Latest KFF Health News Stories
First Edition: September 30, 2016
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
The Need To Replace EpiPens Regularly Adds To Concerns About Cost
The drug’s manufacturer says it has an expiration date of 12 to 18 months but that includes distribution time, so many customers find they have to buy a new device at least once a year.
Most Hospital Palliative Care Programs Are Understaffed
Guidelines recommend that hospitals have a physician, an advanced practice or registered nurse, a social worker and chaplain on the palliative care team, but only about 25 percent of hospitals meet that standard.
A Golden Ticket That Fast-Tracks A Drug Through The FDA
A voucher awarded to companies that find treatments for rare childhood diseases can be sold to the highest bidder — and then used to speed up approvals for much more common drugs.
UnitedHealth And University Of California To Forge Unique Alliance
The nation’s largest insurer and the state’s university health system intend to offer a health plan option to self-funded employers in California and pursue research drawing upon a huge reservoir of patient data.
Viewpoints: Clinton’s View Of Health; The Return Of The Public Option; Reducing EpiPen Costs
A selection of opinions on health care from around the country.
Longer Looks: A Molecule That Could Heal Aging Brain; A $1 Microscope
Each week, KHN’s Shefali Luthra finds interesting reads from around the Web.
Outlets report on health news from Vermont, Texas, California, Indiana, Ohio, Illinois, Washington, Wisconsin, Maine and Florida.
Immunotherapy Is The Hottest Trend In Cancer Treatment — So What Exactly Is It?
The Washington Post offers a look at the basics of the treatment that has everyone from patients to investors to pharmaceutical companies paying attention.
Despite Tremendous Progress, America Still Lags Behind On Teen Birth Rates
For the seventh straight year, U.S. teen birth rates drop. But other industrialized countries are far ahead of America. In other public health news, high blood pressure could affect children’s cognitive skills, biological age trumps actual age when it comes to lifespan and a study finds a link between contraception use and depression in women.
27 Overdoses In 24 Hours: Opioid Crisis Grips An Ohio City
The wave of overdoses overwhelmed first responders in Columbus. Police officers are scrambling to determine the source of the heroin.
New Email Scam Involves Fake Health Law Tax Bill
In other health information technology news, researchers work on flexible bone grafts using a 3D printer.
Federal Employees’ Share Of Health Premiums To Increase 6.2 Percent Next Year
Federal officials attributed the rise largely to increasing prescription drug costs, which make up about a quarter of the total costs in the program, general inflation and the aging of the covered population, The Washington Post reports. Meanwhile, Bloomberg examines how the U.S. health care system compares to other countries.
Medicare Advocates Press Congress To Help Beneficiaries Facing Steep Premium Hike
The Medicare Trustees have estimated that the deductible for Medicare Part B would grow from $166 to $204 next year for all enrollees and the premiums would grow 22 percent next year for about 30 percent of beneficiaries.
Over 600,000 Uninsured Veterans Fall In ‘Medicaid Gap’
These vets who don’t seek or qualify for care by the Department of Veterans Affairs are also not eligible for Medicaid coverage, especially in states that did not expand the program. Meanwhile, news outlets report about the ongoing challenges at the VA.
Obama Administration Cracks Down On Nursing Home Arbitration Clauses
A new rule from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services would bar nursing homes from turning over claims of elder abuse, sexual harassment or even wrongful death to a private system to settle disputes.
Galas And ‘Grand Benefactors’: Trump’s Relationship With Cancer Institute Draws Scrutiny
Although he hasn’t donated any of his own money to the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Donald Trump’s business ties to it are raising some eyebrows. In other election news, Hillary Clinton reiterates her health care plan in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Sen. Grassley Hints At GOP’s Willingness To Work With Democrats On Health Law Changes
The change in tone by the influential Republican may signal changing battle lines on the Affordable Care Act.
Drug Companies Tap Into The ‘Power Of The Patient’
Biotechs see patients and advocacy groups as a resource to raise awareness and champion drugs to the Food and Drug Administration. A recent example is Sarepta’s Duchenne medication which patient organizations helped move through the agency.
Poll: Vast Majority of Americans Want Government Intervention On High Drug Prices
More than eight in 10 Americans favor allowing the federal government to negotiate with drugmakers to get lower prices on medications for people on Medicare, among other regulations. A separate poll finds that the public holds the pharmaceutical industry responsible for rising drug prices, but some critics say Congress should shoulder some blame.