Latest KFF Health News Stories
Lung Cancer Patients Travel To Cuba For Novel Drug Not Approved In U.S.
The risk comes with high costs, but a small number of Americans have seen results. In other news, The Boston Globe reports on what happens to cancer research when a lab shuts down. And, news outlets cover other developments including hormone therapy risks for prostate cancer patients, a breast cancer research connection to dogs, cellphone radiation exposure, immunotherapy and a mother’s hard decision to stop treatment.
Hazelden’s Shift Toward Addiction Medication May Be ‘Game Changer’
Minnesota’s Hazelden Foundation, a treatment center for those with addiction, prized counseling over medication, but in the past few years it has started offering medication to patients as well. And for an industry that often follows the foundation’s lead over scientists’ recommendations, it could be monumental shift.
Zika Highlights Reproductive Health Disparities: ‘This Is Not A Battle-Ready Infrastructure’
Family planning and reproductive health services have been cut across the country — just as the nation braces for a virus that hits pregnant women the hardest. Meanwhile, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio says Zika is not a valid reason to allow abortions and doctors are offering women in Puerto Rico free contraception.
Following High Court Loss, Anti-Abortion Groups Focus On Hard Data
Advocates are calling for a national database for abortion statistics and increased state reporting. “The court asked for more evidence of the harms of abortion and pro-life advocates will answer the challenge,” says Denise M. Burke, of Americans United for Life.
Why And How Legislation To Fix VA Health System Has Faltered
The New York Times breaks down the law and examines if it was successful. For the most part, it hasn’t been.
CDC Smoking Report Reveals Deep Health Care Disparities
Even as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention finds that smoking rates continue to decline, problems remain. “In general, smoking is getting more and more concentrated among disadvantaged groups. And it’s poor people, ethnic minorities, people with mental illness,” says researcher Stanton Glantz.
Cyberthieves Wooed By Huge Payoffs From Stolen Medical Records
Cyber criminals are shifting away from retail and into the health industry, where personal medical information can score them a much bigger payday than credit cards.
Bristol-Myers Squibb’s Immunotherapy Drug Opdivo Falls Short In Clinical Trials
The trial was designed to broaden the use of this promising cancer drug. Meanwhile, AbbVie and Amgen clash over Humira copy.
Without Final Rules, Mass. Long-Term Care Insurance Costs Continue To Rise
News outlets are also covering trends including the business model in which insurers hire doctors to save money and improve patients’ health outcomes while a start-up sees potential in providing a service to help consumers read the fine print on medical bills.
Judge Hands Off Anthem-Cigna Case In Order To Speed Process
Meanwhile, Cigna’s CEO says he still supports the mega-merger but also talks about his Plan B — stock buybacks or acquisitions — if the deal comes undone,
How Indiana’s Worst Public Health Crisis In Years Swayed Pence’s Needle-Exchange Stance
In 2015, HIV was burning a path through the state and experts told Gov. Mike Pence the only hope was to lift a ban on needle exchanges. He resisted, but then changed his mind.
In Conn., If Commissions End, Brokers Say They’ll Exit Obamacare Exchanges
In other news, Modern Healthcare reports that fixes to the marketplaces are increasingly inevitable as large insurers send the message that, without changes, they will leave the exchanges.
Rule Aims To Curb Huge Out-Of-Pocket Costs For Patients Kept In ‘Observation Status’
Because the patients are never fully admitted to the hospital, Medicare will refuse to pay the sometimes astronomical costs of their nursing home stays. Now patients will have to be made aware of the loophole. The notices are expected to begin in January. Also in the news, Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia Mathews Burwell’s thoughts on value-based payments, stories about the program’s new drug plan, an update on the Massachusetts “boondoogle” and a breakdown of the star ratings for New Hampshire hospitals.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
California Doctors And Hospitals Tussle Over Role Of Nurse-Midwives
Legislation that would allow nurse-midwives to practice independently is mired in a dispute about whether hospitals should be allowed to hire them.
Doctors Need A New Skill Set For This Opioid Abuse Treatment
Practicing surgery on a piece of pork — that’s how some doctors are learning to implant a new drug that curbs opioid cravings. It’s not a skill set typically used in addiction medicine.
Viewpoints: Zika And The Reluctant Congress; Better Ways To Pay For Hospital Care
A selection of opinions on health care from around the country.
Research Roundup: Limited Health Plan Networks; Analyzing Marketplace Premium Increases
Each week, KHN compiles a selection of recently released health policy studies and briefs.
Punishment For Scientific Misdeeds Could Escalate Beyond Shame And Ostracism
Very few scientists face criminal punishment for fabricating research, as it’s often seen as a victimless crime, but public sentiment could be changing.
Studies On Kids Frequently Go Unpublished, Creating Gaping Hole In Medical Literature
One reason so many studies on children aren’t published may be that scientists didn’t get the results they were hoping for, but experts say failed results are just as important for science.