Latest KFF Health News Stories
Limited Supply Of Cancer Drug May Force Doctors To Have To Choose Who To Save
The therapy known as CAR-T can’t be stockpiled. “God, it’s awful,’’ said Carl June from the University of Pennsylvania. “I can’t tell you how bad.’’ In other pharmaceutical news, rare-disease drugmakers speak out against the Republican health care bill, a study finds that risks for drugs are not prominent and accessible on smartphones, and a conservative group pushes for House Energy and Commerce Chairman Greg Walden’s support on right-to-try legislation.
Georgia’s Public Health Commissioner Tapped To Replace Frieden As CDC Director
Dr. Brenda Fitzgerald may prove to be a controversial pick. In 2014 during the West African Ebola crisis, Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal stated that water destroys Ebola viruses and attributed the false notion to Fitzgerald.
Tired Of Waiting For State Payments, Aetna Plans To Quit Illinois Medicaid Managed Care Program
The insurer says the state owes it nearly $700 million but it hopes an accommodation can be reached.
Blue Cross And Blue Shield Of Georgia Seeks Stiff Premium Increases For 2018
The premium hikes for the company’s policies will range from more than 25 percent to 55.7 percent. Blue Cross is the only insurer in 96 of Georgia’s 159 counties.
In Shadow Of Health Law Hubbub, States Quietly Move To Reshape Medicaid On Their Own
The steps states are taking to change the program could affect millions of people. In other news, the Los Angeles Times offers a detailed look at how much counties that went for Trump rely on Medicaid and CHIP.
For A Party That Hates Obamacare, Republicans’ Current Bill Looks A Whole Lot Like It
Republicans are finding out they need to keep a lot of the provisions from the Affordable Care Act. Meanwhile, some senators say they may be weeks away from a vote.
An Unlikely Duo: How Trump And Paul Are Teaming Up And Undermining GOP Leadership
Former rivals, President Donald Trump and Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), are presenting a somewhat unified front on health care efforts that don’t always align with the stance of Republican leaders on Capitol Hill.
Cruz’s New Diplomatic Demeanor In Health Care Negotiations Welcomed By Colleagues
Sen. Ted Cruz’s name used to be synonymous with firebrand tactics to disrupt the health law. Now his fellow Republican senators are more likely to describe him as a constructive compromiser. That doesn’t mean he’s not facing heat with his constituents, though.
Small Town Hall In Kansas Reflects Troubled Mood Of Country Over GOP’s Health Plan
On Thursday night, Sen. Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) did what many Republicans have avoided this recess: face head on his constituents’ tough questions on health care. The concerns he heard are ones that echo across the country, and demonstrate how hard it will be to get the legislation passed.
McConnell Concedes Bill Might Not Pass, But Reaffirms Need To Shore Up Individual Markets
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell says he will have a new bill ready for the returning lawmakers, but that if they can’t reach an agreement “no action is not an alternative” that’s acceptable.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Trump’s Surgeon General Pick Built Name Fighting HIV And Opioids In Indiana
Dr. Jerome Adams is the health commissioner in Indiana, the home state of Vice President Mike Pence.
Do-It-Yourself Detox Can Be ‘Freddy Krueger’ Scary — And Usually Fails
Treatment for opioid addiction can be expensive and difficult to coordinate. That might make some people tempted to think they can overcome the addiction on their own. This rarely works.
Obamacare Inspires Unlikely Political Action In California’s Red Region
In a county where cows outnumber people and most voters supported Donald Trump, a coalition of health clinics is driven to defend the health law.
Amount Of Opioids Prescribed In U.S. Has Been Falling Since 2010
Report by CDC researchers finds a steady fall in opioid use in recent years, but the rates are still three times higher than in 1999.
Podcast: What The Health? Why Is This Stuff So Complicated?
Julie Rovner of Kaiser Health News, Joanne Kenen of Politico, Margot Sanger-Katz of The New York Times and Paige Winfield Cunningham of The Washington Post discuss the state of the Senate’s effort to replace Obamacare.
Alerta por nueva droga: es para neuropatías, pero la usan adictos a opioides
La gabapentina se utiliza para tratar afecciones de los nervios, pero la están usando cada vez más adictos a opioides. Es la quinta droga más recetada del país.
Half The Time, Nursing Homes Scrutinized On Safety By Medicare Are Still Treacherous
Of the 528 nursing homes that graduated from special focus status before 2014 and are still operating, more than half — 52 percent — have harmed patients or operated in a way that put patients in serious jeopardy within the past three years, a KHN analysis finds.
Viewpoints: The Health Law’s Job Toll; Medicaid’s Influence On GOP; Cruz’s High-Risk Plan
A selection of opinions on the health care debate from around the country.
Longer Looks: Psychology Of Cyberbullying; Forest Bathing; The Byrd Rule
Each week, KHN’s Shefali Luthra finds interesting reads from around the Web.