Latest KFF Health News Stories
Hearing Loss Often Slinks In Gradually Bringing Serious Health Repercussions
Hearing loss doesn’t happen overnight — often it creeps up on a patient. And with it comes increased risks of depression, dementia and falling.
Genetic Test Promises To Predict Concussion Risks But Young Athletes Are Staying Away
Meanwhile, media outlets cover more public health news related to Olympians’ nutritional supplements and the New York Times reports on organ donation policies for people older than 65.
Opioid Crisis: ‘No One Wakes Up In The Morning And Says, I Want To Kill My Friend’
Prosecutors, in trying to think outside the box on how to make a dent in the opioid epidemic, are more frequently going after dealers in cases of a fatal overdose. Some say that’s the wrong path to go down, though.
DOJ Report Slams Baltimore Police Over Treatment Of Mentally Ill
The report — laying out the intimate details of actual cases — found that officers repeatedly failed to de-escalate situations involving those with a mental illness.
Federal Judge Rules Ohio’s Effort To Defund Planned Parenthood Unconstitutional
The push is on from legislators who supported the law in question for the state to appeal the decision.
Severe OB/GYN Shortage Poses Critical Threat To U.S. Maternal Health
Nearly half the counties in the U.S. don’t have an obstetrician/gynecologist and 56 percent are without a nurse midwife. In other women’s health news, maternal care could be the next area to move toward a bundled-care payment system and a new breast-density notification laws are riddled with pitfalls.
Virtual Reality Could Circumvent Some Challenges To Diagnosing Pedophilia
Researchers have found the disorder difficult to study because they don’t want to use pictures of children, but virtual reality could help with that. Critics, however, are wary that it could lead to a missed diagnosis. In other health technology news, institutions delve into the ways computers can help diagnose cancer, a clinic in Georgia is hacked and Pokemon Go games prove “very useful” in getting people moving.
2016 Campaign Shines Spotlight On Ethical Morass Of Diagnosing Public Figures
The American Psychiatric Association holds firm to the Goldwater Rule that if a psychiatrist hasn’t performed an in-person evaluation, he or she should keep quiet on the mental character of public figures. But others in the industry think there needs to be a way to convey that someone has crossed the line.
Louisiana’s Automatic Enrollment Brings More Women Into Medicaid Than Men
Women outnumber men by 2 to 1 in the state’s expanded Medicaid program, Louisiana officials report. Also, advocates worry about the toll new reporting requirements could have on doctors who participate in the Medicaid program.
Doctors Face Tough Choice With New Options For Reimbursement
The new doctor payment system established by the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act will force providers to opt into one of two reimbursement models that have different risks. Also, Medicare’s efforts to change how the system pays for a variety of different services is hitting opposition in the health care industry, and federal officials have announced changes for some Medicare Advantage plans.
States’ IVF Laws Get Scrutiny Following Same-Sex Coverage Battles
If a state has a law mandating that insurance companies cover treatments, it often requires the couple to prove infertility. Same-sex couples say that’s discriminatory, and a case out of New Jersey may help change that.
Secrecy Shrouds Boards That Wield Immense Power Over Prescription Drug Coverage
Pharmacy benefit managers release a list of drugs they’re excluding for coverage for the year, which helps pressure drugmakers into keeping prices affordable. But the people on the board that makes those decisions are undisclosed, and critics are calling for increased transparency.
One Of The Biggest Lessons Lawmakers Learned From Zika? Don’t Rely On Lawmakers
While it could be a long-shot, members of the House want to set up a fund for the next time the country is hit with a public health emergency like Zika. Meanwhile, health departments continue to ramp-up control methods, officials stress the risk of sexual transmission of the virus, and a look at Brazil’s history with the Zika mosquito.
U.S. Declares Public Health Emergency In Puerto Rico Over Zika
There have been 10,690 cases of Zika confirmed in Puerto Rico, including infections in 1,035 pregnant women.
Customers’ Laser-Like Focus On Plan Prices Is Causing Concerns In Health Insurance Market
The continuing rise of premiums is causing some experts to worry that more people will refuse to buy insurance and that could lead to a collapse of the market. Meanwhile, insurers are using a mechanism created by the federal health law to help keep prices down to instead justify their premium increases.
First Edition: August 15, 2016
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
As States OK Medical Marijuana Laws, Doctors Struggle With Knowledge Gap
State health departments are beginning to require physicians to complete continuing medical education courses to learn how and when this therapy might work for patients.
Race, Ethnicity Affect Kids’ Access To Mental Health Care, Study Finds
An analysis in the International Journal of Health Services finds disparities between white young people and their black and Hispanic counterparts in how often they receive mental health treatment.
Viewpoints: Campaign Spin On Drug Development, Costs; A Doctor Questions The Gun Question
A selection of opinions on health care from around the country.
Outlets report on health news from Massachusetts, California, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Florida, Ohio, Louisiana and Missouri.