Latest KFF Health News Stories
Viewpoints: Computers And The Doctor-Patient Relationship; Obamacare And Executive Action
A selection of opinions on health care from around the country.
Longer Looks: Bariatric Surgery; Superbugs; And Prescribing Heroin
Each week, KHN’s Shefali Luthra finds interesting reads from around the Web.
Outlets report on health news from Florida, Minnesota, California and Tennessee.
Audit Finds Kansas Spent $2.3M Trying To Clear Medicaid Application Backlog
The state audit found that nearly 35,000 applications were still pending last month. But legislative auditors tell lawmakers that they can’t verify the numbers in the state audit because they are generated by a private contractor and have been wrong before.
Lawyers For Planned Parenthood Challenge Miss., Arkansas Laws In 2 Federal Courts
Both states ban Medicaid funding of any group that also provides abortions, but the cases are being argued in the shadow of a recent decision by the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals to uphold an injunction against a similar Louisiana law.
Congress To Close Loophole That Left Vets With Disabilities Working At FAA With No Paid Sick Leave
In other news on veterans’ health news, an Air Force Academy clinic warns gastrointestinal patients of possible risks from tainted scopes. And in Colorado, PTSD is close to approval for the state’s medical marijuana program.
Also, stories on maternal mortality rates, a mystery disease, salmonella cases linked to chicken contact, an increase in Alzheimer’s cases among Latinos and concussions among women are in public health news.
World Leaders Agree To Take Action On ‘Slow-Motion Tsunami’ Of Antibiotic Resistance
The plans are nonbinding, but it is the first step toward addressing the ever-increasing threat. It was only the fourth time the General Assembly had taken up a health issue. Others were HIV, noncommunicable disease and Ebola.
Zuckerberg, Chan Invest $3B In Hopes Of Eradicating All Diseases By End Of Century
“The funding seems to fill a gap,” said Dr. Jonathan Lim. “They’re tackling basic science and prevention, which tend to be relatively less well-funded areas, compared to translational and clinical efforts.”
Unsealed Documents Reveal Zealous OxyContin Marketing ‘Crusade’
Internal documents obtained by Stat show that Abbott heavily incentivized its sales staff to push OxyContin, borrowing language from the Middle Age crusades. Sales reps were called “royal crusaders” and “knights” in internal documents, and they were supervised by the “Royal Court of OxyContin.” The head of pain care sales, Jerry Eichhorn, was the “King of Pain.”
Busted Mega-Mergers Have Big Pharma Eyeing Smaller Players — And Biotechs Couldn’t Be Happier
In an atmosphere that is newly hostile toward blockbuster mergers, companies are left to chase growth elsewhere. In other news, Sarepta is selling off stock so it can sink the millions into clinical trials and manufacturing for its just-approved muscular dystrophy drug.
Anthem, Cigna Are Sniping Over Merger Breach, Justice Department Alleges In Court Filing
Each insurer has accused the other of violating their merger agreement, the federal government says as part of its effort to block the deal. The comments, Justice said, “reveal the current state of hostility between defendants.”
Public Option Drives Wedge Between Moderate, Liberal Democrats
The debate is a foreshadow of what could come if Hillary Clinton becomes president and Democrats push a public option. Meanwhile, the president of Enroll America talks with Politico about the dangers of gloomy predictions about the health law.
In Flurry Of Activity, House E&C Panel Approves 6 Public Health Measures
The bills, advanced by the Energy and Commerce Committee, cover a wide-range of topics, including maternal care and mental health services. Meanwhile, Democrats are eyeing the spending bill as a way to get money to Flint, Mich., to help address the water crisis.
House Panel Votes To Hold Fetal Tissue Firm In Contempt; Dems Walk Out In Protest
Rep. Marsha Blackburn, the chairman of the special committee investigating fetal tissue research, says Stem Express is not complying with the subpoena it was issued. Frank Radoslovich, the company’s lawyer, however, says that its founder is protecting her staff. “These are real threats. Real people have been killed.”
‘The Greed Is Astounding’: Lawmakers Berate EpiPen-Maker’s CEO Over Price Gouging
But Heather Bresch defended the company’s actions while trying to explain the industry’s complex drug pricing structure.
First Edition: September 22, 2016
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Reporter’s Notebook: Pregnant And Caught In Zika Test Limbo
Pregnant women in South Florida can get free Zika tests through the state’s health department. But delays in getting back the results are heightening worries and may affect medical options.
It’s Not Just For Kids: Medicare EpiPen Spending Up 1,100 Percent
The number of prescriptions for Medicare beneficiaries is on the rise, too.
Viewpoints: The Politics Of Zika Funding; Statins Through The Lens Of Evidence-Based Medicine
A selection of opinions on health care from around the country.