Latest KFF Health News Stories
Lawmakers Question Shulkin About Focus On Veterans’ Care Amid Squabbling, Scandal At VA
“I’ve come here to improve the lives of vets. A lot of people are more interested in politics. I’m interested in getting the job done,” Veterans Affairs Secretary David Shulkin said at a House hearing. “I do believe we are getting back on track.”
Middlemen are negotiating contracts deals where pharmacists can’t tell the patients that paying cash might actually be less expensive than the insurance co-payment. The middlemen then pocket the difference. Elsewhere on Capitol Hill, Republicans are signaling support for changes to the 340B drug discount program.
Supreme Court To Hear Free Speech Case Involving Abortion-Information Rules For Pregnancy Centers
The case revolves around a California state law that requires pregnancy centers to let their clients know that abortions and other medical services are available elsewhere, for little or no cost.
The government may be on the hook for up to $20 billion for past and future payments to insurers, who say the administration promised to help cover losses under the health law and then didn’t deliver. Republicans had blocked some of the payments, and the administration says insurers aren’t entitled to funding because it was never appropriated by Congress. The case is now being considered by a federal appeals court. Meanwhile, Idaho officials met with Trump administration officials to talk about a way forward after the state’s proposal to let insurers skirt regulations was shot down.
Trump’s Plan To Combat Opioid Crisis Includes Death Penalty For Drug Dealers
The White House’s most concrete proposal yet to address the national drug epidemic comes after complaints from state health officials and advocates that President Donald Trump has moved too slowly to combat the problem. The plan could be announced as soon as Monday.
FDA Takes ‘Historic First Step’ Toward Cutting Nicotine In Cigarettes To Non-Addictive Levels
The move garnered praise from anti-smoking advocates. “There is no other single action our country can take that would prevent more young people from smoking or save more lives,” said Matthew Myers, president of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Editorial pages highlight these health topics and others.
Bill Of The Month: For Toenail Fungus, A $1,500 Prescription
How a prescription wiped out one woman’s health reimbursement account, raising questions about prescription drug price tags and about how health care professionals deal (or don’t) with medical costs.
The Other Opioid Crisis: Hospital Shortages Lead To Patient Pain, Medical Errors
A nationwide shortage of injectable opioid painkillers has left hospitals scrambling to find alternatives — in some cases leading to dosage mistakes that may harm patients.
La FDA reducirá la nicotina en cigarrillos, para ayudar a fumadores a dejar el hábito
Autoridades aseguran que este plan ayudará a que los fumadores dejen el hábito, logrará que 33 millones de personas que ahora son menores ni siquiera se acerquen al tabaco, y salvará 8 millones de vidas.
Podcast: KHN’s ‘What The Health?’ Rocky Road Ahead In Congress For Insurance Market Bills
In this episode of KHN’s “What the Health?” Julie Rovner of Kaiser Health News, Alice Ollstein of Talking Points Memo, Joanne Kenen of Politico and Paige Winfield Cunningham of The Washington Post discuss the problems that are making congressional efforts to pass legislation to stabilize the individual insurance market a long shot.
FDA Moves To Cut Nicotine In Cigarettes, Helping Smokers Kick Habit
In a historic move, the Food and Drug Administration stated its intent Thursday to require tobacco companies to cut nicotine levels in their products to make them less addictive. Stripping cigarettes of addictive power could lead an estimated 5 million adults to quit smoking within a year of the plan.
Aumenta el uso de una droga que previene el VIH, pero no entre minorías
Cerca de 300,000 hispanos podrían beneficiarse de PrEP, pero de ese número, solo 7,600 han recibido una receta.
Editorial writers focus on these health topics and others.
Each week, KHN’s Shefali Luthra finds interesting reads from around the Web.
Media outlets report on news from Texas, North Carolina, Georgia, Minnesota, Arizona, Connecticut, New Hampshire, Tennessee, Kansas, Ohio, California,
Ohio Law Banning Down Syndrome Abortions Blocked From Taking Effect
Judge Timothy Black said it was “highly likely” opponents of the measure would succeed in arguing the law is unconstitutional. Also, state lawmakers in Iowa are reconsidering banning abortions after a fetal heartbeat is detected.
In the city where they work, the mayor and a House subcommittee plan steps to investigate why the maternal mortality rate in Washington, D.C., is among the nation’s highest. Also in public health news: traffic deaths; obesity; and e-cigarettes.
As Painkiller Pendulum Swings Toward Tighter Controls, Hospitals Cope With Lack Of Access To Opioids
In the midst of the drug crisis, there’s been a nationwide crackdown on pain medication. But hospitals still need to use them to treat patients. Meanwhile, the House will consider 25 bills aimed at curbing the epidemic, and a look at how many overdoses are actually suicides.