Latest KFF Health News Stories
Lack Of Medicaid Expansion Hurts Rural Hospitals More Than Urban Facilities
Researchers writing in Health Affairs report that decisions by 19 states to not expand the program for low-income residents could be hurting the financial stability of rural hospitals.
Study Says Concerns About Orphan Drug Spending Are Unjustified
A study in Health Affairs concludes that orphan drugs for rare diseases are not having a widespread or deep impact on health care spending.
Viewpoints: Health Law’s Improper Payments; Pass Mental Health Bill, Zika Funds Now
A selection of opinions on health care from around the country.
Read recent commentaries about drug-cost issues.
Meet One Of The Pharmaceutical Industry’s Most-Hated Foes
News outlets report on stories related to pharmaceutical drug pricing.
Drugmakers Go On Offense With Ad Campaign, Saying Pricey Cures Save Money In Long Run
“Thanks to a system that encourages reinvestment in research, advances in biopharmaceutical medicines have lessened the need for hospital stays, they are reducing the number of surgeries, and for many they are delivering cures,” the ad from a top lobbying group for drug companies states.
Ala. Senate Votes To Add $300M To Medicaid Fund, But House Rejects Proposal
The state lawmakers are caught in a fierce debate over what to do with the $1 billion oil spill settlement with BP. Media outlets also offer coverage out of Texas and Maryland.
Outlets report on health news from Wisconsin, New York, California, Minnesota, Florida and Washington.
Pediatricians: FluMist Should Not Be Used In Any Setting For Kids This Year
Doctors are warning that the shot is the only way to go for the flu vaccine this season, after scientists found FluMist is only 3 percent effective in children aged 2 through 17.
Critics Perplexed By FDA Decision To Ban Triclosan In Soap But Not In Toothpaste
The FDA, after banning triclosan and other antibacterial ingredients from hand soaps, defended the decision to let Colgate Total continue using it. “Based on scientific evidence, the balance of benefit and risk is favorable for these products,” said Andrea Fischer, an FDA spokeswoman.
ICUs Are Stuck In 1960s — And Doctors Want To Yank Them Into 21st Century
There has been very little innovation in intensive care since the field’s inception.
Cigna To Miss Fall Enrollment Of New Private Medicare Customers Due To CMS Investigation
In other Medicare news, media outlets report on the latest with MACRA implementation and a New Jersey health center’s efforts to be classified as a rural hospital.
New York AG Launches Antitrust Probe Into EpiPen Maker’s School Contracts
Attorney General Eric Schneiderman says, based on a preliminary review, Mylan “may have inserted potentially anticompetitive terms” into its contracts with the New York school system. The company may also face class-action lawsuits and additional FTC scrutiny.
Allergan CEO: Predatory Pricing Tactics Violate Social Contract With Public
Allergan’s Brent Saunders promises to keep his company’s prices in check in a blog post decrying high drug costs in the industry.
Zika Funding Bill Fails As Both Sides Refuse To Budge
The general expectation in Washington, D.C., is that the money will be tucked into a must-pass stopgap bill slated for the end of the month.
Uninsured Rate Hits Record Low, But Pace Of Progress Drastically Slows
The National Health Interview Survey shows that about 1.3 million fewer people were uninsured in the first three months of 2016 but those numbers are lower than expected. Meanwhile, the health law is struggling most in states where lawmakers undermined its implementation and CMS is launching a program to curb misuse of special enrollment periods.
First Edition: September 7, 2016
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Patients With Dementia Present Communication Challenges In Hospice Care
Dementia complicates pain management in hospice patients because communication is difficult and the cause of pain can be hard to identify, researchers report.
With Chronic Illness, You Are Your Own Best Friend
Participants in a mostly online diabetes self-management program had lower blood sugar and were more likely to take their medicine regularly, study finds.
In Philadelphia, Neighbors Learn How To Help Save Shooting Victims
A first-aid class in Philadelphia is designed to help people learn how to keep shooting victims alive until the paramedics arrive. It teaches skills such as applying tourniquets to stop bleeding.