Latest KFF Health News Stories
Hospitals Slashed Use Of Two Heart Drugs After Huge Price Hikes
Hospital use of two popular heart medicines, nitroprusside and isoproterenol, dramatically dropped after the prices for both soared.
Viewpoints: DrugTo Treat Opioid Addiction Hard To Get; What Did ‘Dr. Google’ Say?
A selection of opinions on health care from around the country.
Different Takes On Health Policy Debates: Bipartisan Possibilities; Medicaid And The American Dream
Opinion writers examine areas in which the next step for lawmakers regarding Obamacare might involve bipartisanship. They also take on issues related to Medicaid and the outlook for the Affordable Care Act’s insurance marketplaces.
Perspectives: Maryland’s Law To Curb Price Gouging Gives Brand-Name Drugs A Pass
Read recent commentaries about drug-cost issues.
News outlets report on stories related to pharmaceutical pricing.
Media outlets report on news from Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Florida, Texas, Arizona, Kansas, California, Colorado and Hawaii.
D.C. Health Department Orders Hospital To Stop Baby Deliveries; Bay Area ACO To Expand Its Network
In other hospital-related news, it’s proven more difficult than expected to find patients to fill Massachusetts’ increase in psychiatric beds and what city health inspectors found at Houston-area health facilities.
Bill Requiring Women To Purchase Separate Insurance For Abortions Advances In Texas House
Democratic opponents have decried the bill as forcing women to buy “rape insurance” because exceptions weren’t made for rape and incest, while supporters say it provides “economic freedom” for Texans opposed to the procedure.
In Era Where Almost Every Ailment Is Treated With A Pill, A Simple Diet Change May Save Lives
Researchers are trying to introduce a clean diet to children with a rare kidney disorder called focal segmental glomerulosclerosis because treatment with medication doesn’t help them. In other public health news: colon cancer, sleeping and memories, workers’ health, tai chi and more.
N.H., ‘Ground Zero’ Of Opioid Epidemic, Sues OxyContin-Maker Over Its Marketing Tactics
Suing the companies that make the painkillers is a new trend in states’ efforts to combat the crisis. The New Hampshire case comes less than two months after Missouri’s attorney general sued Purdue and two other pharmaceutical companies. In other news, a study finds that abuse-deterrent opioids aren’t effective and investors are flocking to a company that makes a medication that treats addiction.
KKR Bulks Up On Health Care Holdings With $2.4 Billion Ambulance Deal
The move is just the latest in a string of health care deals for the company.
Health Care PACs Pump Millions Into Political Spending
But despite all the movement on health care, there was no sharp uptick in spending this year.
N.C. Releases Plan For Restructuring Medicaid, Improving Physical And Mental Health Care
The details lay out how the state will move from a fee-for-service program to managed care. Among other Medicaid developments are news accounts on the head of Oregon’s program resigning at the governor’s request, doctors at California’s UC Davis Medical Center saying the hospital’s decision to refuse to accept Medicaid payments has hurt vulnerable patients and health care providers complaining about Colorado’s new billing system.
Those With Employer-Sponsored Health Plans Won’t See Outrageous Spikes, But Costs Will Rise
As prices continue to go up, employers may begin to explore different cost-saving measures such as offering at least one high-deductible health plan.
Sen. Carper Launched Crusade Against GOP Health Plan By Focusing On Governors
Sen. Tom Carper (D-Del.) wanted to make sure they got the message: The legislation will hurt your states. Put your opposition in writing so the Senate can pause. Meanwhile, lawmakers have headed home to face their constituents and their town halls are just as raucous as they have been the rest of the year.
Trump Stops Short Of Declaring National Emergency For Opioid Epidemic
President Donald Trump focused on the need for prevention and law enforcement, but offered no concrete policy ideas in a brief meeting about the crisis.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Lag In Brain Donation Hampers Understanding Of Dementia In Blacks
A long history of racism and cruel experimentation in health care are among the reasons African-American families oppose donating patients’ brains for study.
Programa contra la tuberculosis en Texas podría reproducirse a nivel nacional
En 20 condados se están realizando pruebas a personas vulnerables, para saber si tienen tuberculosis latente, una condición que pone a la persona en un riesgo mucho mayor de desarrollar tuberculosis activa.
Taking A U-Turn On Benefits, Big Employers Vow To Continue Offering Health Insurance
Three years ago, only about a quarter of the nation’s large employers were very confident they would have a health plan in 10 years. That number has now risen to 65 percent.