Latest KFF Health News Stories
Urging Openness About Superbug Infections, Doctor Omits Cases In Own Hospital
In a respected medical journal, a specialist advises colleagues on protecting patients but doesn’t mention potential infections from a contaminated scope at his Philadelphia cancer center.
A selection of opinions on health care from around the country.
Research Roundup: Boards Overlooking Sexual Misconduct; Caregivers’ Own Health Suffers
Here is a selection of news coverage of recent health research.
News outlets report on health issues in Michigan, Wyoming, Ohio, Maryland, Iowa, Kansas, Florida, Colorado and South Dakota.
Two Florida Hospitals Pay Millions To Settle Charges Of False Medicare Billing Claims
In addition, a Minnesota health department report notes that error rates for the state’s hospitals stayed flat. News outlets also report on more hospital-related news in Florida as well as Illinois and Colorado.
Wisconsin Cuts Millions In Funding For Planned Parenthood
Gov. Scott Walker signed two bills that could cost the organization about $7.5 million a year in funding. In other states, the Kentucky governor has filed a suit against Planned Parenthood, claiming it performed illegal abortions; and a Texas health official steps down after co-authoring a study about women’s access to health services after Planned Parenthood funding was cut.
Native Americans Make Push For Dental Therapists
Because many dentists don’t take Medicaid, oral care can be difficult to get for Native Americans. But there might be a solution. In other news, about 1 million South Carolina residents were vulnerable to a cyberattack because of the an old computer system and poor safety measures at the state’s Medicaid agency.
Medicare Costs Rise On Long Hospice Stays
Medicare’s hospice program was started for patients likely to die within 180 days, but thousands with dementia and other conditions have spent far more time. In related news, doctors say outpatient care is also boosting Medicare’s bills and the health industry faces challenges meeting quality requirements.
IBM To Use $2.6B Truven Purchase To Bulk Up Health Data
The deal, part of a recent health-care spending spree by the company, will add the health information of about 300 million patients to the data trove used by IBM’s Watson cognitive supercomputer.
‘Putting Gasoline On Fire’: How Anti-Anxiety Drugs Are Playing A Part In Opioid Crisis
Combining benzodiazepines with opioids can lead to difficulty breathing, a coma or death. Elsewhere, North Carolina police are joining a national movement to give law enforcement the training and equipment needed to save lives in the case of an opioid overdose.
California Health Safety Board Votes Down Regulations On Porn Performers
Many in the industry turned out to ask the Division of Occupational Safety and Health’s Standard Board to reject the safety measure that could require the actors to wear condoms, goggles, face shields and gloves.
House Panel Turns Down $1.8B Zika Request, Saying HHS Should Use Left Over Ebola Funds
The Health and Human Services Department still has about $1.4 billion, but the White House says that money should go toward following through on their efforts to fight Ebola. In other Zika news, the administration is making a push to help Puerto Rico deal with the crisis and the World Bank has calculated the monetary cost of the outbreak.
The pontiff cited a decision by one of his predecessors, Pope Paul VI, to allow nuns in the Belgian Congo in 1960s to use contraception because they were in danger of pregnancy from rape.
Wyoming Governor: State Can’t Afford To Reject Medicaid Expansion Funds
Gov. Matt Mead is again asking state lawmakers to consider expanding Medicaid, saying, “This is good for our economic future and it is the right thing to do as the state faces this current revenue shortfall.” In other health law news, a federal appeals court rejects a challenge to the contraception mandate.
Military Health System’s Care For PTSD, Depression Falls Short, Report Finds
Experts cited stigma and a lack of doctors as potential obstacles for soldiers needing treatment.
Supreme Court Vacancy Creates Muddle For Future Of Reproductive Rights
Scalia’s death throws cases on abortion, contraception coverage into doubt.
First Edition: February 19, 2016
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Urban Medicare Beneficiaries May See More Drug Savings This Year
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services says access to special, lower-cost pharmacies has improved for Medicare beneficiaries in urban areas.
Viewpoints: Michelle Obama On Changing The Mental Health Conversation; S.C. Paper Endorses Kasich
A selection of opinions on health care from around the country.
Longer Looks: Health Care For The Homeless; Research’s Gender Gap; Fighting Zika
Each week, KHN’s Shefali Luthra finds interesting reads from around the Web.