusetts program increases access to medication-assisted treatment.
Medicine Is Turning To Artificial Intelligence To Help Patients
Machines — programmed with experiences from at times millions of humans — are providing doctors new insights into identifying and treating disease and predicting health problems.
Anthem Criticized For Denying Claims For Patients Who Go To ER For ‘Non-Emergency’ Ailments
Patients, doctors and hospitals have been publicly criticizing the insurer over the tactic. Anthem says its policy aims to reduce use of emergency departments to rein in health care costs. In other marketplace news: The Wall Street Journal examines the behind-the-scenes role of Ramesh “Sunny” Balwani at Theranos, while other news outlets cover Aetna, CVS Caremark, Cigna and Express Scripts.
Challenges Plague Maryland’s Plan To Create Reinsurance Fund To Stabilize Obamacare Markets
And in Texas, usually a red-state bunker for the repeal-and-replace debate, single-payer health care is emerging as a hot issue in the upcoming midterm congressional elections.
Meanwhile, Modern Healthcare features a legal analysis of how those Trump administration rules could impact the health industry.
Surprise Attack On Farm Bill May Have Tanked Efforts To Set Work Requirements For Food Stamps
Conservative Republicans in the House refused to support the farm bill unless they got a separate vote on immigration legislation, disappointing Speaker Paul Ryan, who couldn’t get Democratic votes on the bill because it would have added the work requirements.
HHS Chief Seeks To Rally Support For Trump’s Lackluster Drug Price Plan
Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar is trying to show that the president is not turning back from campaign promises to take on the drug industry, even though the plan no longer includes ideas such as negotiating prices for Medicare drugs or allowing the importation of drugs from other countries.
Trump Administration Moves To Withdraw Funding From Clinics That Provide Abortions
The Trump administration’s proposal meets a key conservative goal: to withhold some federal funding for Planned Parenthood. The proposed rules now under review would require facilities receiving Title X grants to be physically separate from those that perform abortion; would eliminate the requirement that women with unintended pregnancies be counseled on a full range of reproductive options; and would ban abortion referrals.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.