Latest KFF Health News Stories
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Medicare Prepares To Go Forward With New Hospital Quality Ratings
The government will soon give hospitals one to five stars to sum up their quality. Some safety hospitals and teaching hospitals won’t fare as well as other facilities.
Diabetes Linked To Risk Of Mental Health Hospitalization In Young Adults: Study
The rate of hospital treatment for mental health conditions or substance abuse problems was four times higher for people with diabetes aged 19 through 25 than for those without the disease.
Montana’s ‘Pain Refugees’ Leave State To Get Prescribed Opioids
With rising awareness of opioid abuse, some pain patients say doctors are less likely to prescribe them. One Montana sufferer goes to great lengths to get his prescription — he flies to California.
How A Caribbean Island Became Prime Source Of U.S. Zika Cases
Many Dominican Republic immigrants in Florida and New York City brought Zika home after visiting the island, one of many destinations outside the U.S. where Zika has been active, say public health officials.
Justice Department Sues To Block Health Care Mega-Mergers
The department says the Aetna-Humana and Anthem-Cigna mergers would lead to higher prices and reduced benefits for consumers.
Viewpoints: The Meaning Of Skyrocketing Premiums; Congress’ Inaction On Zika
A selection of opinions on health care from around the country.
Longer Looks: Miracle Microbes; Zika And The Brain; And Depression In Doctors
Each week, KHN finds interesting reads from around the Web.
Outlets report on health news from Vermont, Maine, Minnesota, Connecticut, Texas, Massachusetts, Michigan, Maryland, Ohio, Florida, California, Iowa and Georgia.
False Alarm: Incendiary Study Showing Prostate Cancer Spike Challenged
The American Cancer Society says the study’s methods do not pass muster with statistics experts, so the increase may not be real. In other news, a pilot program in California aims to better track cancer diagnoses.
Study Raises Doubts About Link Between Regulations On Prescription Opioids, Heroin Use
The analysis finds that the relationship between the opioid and heroin epidemics isn’t consistent with a narrative that stricter control over the prescription drugs is causing users to turn to heroin. A different study finds that Medicare beneficiaries have the highest rate of “opioid use disorder.”
Higher Rates Of Intravenous Drug Use May Contribute To Gay Teens’ Increased HIV Risk
A new report finds no significant difference between gay or bisexual male teens’ sexual behavior and that of straight males. But they were over five times more likely to use injected drugs. In other public health news, prisons are a hotbed for infectious diseases which spread to the general public when an inmate is released and researchers unlock an 85-year-old genetic mystery.
From Ultrasounds To Speech Therapy: Zika’s Long-Term Price Tag Incalculable
Treating the virus and its effects will likely cost billions upon billions of dollars for 2016 alone. But so many unknowns remain about the long-term price tag. In other news, a research team has received the go-ahead to begin testing a vaccine on humans, Florida officials are testing local mosquitoes for the virus, and an infectious disease expert weighs in on the investigation into the first possible U.S.-based case of Zika.
The Race Is On: Developers Look To Smart Devices To Help Patients Stick To Asthma Therapy
Meanwhile, a company has come up with a shoe designed to reduce hip, knee and back pain.
New Brain Map Offers Unprecedented Glimpse Into How Mind Works
Scientists created the map with advanced scanners and computers running artificial intelligence programs that “learned” to identify the brain’s hidden regions, resulting in a new atlas that details nearly 100 previously unknown regions.
Massachusetts Lacks Legal Tools To Go After Cases Involving Doctors, Sexual Abuse
District Attorney Marian Ryan says Massachusetts’ high court has previously ruled that the state law governing rape does not cover instances in which someone obtains consent through fraud. “There’s no real point in saying to someone let’s go forward when you know you are going to lose,’’ Ryan said.
Nearly 30 Percent Of Ill Patients Suffer Additional Harm Under Care At Rehab Hospitals
A government reports finds that 29 percent of people sent to a medical facility to recover after a stroke, surgery or injury are further harmed by a mistake in care like a medication error, bedsore or infection.
Managed Care Firms Improperly Cut N.Y. Home Services For Disabled Medicaid Patients: Report
The detailed report by a coalition of more than 100 nonprofit groups finds hundreds of patients were affected.
Big Pharma Finds A Match Made In Heaven With Biotech Startups
Strategic partnerships between large pharmaceutical companies and more agile biotech firms is becoming a fast-growing trend. In other news, an analysis identifies the drugs on which Medicaid spends the most money, cancer drugs drive Roche’s sales and more.
Even If Justice Dept. Blocks Insurer Mega-Mergers, Consolidation Trend Likely To Continue
The New York Times reports on how the changing environment of the health care sector supports the merging and combining of hospitals and doctor groups. Meanwhile, Bloomberg reports that Aetna is prepared to go to court to proceed with its proposed takeover of Humana.