Latest KFF Health News Stories
Report Encourages Doctors To Overcome Reluctance About Gun Safety Questions
A paper published in Annals of Internal Medicine makes the argument that gun safety is relevant to patients’ health, and, if warranted, suggests doctors actively talk about it with them. A number of states have or are considering statutes regulating the topic.
Cheaper, Smaller Proton-Beam Cancer Centers Spurring New Demand
For decades, the technology was slow to take off partially because of a lack of evidence that its results justified the expensive price tag. But manufacturers have gotten beyond some of those doubts as they retooled the technology. The number of centers has doubled in the past five years. In other news, research shows that gender can play a part in how cancer develops.
Data On Death Patterns In Each State Allow Officials To Dig Down To Underlying Causes
Some states are hit harder than others when it comes to distinctive causes of death. By studying these trends, lawmakers and public health leaders are trying to focus preventive outreach on reducing the specific health problems plaguing their states.
Doctors Cautiously Optimistic About Nation’s First Penis Transplant
The operation was part of a research program with the ultimate goal of helping combat veterans with severe pelvic injuries, as well as cancer patients and accident victims.
Pfizer To Acquire Anacor Pharmaceuticals; Valeant To Offer Hospital Discounts For Two Heart Drugs
Meanwhile, The New York Times reports on a new drug, rapamycin, which is currently being tested in dogs. It improved heart health and appeared to delay the onset of some diseases in older mice.
Senate Set To Move On $1.1B For Zika Funding; House Introduces $622M Bill
Senators are expected to move today on a bipartisan plan to allocate $1.1 billion for the federal government’s response to the Zika virus outbreak, down from the $1.9 billion requested by the Obama administration. A measure unveiled this week by House Republicans cuts the funding further to $622 million.
New Polling Finds Americans Favor Single-Payer Health System
The idea of federally funded health care, recently popularized by Sen. Bernie Sanders’ call for “Medicare for All,” is supported by a majority of Americans, including a large percentage of Republicans, a new Gallup poll finds. Meanwhile, Republican leaders see the federal health law as a key to their strategy for the fall campaign.
Small Number Of ‘Young Invincibles’ Hurts Pricing For Health Insurance Pools
Despite recruitment efforts, people in the coveted 18 to 34 age range make up about 28 percent of the marketplace members. Insurers hoped for 40 percent to help create a market that was more stable. Also, two articles look at what’s happening when some big names leave the health law marketplaces.
House GOP’s Legal Challenge To Health Law Could Cause Premiums To Rise
The Obama administration said that, if upheld, last week’s Republican victory in federal court could have significant market implications.
Justices Punt Contraception Case Back To Lower Courts
The Supreme Court’s decision averts a 4-4 tie that would have left different parts of the country following different regulations. In announcing the decision from the bench, Chief Justice John Roberts said both sides have have made concessions since the case was argued in March.
EEOC Limits Employee Wellness Program Incentives With New Rules
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission rules affirmed that wellness programs would be considered voluntary as long as an employers’ incentives or discounts don’t exceed more than 30 percent of the cost of an employee’s individual “self-only” health coverage. However, critics say under the regulations the programs can become coercive.
Three Firms Vie To Run CalPERS’ Drug Benefits
UnitedHealth’s OptumRx is the lowest bidder and wins a key endorsement ahead of final vote by California’s public retirement system.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Final EEOC Rule Sets Limits For Financial Incentives On Wellness Programs
The federal agency says the wellness programs can get health details about workers and their spouses as long as the financial rewards or penalties do not exceed 30 percent of the cost for an individual in the company’s group health plan.
Insurers Quitting Health Law Exchanges May Still Sell Plans To Individuals
KHN’s consumer columnist answers readers’ questions including whether recent announcements about plans pulling out of the health law’s exchanges could affect the access to coverage for consumers who don’t use those exchanges.
Supreme Court Sends Health Law Birth Control Case Back To Lower Courts
Justices give lower courts more instructions for trying to get all parties to reach an accommodation.
Supreme Court Sends Contraception Case Back To Lower Courts, Demands Compromise
The battle over the so-called ‘contraceptive mandate’ was one of the high court’s biggest issues this term, pitting religious liberty against reproductive rights for the second time in three years.
Viewpoints: ‘Second-Class’ Patients; Oklahoma And Medicaid Expansion; Congress And Opioids
A selection of opinions on health care from around the country.
Outlets report on health news in Louisiana, Colorado, Michigan, California, Illinois, Florida and Iowa.
Hospital Merger Trend Drives Up Prices, Hurts Quality, FTC Chief Warns
In a speech to health care industry officials, Federal Trade Commission Chair Edith Ramirez says prices for an average in-patient stay can be almost $2,000 higher in areas where a hospital monopoly exists. Media outlets report on other hospital news from California, Connecticut and North Carolina.