Latest KFF Health News Stories
Declining Opioid Prescription Rates Show That Drumbeat Of Alarm Over Crisis Is Producing Results
But some advocates are now worried that patients with chronic pain are being undertreated. Meanwhile, NIH wants to conduct research on fentanyl, but the nationwide law-enforcement crackdown on opioid abuse means scientists are having a hard time getting permission to get samples of the illegal products they need to study. And the Senate Finance Committee held a hearing on improving Medicaid, Medicare and other programs that cope with the effects of substance abuse.
Growth Of Prescription Drugs Spending Slowing, But That Won’t Necessarily Be Reflected For Consumers
“We’re not suggesting that nobody is seeing higher costs,” said Murray Aitken, of the IQVIA Institute for Human Data Science, which released the numbers. “We’re just saying that when we roll everything up, the amount received by manufacturers rose by only 0.6 percent in 2017.”
An FDA advisory panel gave the green light to the drug, which treats epilepsy, and the full agency is expected to give its approval, as well, sometime in June.
The Washington Post takes a look at the impression Dr. Ronny Jackson has made on colleagues during his tenure serving as a White House physician under three presidents.
Trump Administration Cuts To Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program Unlawful, Federal Judge Rules
The program had provided more than $100 million a year to 81 groups and institutions serving about 1.2 million teens, but the administration abruptly cut off grants last year, arguing that the programs were ineffective at curbing teenage pregnancy.
In a turnaround from previous elections, Republicans are ducking the topic that now fires up the Democratic base more so than the conservative one.
Ahead Of Midterms, Conservative Lawmakers Champing At Bit To Get Anti-Abortion Laws On Books
Anti-abortion lawmakers are hoping to get legislation in the pipeline to trigger a legal challenge for Roe v. Wade.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Calif. Leads Nation In Pushing Back Against Trump Administration Health Policies
In the face of federal efforts to dismantle the Affordable Care Act, policymakers in the largest state are proposing laws and other changes to counter them. Beyond that, they’re aggressively pushing measures to expand health coverage beyond what the ACA envisioned.
Podcast: KHN’s ‘What The Health?’ Nothing In Health Care Ever Goes Away
In this episode of KHN’s “What the Health?” Sarah Jane Tribble of Kaiser Health News, Joanne Kenen of Politico, Margot Sanger-Katz of The New York Times and Paige Winfield Cunningham of The Washington Post examine how even after Republicans failed to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, the health care debate continues to roil politics. They discuss how Republicans in Congress have shifted their ACA messaging and how the Democrats are looking to Medicare expansion. They also discuss state efforts to expand Medicaid and drug pricing. And they spend a moment talking about Congress’ push to do something about the opioid crisis.
Editorial pages focus on these and other health topics.
Each week, KHN’s Shefali Luthra finds interesting reads from around the Web.
Media outlets report on news from D.C., California, Texas, Iowa, Louisiana, Wisconsin, Florida, Puerto Rico, Georgia, Ohio, Arizona, Minnesota and Illinois.
Biomedical Tattoos Hold Possibility Of Alerting Patients To Early Signs Of Cancer
Scientists have figured out a way to make cells turn dark like a tattoo when calcium levels in the blood is too high. In other public health news: gene therapy, concussions, categorizing sounds, homeopathic remedies, and autism.
Touted as a “breakthrough” discovery, a new paper challenges the traditional belief that keeping the liver cool while transporting it from donor to recipient will slow the dying process.
Some Good News About Marriage: Melanoma Patients Have Improved Survival Rates
Early detection is key, researchers say, and spouses play an important role by spotting unusual looking moles and encouraging visits to dermatologists.
Disruptions To Medicaid Coverage When Recipients Are In Jail Creates Vicious Cycle Upon Release
The lag it takes to get back on Medicaid can mean relapses or other serious problems for prisoners struggling with addiction or mental health issues. “On the outside, if they didn’t get their treatment, they’d come right back through the front door again,” New Hampshire Department of Corrections Superintendent David Dionne says.
Cigna Confirms That Deal With Express Scripts Will Undergo Review By Justice Department
The Justice Department’s antitrust chief, Makan Delrahim, has taken a tough stand against similar types of deals in the past.
The New Weapon In Ongoing Battle Between Drug Companies And Pharmacy Benefit Managers
Drugmakers are expecting to take a financial hit from the copay accumulator programs that PBMs have begun marketing. And the Supreme Court may review a whistleblower case that could have implications across the pharmaceutical industry.
HHS Secretary Back In Hospital To Be Treated For Intestinal Issue
HHS Secretary Alex Azar has been dealing with diverticulitis, a condition where pouches form in the colon wall and can become inflamed or infected.