Latest KFF Health News Stories
Listen: How A ‘Hippie Clinic’ In San Francisco Inspired A Medical Philosophy
The Haight Ashbury Free Clinic still serves people living on the fringes in San Francisco. This radio story recounts its 51-year history.
Giving Medicaid Enrollees Something To Smile About
More than 7 million California adults enrolled in Medi-Cal regained coverage for critical dental care, including crowns and partial dentures, this month.
HHS Nominee Vows To Tackle High Drug Costs, Despite His Ties To Industry
Alex M. Azar II, the former president of the U.S. division of Eli Lilly, says the U.S. drug system encourages price increases — but he intends to work on that problem.
Defendiéndose de la mortal temporada de gripe: 5 cosas que hay que saber ahora
El virus se ha expandido en 46 estados y los síntomas son más feroces. La vacuna ayuda pero no protege ciento por ciento, dicen expertos.
Viewpoints: The Power Of The Flu, Other Infectious Diseases; Smartphone Addiction
A selection of opinions on health care from news outlets around the country.
Opinion writers offer strong thoughts, advice on a number of health policy issues now in the news.
Media outlets report on news from New Hampshire, Georgia, Minnesota, Maryland, Kansas, Colorado and California.
Maryland Gets OK From Feds To Extend Program Aimed At Reducing Medicare Costs
The approval is critical to maintaining Maryland’s unique all-payer insurance model under which Medicare and private insurers pay the same rates for services at hospitals.
Conn. Lawmakers Restore Medicaid Program For Seniors, Disabled
The special session vote adds back $54 million for a program that uses Medicaid funding to help low-income residents pay their Medicare premiums and other expenses. However, the governor is threatening to veto the bill. Also, Iowa’s governor says savings from the Medicaid managed care program there are still substantial, even though they don’t come close to what was promised, and South Dakota’s program was able to shift some costs to the federal government.
It’s Like Having ‘Superman Eyes’: New Video Microscope Could Revolutionize Brain Surgery
The device produces magnified, high-resolution, three-dimensional digital images of surgical sites, and lets everyone in the room see exactly what the surgeon is seeing. Doctors also see the video microscope’s benefits as a teach tool.
Up to one in five Americans have perilously high levels of the particle in their blood, and it can’t be controlled by diet and exercise. Even drugs have little effect on it. In other public health news: dry January, the effects of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention banning words, child mortality, CRISPR, doctors’ offices at work, burn injuries, and more.
Everyone’s Talking About Trump’s Mental Health. But How Do You Actually Detect Cognitive Decline?
Experts say it isn’t what a lot of people talk about when discussing the president’s mental health–like turning the wrong way or forgetting something. However, a deterioration of language, which was one of the first things that sparked chatter about Trump’s mental well-being, can be a tip-off.
An Imperfect Vaccine, A ‘Bad Strain’, And Cold Weather Combining To Trigger Rough Flu Season
But Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases, actually expects fewer deaths than in 2014-15, the last time the U.S. saw a “moderately severe” flu season.
Foster Care Services Struggling Because Of Gaps In States’ Data On Opioid Crisis
“It’s hard to have enough substance abuse services for these families if we don’t have an accurate idea of how many families are actually being affected by opioid abuse,” said Elissa Glucksman Hyne, a senior policy analyst at the child welfare nonprofit Children’s Rights. Media outlets also report on a rising suicide risk linked to opioids.
The Consequences Of Not Expanding Medicaid: A Significant Increase In Hospital Closures
A new study finds that about half the closures that occurred in states that did not expand Medicaid could have been prevented if they did expand Medicaid.
Despite Doomsday Predictions, Insurers Who Stuck With Health Law Likely To Have Profitable Year
Higher-than-expected enrollment numbers came as a positive surprise to insurers who have faced uncertainty and turmoil over the past year.
CBO Slashes Price Tag For Renewing CHIP Funding For Five Years
One of the sticking points for lawmakers has been how to pay for the funding. Previously they were going to have to find about $8 billion over 10 years to offset it, but the Congressional Budget Office has now revised this price tag to $800 million.
With Eye On High-Stakes Mid-Terms, Republicans Decide To Rein In Ambitious Entitlement Agenda
After a weekend retreat with President Donald Trump, Republicans seem to have narrowed their focus for the year down to the basics. Although House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) has previously announced that he’d like to tackle safety-net programs, others in the party have no interest in pursuing such issues during a campaign year.
HHS Nominee To Be Grilled At Senate Hearing About Pharma Ties, Any Plans To Cut Medicare
Alex Azar, however, enjoys strong support from Republicans on the Finance Committee, so it’s unlikely the hearing will damage his path to confirmation.
First Edition: January 9, 2018
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.