Latest KFF Health News Stories
First Edition: January 30, 2018
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
After Polyps Are Detected, Patients May No Longer Qualify For Free Colonoscopies
While the federal health law made insurers cover the full cost of screening colonoscopies, consumers with a history of polyps who need more frequent tests may have to pick up some costs.
No Car, No Care? Medicaid Transportation At Risk In Some States
For more than 50 years, the program for the poor and sick has been required to ferry certain clients to and from medical appointments. But a few states have sought — and received — waivers to that rule.
Idaho ‘Pushing Envelope’ With Health Insurance Plan. Can It Do That?
Many eyes are on the Trump administration to see how officials respond to Idaho’s approach to health insurance, which flouts some aspects of the Affordable Care Act.
¿Crisis familiar o nueva alegría? Obtenga licencia paga en ambos casos
El programa de licencia familiar de California permite que las personas tengan tiempo libre, y parcialmente pagado, para cuidar a un nuevo hijo o a un familiar enfermo. La tasa de reemplazo de salario aumenta este año.
Mi abuela era italiana ¿Por qué no tengo genes italianos?
Expertos explican por qué las pruebas de ADN para conocer la ascendencia a veces no reflejan exactamente lo que se conoce del árbol genealógico familiar.
La muerte de un tío por sobredosis impulsa a oficial de Medicaid a actuar
Un oficial de los Servicios de Medicare y Medicaid se enteró casi dos años después que uno de sus tíos más queridos había muerto víctima de las drogas. Esa verdad lo impulsó a un cambio de rumbo.
Tratan a la violencia doméstica como un problema médico
En Los Angeles, un centro que atiende a mujeres víctimas de abuso en el hogar tiene una oficina, y pronto un refugio, en el campus de un concurrido hospital.
Editorial writers express opinions on a range of healthcare issues.
Editorial writers express views about a pending bill to ban abortion at 20 weeks and how doctors can now discriminate against women seeking an abortion.
Media outlets report on news from Illinois, Georgia, Minnesota and Arizona.
Lawsuit Seeks Reform Of Conn. Mental Health System; Thousands of Calif. Nurses Protest Contract Plan
News on hospitals and health systems comes out of Connecticut, California, D.C., Tennessee, Massachusetts and Minnesota.
Detecting Sexual Abuse In Medical Setting Can Be Challenging When Kids Are Taught To Trust Doctors
Experts give tips on what to keep an eye out for when taking children to the doctor.
One Hospital’s Success Demonstrates Medicare’s Bundled-Payment Program Can Produce Results
An Ohio health center’s success story of utilizing the program for congestive heart-failure patients offers encouragement to many providers that are struggling to achieve savings with a notoriously challenging population.
Employee Wellness Programs Fail At Making Workers Healthier, Lowering Costs, Study Finds
It turns out that those most likely to take advantage of their employer’s wellness offerings are healthy people who don’t spend a lot on health care. In other public health news: the blood-brain barrier, domestic violence, nuclear fallout, c-sections, headaches and more.
Safe Injection Sites Have Been Shown To Save Lives, But Actually Setting One Up Is ‘Complicated’
Philadelphia is considering creating a safe-injection site, but a lot of questions remain about the next steps, what it means for the community it will be established in, or if it’s even legal.
In Worst Flu Season In Nearly A Decade, The Whole Country Has Been Hit At Once
Usually different parts “light up,” but this year only Hawaii has been spared. In another unusual twist, the virus has affected Baby Boomers in an unusually high number. Officials predict it will start to wane soon, though.
Meet The Man Who Is Taking On The Drug Industry Because The Government Has Failed To Act
Dan Liljenquist, a former Utah state senator, is leading the effort by four large health systems to create a drug company that will keep the rest of the industry from jacking up prices. In other news, the Food and Drug Administration approved a record number of generic drugs in 2017, lawmakers in three states are pushing legislation that would allow promotion of off-label drug uses, and more.
FDA’s Animal Testing Program To Come Under Review After Deaths Of Monkeys In Addiction Study
Federally funded medical research that relies on animals has been contentious for years.
Drug Prices, Affordability, Shift Toward Value Care And Opioids Top New HHS Head’s Priorities List
When Alex Azar was being officially confirmed to lead the Department of Health and Human Services last week, he addressed a host of issues to deal with as he takes up the reins.