Latest KFF Health News Stories
As Pharmaceutical CEOs Bow Out, One Leaves Mixed Legacy And The Other Stability
Recent years have marred Glaxo CEO Andrew Witty’s tenure. The company’s stock fell on the news of his departure, and the board is giving itself a year to replace him, which could stir unrest among its investors. Rio’s stock jumped and its board has already appointed a new successor to CEO Sam Walsh.
With Eye On Improving Costs, Walgreens Forms Partnership With UnitedHealth
Under the deal, the insurer will charge its patients less if they fill their prescriptions at Walgreens stores.
Medicare Payment Lobbying War Heats Up As More Voices Join The Fight
The campaigns center around a proposed 1.35 percent boost to Medicare Advantage. Kaiser Health News looks at how the Obama administration is trying to borrow ideas from the private sector with its Medicare plan, Medicare beneficiaries could face higher out-of-pocket drug costs as a result of the trend toward coinsurance rather than co-payments, and Rep. Pat Tiberi, R-Ohio, is urging his fellow lawmakers to consider changes to the Medicare Advantage program.
Health Care Law’s Contraception Mandate Gets Day In High Court Next Week
After Justice Antonin Scalia’s death, there’s a likelihood the court will rule 5-3 against the challenge to the health law. Justice Anthony Kennedy, the likely swing vote, has appeared to voice approval of the workaround the government has already created to address conscientious objections to contraception.
GAO: Government Must Crack Down On Health Law Subsidy Fraud
An extensive investigation found that, as of last April, almost a half-million people were able to obtain subsidies for insurance purchased on the federal marketplace, despite having inconsistencies in their applications. In other health law news, Wyoming’s ACA enrollment numbers continue to climb.
A USA Today investigation found that children’s drinking water can have such high levels that the Environmental Protection Agency would deem it “hazardous waste.” Meanwhile, New Jersey’s largest school district has begun voluntary blood tests to check children’s lead levels, D.C.’s water officials try to soothe fears over the city’s lead problems, which were “20 to 30 times worse” than Flint, and a “widespread” investigation into New York’s public housing-lead problem nets millions of documents.
Lawmakers Call For Resignations Over Flint: ‘I’ve Had Enough Of Your Phony Apologies’
At the congressional hearing, Environmental Protection Agency Chief Gina McCarthy was defiant against challenges that her agency did not do enough, and Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder, while apologetic, said the blame doesn’t fall completely on him.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Coinsurance Trend Means Seniors Likely To Face Higher Out-Of-Pocket Drug Costs, Report Says
More Medicare Part D drug plans are requiring coinsurance rather than copayments for more types of medications, making beneficiaries’ costs less predictable.
How Medicare Drug Plans Hope To Follow Private Sector Lead
The proposal that Medicare made this month to better control prescription drug costs involves testing strategies used with some success in the private sector.
Remembering Peggy Girshman: KHN Co-Founder, NPR Veteran, Journalism Pioneer
Girshman launched KHN in 2009 and was a leader at news and professional organizations such as NPR, NBC News and the National Association of Science Writers.
Viewpoints: CDC’s Response To Opioid Abuse; Analysts Sour On Valeant
A selection of opinions from around the country.
Longer Looks: Medical Mistakes; Overlapping Surgeries; Health Apps
Each week, KHN’s Shefail Luthra finds interesting reads from around the Web.
News outlets report on health issues in Massachusetts, Wisconsin, Minnesota, North Dakota and Colorado.
Media outlets report on other developments coming out of the legislatures in Iowa, New York, Michigan, Wisconsin and Arizona.
Promising Results For Dengue Vaccine Bode Well For Zika Efforts
Researchers have been uncharacteristically optimistic about the vaccine, which protected all 21 volunteers who were injected with it and then infected with the virus. Because the Dengue and Zika viruses are in the same family, scientists could build off the work of the successful vaccine.
WHO: One In Four Deaths Caused By Unhealthy Environment
The report is part of an effort by world leaders over the past year to inform the public of the close link between issues like climate change to something an individual can relate to — their own health. A separate study links air pollution to an increased risk of diabetes.
In Quest To Treat Patients’ Pain, Doctors Struggle In Role Of Enforcer
As the warriors on the front line of one of the worst drug epidemics in U.S. history, physicians are being called upon to balance their desire to care for their patients with the desire to stem the rising crisis.
The Problem With Novartis’ Heart-Failure Drug? Doctors Aren’t Prescribing It
The drug was hailed as enormously successful in testing, with cardiologists and researchers calling it a home run. So why aren’t doctors using it?
Jury Rules In Favor Of Amgen In Cholesterol Drug Patent Dispute
Some analysts and rivals say Amgen’s patents on antibodies that target a protein, called PCSK9, are too broad and thus invalid. In other news, a cost-effectiveness agency says there’s not enough evidence to deem Amgen’s cancer drug worthy of using on Britain’s state health service.