Latest KFF Health News Stories
Once Secure Funding For Alabama Medicaid Is Now Imperiled
Lawmakers moving forward with budget that does not give officials their full request for the health program for low-income residents. News outlets also report on Medicaid issues in Connecticut and New Mexico.
The Supreme Court is considering whether the Texas law puts undue burdens on women seeking abortions. In other news, out-of-state women flock to New Mexico, a state that has few abortion restrictions, and an Oklahoma bill that would require schools to add an anti-abortion curriculum to their classes may be too expensive to implement.
Latest N. H. Opioid Death Numbers Show No Relief From Epidemic
The state is third in the country, behind West Virginia and New Mexico, for per capita drug deaths. In other news, a woman faces struggles with insurance and finding available treatment when she tries to find help for her son, who is addicted to pain killers.
Flint Just ‘Tip Of Iceberg’ On Lead In Schools
Most schools are not required to test for lead in their water under federal law, and even if districts do they don’t have to tell parents about the results. “Right now there is a yawning gap in our lead-testing protocols,” Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) said.
How A Vermont Law Is Turning The Food Industry On Its Head
Congress failed to block Vermont’s GMO labeling law, which goes into effect July 1, and because of the logistical headaches of only labeling products for one state, some companies will start labeling food across the country.
Puerto Rico’s Landscape, Climate and Economy Create Perfect Storm For Zika Outbreak
One-quarter of the population is expected to be infected with the virus within a year, and up to 80 percent could be eventually affected overall. In other Zika news, if the virus starts spreading in the U.S. it could set off a political debate just in time for the presidential election, the CDC adds Cuba to its travel warning list, Connecticut confirms its first case, and Democrats are calling for Republicans to pass Zika funding.
Johnson & Johnson Seeks To Settle Cases Linking Uterine Cancer To Surgical Device
The cases involve a laparoscopic power morcellator made by J&J that doctors now fear helped spread undetected cancers. Also, the Food and Drug Administration is looking at the possible malfunctioning of devices that measure blood clotting and are commonly used in homes and doctors’ offices.
Advocates Warn Return Of House Calls Puts Strain On Limited Physician Field
As new apps allow patients to bring a health care provider to their house with a click of a button, there are those who think the model won’t scale with the current shortfall of doctors. But in other news, home visits pay off for new mothers and kids with asthma.
Hospitals, Insurance Companies Acquire Urgent Care Clinics As Their Popularity Grows
More Americans are turning to urgent care clinics, and patients are finding the dual benefit of the ones that are attached to a hospital: convenience but with a safety net if their problem proves more serious than they thought.
Insurance To Cover Critical Illnesses Becoming More Popular, But May Prove Costly
As consumers find their general health plans have higher deductibles, they are increasingly turning to policies that cover specific — and expensive — illnesses, such as cancer. But consumer advocates question the cost. Also, a look at cancer treatment expenses and surprise bills that some people receive after getting out-of-network care.
As Public Outcry Swells, Chances Of Lowering Drug Prices Still Remain Close To Nil
Congress would need to act to make a dent in the astronomical cost of drugs, but pressure from the pharmaceutical industry and political gridlock have stymied action. Meanwhile, a new study finds that nearly half of all Americans 75 and older took five or more prescription drugs in 2011, a trend which has significant financial ramifications.
Contraception Case Faces Possible 4-4 Split After Scalia’s Death
If at least five Supreme Court justices fail to agree on a decision on the contraception mandate, it would leave lower court’s decision intact, creating different rules for different parts of the country.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
California Insurance Marketplace Wants To Kick Out Poor-Performing Hospitals
Providers and insurers are balking at a Covered California proposal to eject hospitals with inordinately high costs and low quality from its networks.
Viewpoints: More Health Law Vulnerabilities; Some Drugs Have High Costs For A Reason
A selection of opinions from around the country.
News outlets report on health issues in North Carolina, Mississippi, Minnesota, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Missouri, Texas and Maryland.
Needle Exchange Provision Stripped Out Of Georgia’s HIV Bill
Media outlets report on other news from state legislatures in California, Kentucky and Kansas.
At Ohio Hospital, Health Leads Program Helps Patients Meet Basic Needs
The program is new to Cleveland’s University Hospital but already operational in five other states. Meanwhile, in other hospital news, ProPublica examines the link between industry funding and teaching hospitals, and operating rooms were shut down in an Arkansas hospital after a deadly disease was detected.
Idaho Lawmakers Say They Have Plan To Close Medicaid Gap
About 78,000 Idahoans are affected by it. In other news, a bill banning Medicaid payments for elective births moves through the Kansas Senate.
Fatal Blood Infection Outbreak Spreads To Second State
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services confirmed that an older patient has died after contracting the infection, which is linked to 17 deaths out of 50 cases in Wisconsin.