Latest KFF Health News Stories
Opioid Epidemic Straining Already-Taxed Medical Examiner Offices
Some offices are so stretched for space from the influx of deaths stemming from the crisis that they are having to consider renting refrigerated trucks to store bodies.
Deleting The Wrong Genes And Other Possible CRISPR Blunders
Stat takes a look at what can go wrong when humans start editing their genes. Also in the news, the secret to successful weight loss, the link between muscles and brain power, things you should know before getting a screening for colon cancer and a pilot program tries to tackle preterm birth rates.
Google Glass Helping Children With Autism Better Identify Emotions On Other’s Faces
A new project aims to validate the technology as a learning aid for kids who can struggle to understand social interactions, make eye contact or recognize facial expressions. In other health IT news, there’s a growing movement to focus “digital health” efforts on the more vulnerable populations instead of just those who can afford it.
Drug Prices: An Issue At The Ballot Box And The Pharmacy Counter
The Sacramento Bee analyzes an advertisement regarding a California ballot initiative called the Drug Price Relief Act. Meanwhile, KHN takes a look at how middlemen such as pharmacy benefit managers play a role in setting the price of drugs.
Meanwhile, ProPublica reports that a Florida doctor — who at one point was the state’s second-highest prescriber of antipsychotic drugs in the Medicaid program — has pleaded guilty to fraud charges.
Calif. Regulator Advises Feds To Block Aetna-Humana Mega-Merger
The recommendation comes a week after California Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones also weighed in on the Anthem-Cigna deal. While he does not have the authority to block either merger, his opinion could influence the Department of Justice’s decision.
Illinois Co-Op Latest To Sue Feds, Saying It Was Shortchanged $72.8M
A provision in the health law was meant to help unprofitable insurers and stabilize consumer prices during the first three years of the new exchanges. But Land of Lincoln Health has become the fifth cooperative to file a claim against the government because of it. Meanwhile, the number of small-group options on the New Hampshire marketplace will fall by about a third, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota will stop selling plans to individuals and families next year and Colorado residents will vote on replacing Obamacare with a single-payer system in the state.
Need For Hospice And Palliative Care Bills Pushed By Medical Professionals
As congressional lawmakers consider new legislation, doctors and patients testify on chronic illness care issues. Meanwhile, in other news from Capitol Hill, Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia Burwell meets with Republicans over abortion rules, investigators look into pathogen mishandling at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and senators strike a GMO labeling deal.
How An Obamacare-Hating Governor’s Programs Fueled La.’s Medicaid Expansion Success
Hundreds of thousands of Louisiana residents have enrolled since the state expanded Medicaid earlier this month — and part of that can be traced to former Gov. Bobby Jindal’s policies.
Supreme Court’s Immigration Decision A Setback To California’s Health Coverage Efforts
If the court had upheld the deferred action programs, more than half a million immigrants in the country illegally could have become eligible for state-funded health insurance.
White House Blasts Republican Zika Bill As ‘Totally Inadequate,’ Threatens Veto
The upper chamber has promised to kill the legislation anyway, and with only a few working days left before the August recess where both the House and Senate are in Washington, it doesn’t look like funding negotiations will be settled soon.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Colon Cancer Screening: Five Things To Know
The U.S Preventive Services Task Force recently expanded the list of approved colorectal cancer screening tests. Here’s a primer on these various tests and how they might be covered now and in the future by health insurance.
Filling A Prescription? You Might Be Better Off Paying Cash
Amid growing concern about rising drug costs, the practices of prescription benefit management firms are drawing a new level of attention.
California Insurance Commissioner Weighs In Against Aetna-Humana Deal
Commissioner says $37 billion deal would stifle market competition, raise health insurance rates and reduce access to care.
A selection of opinions on health care from around the country.
Longer Looks: Cancer In Appalachia; Doctors In Syria; And Dying Without Insurance
Each week, KHN’s Shefali Luthra finds interesting reads from around the Web.
Outlets report on health news from California, Illinois, Maryland, Florida, Texas, Iowa, Georgia, North Carolina and Washington, D.C.
Nurses At Los Angeles Medical Center Prepare Set To Strike
About 1,300 nurses will begin a four-day work stoppage Thursday over disagreements with Kaiser Permanente over staffing and pay. Meanwhile, a nurses’ strike at five Allina hospitals in Minnesota has yielded no resolution so far and nurses in Massachusetts are threatening a one-day strike.
Having An Older Sibling Can Trigger More Alert Immune System
Researchers have found that having an older sibling can help protect younger ones from things such as allergies and hay fever. Also in the news, a study on SIDS and the law overhauling U.S. chemical safety rules.