Latest KFF Health News Stories
Most Americans Want More Federal Money To Stop Zika: Poll
Almost two-thirds say federal funds should help women in Zika-affected areas get access to abortion, family planning and contraception services, a new Kaiser Family Foundation survey finds.
Viewpoints: The Price Tag Of Hospital Stays; The Politics Of Zika Are Spreading
A selection of opinions on health care from around the country.
Perspectives On The High Court’s Texas Abortion Decision
Editorial and opinion writers examine the Supreme Court ruling as well as some of the dynamics on the court.
Perspectives On Drug Costs: The Price Of Surviving Cancer
Editorial and opinion writers offer their takes on drug-cost issues.
How New Drugs Are Creating A Class Of Millionaire Doctors And Scientists
News outlets report on the pharmaceutical drug industry.
Analysis: For Drugmakers Looking To Cozy Up To Doctors, Hospital Location And Owner Matters
ProPublica found that those in the industry looking to use the “food, friendship and flattery” method on doctors have more success in the South and at for-profit hospitals. Meanwhile, FiercePharma looks at the other side of the coin — when it’s the patients who receive gifts.
Outlets report on health news from Wisconsin, Texas, Georgia, Ohio and Missouri.
Ga. Company Wins Approval To Open Mental Hospital
News outlets also report on other hospital-related developments in Georgia as well as Texas.
Marijuana Initiative Officially On Ballot In California
The initiative would allow adults ages 21 and older to possess, transport and use up to an ounce of cannabis for recreational purposes and would allow individuals to grow as many as six plants. In other news, a judge in Illinois rules that the state must add PTSD to the list of diseases eligible for medical marijuana treatment, arrest rates for young Latinos and African-Americans has risen in Colorado despite marijuana being legal for adults and a group of doctors in Maryland want to study its benefits further.
Advocates Slam Governor’s Plan To Overhaul Kentucky’s Medicaid Expansion
About 150 people came out to complain at the first hearing on Gov. Matt Bevin’s proposal to scale back Kentucky’s Medicaid expansion, which helped drop the state’s uninsured rate to 7.5 percent from 20 percent. Bevin, a Republican who took office in December, says the state can’t afford the costs. Another Southern state, Georgia, is also wrestling with the issue of expansion.
Doctors Who Use Electronic Health Records More Frustrated And At Risk Of Burnout
Doctors responding to a survey say that digitization helps with office efficiency but not necessarily patient care. In other health IT news, a hacker has put 9.3 million patient records for sale on the dark web. And McKesson plans to reorganize its technology business.
N.H. Governor Candidate Faces Political Predicament Over Planned Parenthood Contract
Chris Sununu, one of five members of New Hampshire’s Executive Council, leads the Republican field in the race to succeed Gov. Maggie Hassan. “A vote for the contract will rightfully anger pro-life voters,” says Republican consultant Jim Merrill. “However, a vote against the contract gives Democrats a powerful and visible tool.”
Task Force: Not Enough Evidence To Recommend Yearly Pelvic Exams For Women
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force’s conclusion applies only to women who are not pregnant and who do not have pelvic symptoms, such as pain or unusual bleeding.
Lead Testing Violations Reported At Over 5,300 Water Systems That Serve 18M People
An EPA analysis finds that 5,363 systems did not properly monitor or treat water for lead and copper last year. In other news impacting public health, KQED covers the “European bias” in clinical trials. Other news outlets report on the risks of bullying, the health of widowers and how labels are affecting caloric intake.
‘There’s Not Going To Be Any Pity Party’: Pat Summitt’s Journey With Dementia
Famed college basketball coach Pat Summitt died Tuesday, five years after being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s-type dementia. She used that time to shed light on the disease.
Zika Vaccine Success In Mice Offers Tantalizing Prospect Of Complete Protection
Two experimental vaccines show promise in early studies, and researchers are cautious but optimistic. In a different study, scientists find that the virus has a prolonged effect in pregnant women. Also, Zika isn’t the only virus mosquitoes carry, and the combination of environmental factors and reproductive health care cuts is creating a perfect storm for women in the South.
Biden To Roll Out ‘Down-Payment’ Cancer Initiatives At Moonshot Summit
The new efforts to be announced at the daylong summit can be seen as the beginning of the new discussion around cancer, and represent “down payments on actions that we can achieve this year,” says Greg Simon, the executive director of Biden’s cancer effort.
Telemedicine May Offer Cheaper Options For Some Health Care
Routine online consultations are generally less expensive than an office visit, according to The Wall Street Journal. Also, NerdWallet provides some consumer advice about using medical records to help figure out billing problems.
Speculation Over Anthem-Cigna Deal Mounts
But company officials say no talks are underway to end the proposed merger. In other insurance industry news, Blue Shield of California is facing new scrutiny about whether it adequately paid back policy holders for its excessive administrative spending in 2014. Meanwhile, in Ohio, nearly 22,000 people face a deadline to find a new health plan or face being uninsured for most of July.
FDA OKs Gilead’s Lower-Priced Drug To Treat All Strains Of Hep C
Epclusa costs $74,760 for a 12-week course of treatment.