Latest KFF Health News Stories
Would California’s Proposed Tobacco Tax Hike Reduce Smoking?
When New York increased its cigarette tax, smoking rates declined. California’s proposed increase of $2 a pack may, too, say researchers. The higher the tax, the more likely people are to quit.
Pricey New Treatment Roils Issues Of How To Treat Prostate Cancer
High-intensity focused ultrasound, often not covered by insurance, leads to discussions about which patients benefit in the real world.
Viewpoints: Health Care Is Important Regardless Of Party; Boosting Obamacare Competition
A selection of opinions on health care from around the country.
Outlets report on health news from New Jersey, Georgia, Wyoming, Louisiana, Tennessee, Wisconsin, California and Florida.
Insurers Oppose Boston Children’s Proposed Expansion
In their bid to block the plan, some insurers within the state are arguing that the building project would drive up medical spending. In other state hospital news, Nassau University Medical Center on Long Island will unveil its new $19 million primary care unit. Meanwhile, in Florida, a newspaper investigation finds the state’s mental hospitals are plagued by violence.
Twin Cities Nurses Will Stay On Picket Lines After Rejecting Allina’s Latest Contract Offer
The Minnesota Nurses Association voted against accepting Allina Health’s contract proposal. About 4,800 nurses have been on strike for a month at five Allina hospitals in Minnesota.
Services That Check Safety Of Drug Ingredients Work In Europe. Could They In U.S.?
The Associated Press reports on such lifesaving programs that could help identify dangerous ingredients that can increase overdose risks, like in the case of Prince. In other news on the opioid epidemic, the Columbus, Ohio, area continues to see overdose cases.
Medicare Experiment Offers Incentives To Insurers Who Help Seniors’ Keep Up With Medications
The model program will start in January in 11 states. Also in the news, Medicare is moving to make it easier for kidney patients to undergo dialysis at home, and a new study suggests some beneficiaries delay use of chemotherapy drugs because of the cost.
Federal Investigators Fault Massachusetts Nursing Home Over Patient’s Suicide
Regulators say the facility’s staff knew of the man’s suicidal tendencies and failed to act to prevent them. In other news, a wealthy nursing home operator is being held in jail over allegations that he orchestrated an unprecedented $1 billion Medicaid and Medicare kickback scheme. And KHN looks at a controversial therapy technique for Alzheimer’s patients.
On Hot-Button Issues, Doctors Don’t Keep Politics Out Of Exam Room
A new study finds that on certain topics — like abortion, marijuana use and gun control — physicians’ political views influence how they treat their patients.
800 Disabled Children In Texas Likely To Lose Therapy Services As Medicaid Cuts Begin
State lawmakers cut $350 million from the Medicaid budget for children’s therapy services, and state officials are having trouble finding care providers who will accept the lower reimbursement rates. News outlets also report on Medicaid developments in Kansas, Louisiana and Arizona.
Tenet Hospitals To Pay $514M Over Kickback Scheme Involving Pregnant Women
The agreement settles an investigation into four Tenet hospitals over alleged payments to a prenatal clinic operator for obstetric referrals of low-income patients in Georgia and South Carolina. The Tenet hospitals were charged with defrauding Medicaid for the deliveries.
Sending Zika Money To The States Could Still Take Months
Health officials unveil the plan for distributing the $1.1 billion Congress approved last week after months of political stalemate. The delay hurt efforts to combat the virus, an Obama administration official says.
House Panel Demands More Information From Mylan In Light Of Tax Omissions
Committee leaders have asked for documents including all of those related to EpiPen sales, profits, costs, manufacturing and distribution of the product; to the CEO’s preparation for the committee hearing; documents about Mylan’s tax rates since 2007; and more.
Millennials Seen As Antidote To Health Law Woes, But They’re Not Interested In Being Its Saviors
The Obama administration is actively targeting young adults who have not enrolled in the exchanges in the numbers needed to balance out the costlier older population. Meanwhile, the president talks about his signature law’s “real problems,” but says they’re fixable with help from Congress.
If Clinton Wins, Insurers Will Come Out ‘Guns-A-Blazin’ Against Public Option
Insurers hate the public option that Hillary Clinton has been touting on the campaign trail.
Advocates: Trump’s Comments About Strength Of Vets With PTSD ‘Dangerous’
“The biggest barrier we have to people getting help is the stigma of getting help,” says Zach Iscol, a Marine veteran and executive director of the nonprofit Headstrong Project. “It just shows a complete misunderstanding of what post-traumatic stress disorder is.”
First Edition: October 4, 2016
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
When The Blues Won’t Let You Be
Treatment-resistant depression, particularly common among seniors, can raise the risk of suicide and lead to a loss of independence.
Health Law Targets Women’s Preventive Services, But It Offers Help To Men, Too
A number of preventive services used by both men and women are now available at no cost to consumers.