Latest KFF Health News Stories
Public Health Roundup: Surprise Player In Scopes Contamination; How Poor Kids Are Treated At ERs
Meanwhile, a study finds that paid sick leave reduces cases of the flu because workers are more inclined to stay home when sick. And homeless advocates and public health officials are at odds over the Obama administration’s plan for a smoking ban in public housing.
Study Finds Strong Evidence Of Increased Cancer Risk Linked To Obesity
An earlier review by the International Agency for Research on Cancer linked excess body fat to five types of cancer, while its latest study adds eight more to that list. In other news on the disease, media outlets report on a gene test that may help predict when a woman with breast cancer can skip chemotherapy.
As Fla. Scrambles To Fight Zika, Concerns Emerge About Chemicals Being Used, Other Strategies
NBC News reports that the state is using a chemical that has been banned in Europe, and The New York Times reports on how some people are growing uneasy about the roles of science and government. Meanwhile, attention is now focusing on the need for more information related to the first non-travel case of Zika identified in the Tampa area.
Report From Brazil: Baby With Zika Stayed Infected For Two Months After Birth
This information is viewed as more bad news because it suggests that the virus may continue to cause damage during this time when the brain is rapidly growing and developing.
Clinton Joins Lawmakers Slamming EpiPen Pricing, Endorses Creation Of Emergency Health Fund
Prescriptions drug costs, how to handle public health crises like Zika and Ebola and the candidates’ health records all make headlines from the presidential campaign trail.
Awkward Connection: Mylan CEO Is Senator’s Daughter
As lawmakers on Capitol Hill increasingly call for an investigation regarding the soaring costs of Mylan Pharmaceuticals’ EpiPen, there is a twist. The company’s CEO is Heather Bresch, who is the daughter of Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va.
Mylan’s Marketing Of EpiPens To Schools Now Part Of Growing Price Controversy
Stat reports that some legal analysts say that Mylan’s provision of its emergency allergy treatment to schools at a discounted price may have been an antitrust violation. Meanwhile, senators who backed legislation encouraged schools to stock the EpiPen are now among those calling for an investigation of the product’s price hike.
EpiPen’s Pricetag Quickly Becomes Latest Outrage In Drug-Pricing Debate
Under the weight of the criticism, stock prices for Mylan, the manufacturer of the Epi-Pen, fell 5.4 percent on Wednesday and 4.8 percent the day before. Meanwhile, news outlets examine the steps that led to the dramatic price increase and reaction from policy makers and even local physicians.
Pricing Backlash Spurs Mylan To Offer EpiPen Discounts For Some Groups
The drugmaker announces that it will increase the amount on a copay savings card from $100 to $300 and expand eligibility criteria for patients who can receive the drug for free.
Kentucky’s Medicaid Overhaul Plan Proposes Work Requirements And Premiums
Gov. Matt Bevin’s administration submitted the waiver request to the federal Department of Health and Human Services for review and approval. The Obama administration has previously balked at similar provisions in another request that would require recipients to work or volunteer 20 hours a week.
HHS Analysis Says Subsidies Will Help Buffet Consumers From Marketplace Turmoil
The government analysis finds that subsidies to help pay premiums will protect people buying coverage on the health law’s marketplaces even as the number of insurers offering plans decreases and insurers set steep premium increases.
Some Steep Premium Increases Seen As States Begin To Approve Insurers’ Rate Plans
The numbers for 2017 premiums for marketplace plans are slowly coming out and show a wide range of increases. Tennessee authorities approved a 62 percent increase for one of the state’s biggest plans, while in Ohio the hikes start at more than 12 percent. Other insurance news from Illinois and Wisconsin.
First Edition: August 25, 2016
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Infant Gas Relief Drops, Often Added To Medical Scopes, May Pose Danger
In a small study, Minnesota researchers found that the infant drops used to increase visibility during procedures may create a “perfect habitat” for bacteria and make scopes harder to clean.
Doctors Raise Concerns For Small Practices In Medicare’s New Payment System
The government is laying out plans to use payment incentives to promote higher quality care, but physicians say the new system may be hard on solo practices and small groups.
Giving Birth In Georgia Is Too Often A Deadly Event
The legislature has set up a committee to study why Georgia is among the states with the highest rates of maternal mortality.
Another Reason To Diet: Experts Find Additional Evidence Of Obesity-Cancer Link
A review by the International Agency for Research on Cancer reaffirms earlier findings that excess body fat increases the risks for certain cancers.
A selection of opinions on health care from around the country.
Perspectives On Drug Costs: The Role Of Patents; EpiPen Outrage Just One Example Of Pricing Problems
Recent commentaries about drug-cost issues.
High Cost Of Risky Cancer Therapies Force Patients, Doctors To Make Tough Calls
News outlets report on more stories related to pharmaceutical drug pricing.