Latest KFF Health News Stories
First Baby Born Using New Wave Of ‘Three-Parent’ IVF Technique
The controversial procedure replaces the mother’s faulty mitochondria with donor mitochondria to produce a healthy baby while preserving the vast majority of its mother’s DNA.
Google Glass Expands Possibilities For High-Tech Doctor Visits, But Danger Lurks At Edges
Advocates envision a world in which technology allows office visits to be transcribed in real time or compares patient records to determine a diagnosis. But, in a situation where a glitch could have fatal consequences, moving away from human scribes could be a grave mistake.
Aetna Bets On Apple Watches Amid Growing Skepticism Of Wearables’ Health Benefits
Starting next year, Aetna will give an Apple Watch to its employees for free as part of its wellness program and subsidize a “significant portion” of the Apple Watch cost for some large employers and groups.
Breakthrough On Flint Could Pave Way To Spending Deal After Senate Blocks Bill
House leaders came to an agreement late Tuesday night on how to get funds to the water crisis in Flint.
What’s In A Word? FDA Seeks Input On Definition Of ‘Healthy’
The Food and Drug Administration hasn’t updated its recommendations on what is considered healthy since the ’90s when low fat content was the main focus of health professionals and sugar wasn’t even really on the radar. It will still be years before there’s significant movement, but the agency is finally taking steps toward updating it.
Study Raises Concerns Over Revolving Door Between FDA, Pharma Companies It Regulates
More than half of the hematology-oncology assessors who reviewed drugs between 2001 and 2010 went on to work for the biopharmaceutical industry after leaving the agency.
Expert Demoted After Raising Concerns About Efficacy Of CDC’s Zika Test
Robert Lanciotti says the test the agency recommends misses nearly 40 percent of Zika infections. He has since been reinstated after filing a whistleblower retaliation claim.
Administration Unveils Plans For Push To Enroll Young Adults In Health Plans
Social media and other digital strategies are at the center of the effort. Also in the news, the House passes a bill to exempt customers of failed insurance co-ops from the health law’s coverage mandate, some people shopping for plans get help from brokers and more fallout from insurers leaving the marketplaces.
First Edition: September 28, 2016
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Deadly Opioid Overwhelms First Responders And Crime Labs in Ohio
Carfentanil, a potent variation on fentanyl, is being blamed for a wave of opioid overdoses. In Cincinnati, the coroner, crime lab and first responders are struggling to keep up.
Election Buzz: Critics Of Legal Pot Say Addiction Becomes ‘A Disease Of The Family’
As more states consider legalizing recreational marijuana, families consider what messages to present to young people about using pot. Should it be avoidance, moderation or acceptance? Differing views from Arizona and Oregon.
When Drug Reviewers Leave The FDA, They Often Work For Pharma
Researchers examine the Food and Drug Administration’s “revolving door” regarding employees who worked on cancer and hematology drugs.
Viewpoints: House Calls — A Better Idea Than Ever; Is The FDA Tightening Hold On Generics?
A selection of opinions on health care from around the country.
Outlets report on health news from Washington, Ohio, Minnesota, Connecticut, California, New York and Massachusetts.
Medicaid Managed Care Official Sees Growing Role For Plans On Health Law Marketplaces
Jeff Myers tells The Hill, “It seems to me that the exchange products that work best are ones that, rather than just open up a giant network and provide lots of services, really look at, are there services that we can open up and drive that will improve health outcomes and reduce cost?” News outlets also report on Medicaid developments in Kansas and Nebraska.
In Training To Handle Calls Involving Mentally Ill, Atlanta Police Learn To See Bigger Picture
At first, many officers had to be ordered to attend. But they say they walked away with a better understanding of how to de-escalate situations involving someone with a mental illness. Advocates say there’s still more work to do.
Despite $127M Lawsuits, Scientists Say Still No True Link Between Talc, Ovarian Cancer
Two plaintiffs who sued Johnson & Johnson were awarded millions each, but research finds little evidence to back up the decisions. “Lord knows, with the amount of powder that’s been applied to babies’ bottoms, we would’ve seen something” if talc caused cancer, says Dr. Hal C. Lawrence III.
A Medical Mystery Solved: ‘I Didn’t Know How To Convince Them This Is Not In My Head’
A chance meeting on a hiking trail leads to the restoration of a normal life for one woman who suffered from intense pain every time she ate. In other news, testosterone’s bad rap might have a silver lining, patients’ fitness levels come under scrutiny before surgery, scientists make strides toward identifying CTE in living victims and more.
Its People Are Dying At Alarming Rates, But This City Just Can’t Make A Dent In Its Opioid Crisis
Huntington, W.Va., has taken steps to curb the epidemic that’s holding the city in its grasp. But barriers prevent the residents from getting the best treatment. Meanwhile, CNN offers a look at how drug deaths are spiking across the country.
Doggone It: Spiking Costs, Inefficiencies At Veterinarian’s Office Mirror U.S. Health Care System
Meanwhile, KHN reports on new recommendations for the preventive services that should be free for women. And in insurance news, Kaiser Permanente ranks highest among providers in Georgia and a Washington health system comes to an agreement with Premera Blue Cross.