Latest KFF Health News Stories
2016 Campaign Shines Spotlight On Ethical Morass Of Diagnosing Public Figures
The American Psychiatric Association holds firm to the Goldwater Rule that if a psychiatrist hasn’t performed an in-person evaluation, he or she should keep quiet on the mental character of public figures. But others in the industry think there needs to be a way to convey that someone has crossed the line.
Louisiana’s Automatic Enrollment Brings More Women Into Medicaid Than Men
Women outnumber men by 2 to 1 in the state’s expanded Medicaid program, Louisiana officials report. Also, advocates worry about the toll new reporting requirements could have on doctors who participate in the Medicaid program.
Doctors Face Tough Choice With New Options For Reimbursement
The new doctor payment system established by the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act will force providers to opt into one of two reimbursement models that have different risks. Also, Medicare’s efforts to change how the system pays for a variety of different services is hitting opposition in the health care industry, and federal officials have announced changes for some Medicare Advantage plans.
States’ IVF Laws Get Scrutiny Following Same-Sex Coverage Battles
If a state has a law mandating that insurance companies cover treatments, it often requires the couple to prove infertility. Same-sex couples say that’s discriminatory, and a case out of New Jersey may help change that.
Secrecy Shrouds Boards That Wield Immense Power Over Prescription Drug Coverage
Pharmacy benefit managers release a list of drugs they’re excluding for coverage for the year, which helps pressure drugmakers into keeping prices affordable. But the people on the board that makes those decisions are undisclosed, and critics are calling for increased transparency.
One Of The Biggest Lessons Lawmakers Learned From Zika? Don’t Rely On Lawmakers
While it could be a long-shot, members of the House want to set up a fund for the next time the country is hit with a public health emergency like Zika. Meanwhile, health departments continue to ramp-up control methods, officials stress the risk of sexual transmission of the virus, and a look at Brazil’s history with the Zika mosquito.
U.S. Declares Public Health Emergency In Puerto Rico Over Zika
There have been 10,690 cases of Zika confirmed in Puerto Rico, including infections in 1,035 pregnant women.
Customers’ Laser-Like Focus On Plan Prices Is Causing Concerns In Health Insurance Market
The continuing rise of premiums is causing some experts to worry that more people will refuse to buy insurance and that could lead to a collapse of the market. Meanwhile, insurers are using a mechanism created by the federal health law to help keep prices down to instead justify their premium increases.
First Edition: August 15, 2016
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
As States OK Medical Marijuana Laws, Doctors Struggle With Knowledge Gap
State health departments are beginning to require physicians to complete continuing medical education courses to learn how and when this therapy might work for patients.
Race, Ethnicity Affect Kids’ Access To Mental Health Care, Study Finds
An analysis in the International Journal of Health Services finds disparities between white young people and their black and Hispanic counterparts in how often they receive mental health treatment.
Viewpoints: Campaign Spin On Drug Development, Costs; A Doctor Questions The Gun Question
A selection of opinions on health care from around the country.
Outlets report on health news from Massachusetts, California, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Florida, Ohio, Louisiana and Missouri.
‘We Take It For Granted’: Researchers Try To Unlock Mysteries Of The Placenta
Doctors have few tools to examine the placenta during pregnancy and there is only so much that can be understood by studying one post-birth.
These Tiny ‘Ticking Time Bombs’ Are Pumping Lead Into Drinking Water
Even when a city’s water system has been tested for lead levels, it can still get into residents’ drinking water through service lines — which are pipes that carry water from the main service line into homes.
Through Training, Paraplegics Able To Jumpstart Long-Dormant Nerve Networks
The study in Brazil focused on helping paraplegics regain some brain function following a stroke through repetition and practice to improve quality of life.
Intense Fear Skews Public Perception Of Radiation’s Health Effects, Analysis Finds
There is a tendency to overestimate radiation’s risks, the author of a newly released paper says.
Privacy Concerns Stoke Distaste For Drug Monitoring Programs In Midst Of Opioid Crisis
Because of one lawmaker who battled against a prescription drug monitoring program, Missouri is the only state without one. But the sentiment could be spreading as privacy threats to health data loom large. Meanwhile, the number of babies born addicted to opioids triples, Ohio lawmakers try to find ways to better educate students on the opioid crisis, and people look for ways to fight pain without pills.
DOJ: Mississippi Violating Civil Rights Of People With Mental Illness
The agency has sued the state for “unnecessarily and illegally” forcing people into institutions by failing to provide other options. In other news, crisis intervention teams teach prison staff how to defuse volatile situations with inmates with mental disorders, a patients’ rights group calls for a federal investigation of a New Hampshire state prison and legislation geared toward tracking mental health services for foster kids takes a step forward in California.
What Happened To $10B Gilead Allegedly Owes In Taxes? Group Asks Feds To Investigate
The Americans for Tax Fairness wants the Internal Revenue Service and Treasury Department to take action against the drugmaker following a report released by the group that shows the company may have shifted billions into offshore accounts to avoid paying taxes.