Latest KFF Health News Stories
Apart From A Few ‘Sacrificial Lambs,’ Pharma Emerges From Trump’s Speech Largely Unscathed
President Donald Trump’s long-anticipated speech on curbing drug prices focused on reducing inefficiencies in the current system, rather than taking swings at pharmaceutical companies. Trump had a few barbs for the industry, noting that “the drug lobby is making an absolute fortune at the expense of customers,” but the only proposal that specifically dealt with prescription drug pricing was a suggestion that a treatment’s cost be disclosed in its advertisements.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Sticker Shock Jolts Oklahoma Patient: $15,076 For Four Tiny Screws
A woman with foot pain was floored by the high cost of titanium screws used in her surgery. “Unless the metal [was] mined on an asteroid, I do not know why it should cost that amount,” she says.
First, Marijuana. Are Magic Mushrooms Next?
Advocates in Oregon and Denver are pushing ballot measures to allow possession of mushrooms containing the hallucinogenic ingredient psilocybin, as new research shows it may be useful in treating depression and anxiety. Supporters of a measure to decriminalize magic mushrooms in California ended their effort late last month.
L.A. County Unlawfully Terminated Thousands Of Medi-Cal Recipients, Court Rules
A judge orders the county to fix problem that harmed low-income seniors and people with disabilities, including those with serious health conditions.
Trump Vows (Again) To Lower Drug Prices But Skeptics Doubt Much Will Change
President Donald Trump’s much-awaited speech about slashing drug costs was long on rhetoric but short on specifics that will reduce prices.
Best Reads Of The Week With Brianna Labuskes
KHN’s newsletter editor, Brianna Labuskes, wades through hundreds of health articles from the week so you don’t have to.
Why Did Novartis Pay Trump’s Lawyer $1.2 Million? Look At Its Drug Prices
Promises to control pharma prices threaten profits for Switzerland-based Novartis, which sells some of the costliest drugs in the world.
Nueva tendencia: las parejas de adultos mayores que viven separadas
Cada vez más adultos mayores deciden estar en relaciones sentimentales sin vivir con su pareja. Dicen que el compromiso es el mismo, pero que valoran su tiempo solos.
Por plan de Trump, inmigrantes podrían tener miedo de recibir beneficios de salud
Bajo la norma propuesta, el que un immigrante haya usado beneficios públicos como Medicaid o SNAP, puede poner en peligro el proceso para obtener la residencia permanente.
Consumers Brace For Premium Hikes While Lawmakers Grasp At Remedies
Health insurers’ initial premium requests indicate stiff price hikes for consumers, just as bipartisan talks in Congress fall flat.
Editorial writers focus on these and other health topics.
The Opioid Crisis: We Shouldn’t Have To Ration Anti-Overdose Medication In Midst Of An Epidemic
Writers offer perspectives on the opioid crisis.
As Mother’s Day approaches, columnists offer their opinions on women’s health care.
Research Roundup: Pain Management; Zika Testing In Blood Donations
Each week, KHN compiles a selection of recently released health policy studies and briefs.
Media outlets report on news from Massachusetts, Colorado, North Carolina, California, Missouri, Indiana, Florida, Oregon, Wisconsin, Iowa, Wyoming, Louisiana, Arizona and Pennsylvania.
Law Enforcement Often Bearing Weight Of Failed Mental Health Systems
The Des Moines Register examines Iowa’s mental health crisis and where law enforcement is having to step in to fill the gaps the system has created.
No one should ever “second-guess” themselves if they think they are experiencing the symptoms of a heart attack. Along with chest pain and fatigue, symptoms can include neck, jaw, back or abdominal pain.
The improvements are more subtle than early visions of AI curing cancer, but experts say changes are benefiting patients. In other public health news: cancer drugs, anxiety, e-cigarettes, fatal falls, kidney stones, and more.
“The big takeaway is we need more research, plain and simple,” said Dr. Ilana Braun of Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, who led the study published Thursday in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.