Latest KFF Health News Stories
Ahead Of Vote, Wisconsin Governor’s Reinsurance Plan Gets Support From Medical Community, Insurers
Gov. Scott Walker’s bill would authorize Wisconsin to seek a federal waiver to offer a reinsurance program to lower premium costs. Under the program, the government would provide money to health insurance providers to pay for between 50 percent and 80 percent of medical claims costing between $50,000 and $200,000.
Google Maps Often Including Pregnancy Crisis Centers In Abortion Search Results
The centers are designed to convince women not to have abortions. St. Juan Women’s Center Executive Director Christine Ibañez said that although her organization does not manipulate search results, she’s heard that others have bought keywords from Google.
Beware Marijuana Holiday: Stoned Drivers Pose Same Dangers As Drunken Super Bowl Revelers
Two doctors examined 25 years of data and determined the risk of a fatal crash on American roads is 12 percent higher after 4:20 p.m. on April 20, the day set aside to celebrate marijuana. The numbers are comparable to the increased risk seen on Super Bowl Sunday, and the younger the driver, the greater the risk. Also, a Massachusetts top safety official warns that a licensing plan for marijuana is likely to create a surge of stoned drivers.
Tamiflu Cost Discouraged Patient From Getting Prescription Filled. She Died A Few Days Later.
This flu season has been vicious, leading to a high rate of deaths and hospitalizations. Second-grade teacher Heather Holland, of Texas, was one of those patients.
Cheaper and Easier To Find Than Opioids, Meth Is Making A Comeback
Drugs tend to go in cycles, and although meth may seem like a thing of the past, it turns out it was only on hiatus. In other public health news: antibiotics, ovarian cancer, fertility, autism, high blood sugar and memory, the science of love, and more.
Brain Implant To Treat Addiction Comes With High Risk, High Reward
Deep brain stimulation has shown some success in countering addiction, but implementing it requires a dangerous surgery. In other news on the nation’s drug crisis: the financial toll; police involvement in needle exchanges; opioid-makers’ donations to patient advocacy groups; and more.
How Amazon Is Nudging Into Health Care Space Beyond New Initiative With Tech Billionaires
The retail giant now wants to become a go-to place for hospitals to procure medical supplies. Amazon says it is seeking to sell hospitals on a “marketplace concept” that differs from typical hospital purchasing, which is now conducted through contracts with distributors and manufacturers.
Truvada is the closest thing there is to an AIDS vaccine — several studies have shown that users who take the drug daily are at nearly zero risk of HIV infection. But lifetime disability providers see it as a red flag.
Emboldened By Medicaid Work Mandate, States Begin Eyeing Lifetime Limits
To date, five states — Maine, Arizona, Utah, Wisconsin and Kansas — have applied for waivers to put a cap on how long Medicaid beneficiaries can receive health benefits. Critics of lifetime limits say they would fundamentally shift Medicaid from a health care safety net program for the poor and sick to a welfare program.
The Wall Street Journal reviewed the financial history of Robert Weaver, President Donald Trump’s nominee to lead the Indian Health Services, and found that he has filed for personal bankruptcy and has liens against one of his businesses. Elsewhere in the administration, documents show that HHS worked with a conservative group to find ways to defund Planned Parenthood.
HHS’ $95.4 Billion Budget In Trump’s Plan: CDC Faces Big Cut, But NIH And FDA Get A Boost
“The president’s budget makes investments and reforms that are vital to making our health and human services programs work for Americans and to sustaining them for future generations,” Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar said in a statement.
Trump Takes Aim At Medicare, Medicaid In $4.4 Trillion Budget Proposal
From gutting safety net programs to funding the opioid epidemic battle, President Donald Trump’s budget includes a host of health issues. The proposed cuts released Monday are unlikely to come to pass, as Congress controls the purse strings, but the plan is a good blueprint of the administration’s priorities.
First Edition: February 13, 2018
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
At Some Veterans Homes, Aid-In-Dying Is Not An Option
Citing fears of losing federal funds, California is the latest state to require discharge of terminally ill residents from state veterans homes if they plan to end their lives with lethal drugs.
Maryland Offers Many Insured Men Free Vasectomy Coverage
But state officials are trying to get assurances from the Internal Revenue Service that the new law does not conflict with federal rules for health savings accounts.
Trump’s Budget Proposal Swings At Drug Prices With A Glancing Blow
The Trump administration rolled out a list of actions to attack drug prices, but most dance around the edges.
KHN On NPR: The Uniquely American Problem Of High Prescription Drug Costs
Kaiser Health News Editor-in-Chief Elisabeth Rosenthal discusses drug costs with Scott Simon, the host of NPR’s Weekend Edition. Listen to the broadcast and read a transcript of that conversation.
Médicos aprenden a hablar con sus pacientes sobre el final de la vida
Una guía busca ayudar a los médicos a conversar con sus pacientes terminales sobre un tema crítico que no siempre se aborda de la mejor manera.
Reportan más casos de una infección por un hongo extraño y mortal
En 2016 se registraron solo siete casos, pero a finales de 2017 sumaron 200. El Candida auris es resistente a muchos antibióticos y se disemina en ámbitos hospitalarios.
Viewpoints: Regardless Of Fiscal Issues, Don’t Underfund CDC; Trump’s Health Care Agenda Is ‘Robust’
Opinion writers expressed views on health care topics.