Latest KFF Health News Stories
Housing Project Takes On Seniors’ Health
An innovative new approach in Oakland combines low-income housing and a health program for seniors.
Using Data To Help Home Health Workers Manage Patients’ Conditions
A market is emerging for products that enlist data and technology to identify patients who might be at risk for hospitalization or readmission.
Viewpoints: Political Peril Of Repeal; Smart Ways To Improve Obamacare
A selection of opinions from around the country.
News outlets offer opinions and editorials about various public health concerns.
News outlets report on health issues in Virginia, Iowa, Missouri, Ohio, California, Florida and New Hampshire.
No Sign Of Movement From House Republicans On Emergency Zika Funding
The lawmakers are adamant that Ebola funds should be used first, but the administration says there isn’t enough left to properly fight the virus. In other Zika news, there’s not much doctors can tell American women who are concerned about getting infected, Brazilian women face difficult decisions, and in Venezuela, the outbreak is complicated by an economic crisis.
This Obscure Task Force Dictates Preventive Services In U.S.
The group of physicians has recently come out with guidelines that have created a firestorm of debate over preventive care, and since the health law granted it the power to determine what screenings should be covered by insurers, it’s unlikely the task force will continue to fly under the radar. Meanwhile, a report finds that too many older people continue to receive treatments that don’t meet established guidelines.
Test For Alzheimer’s Gene Poses Dilemma For Families At Risk Of Developing Disease
The New York Times profiles two brothers facing 50-50 odds of carrying the mutated gene — one chose to be tested and the other has not. In related news, The Tennessean reports on the difficulties loved ones face in caring for Alzheimer’s patients.
Texas Health Officials Try To Distance Commission From Controversial Planned Parenthood Study
They have asked the New England Journal of Medicine, which published the study looking at how cutting Planned Parenthood funds affected Texas women, to remove two state employees’ names as co-authors to the study.
Researchers Credit Contraception Use As Unintended Pregnancy Rates Drop Across The Board
“Whereas in the past we saw decreases among advantaged groups but increases among disadvantaged groups, now we’re seeing decreases across the board. Something broad-based is going on here,” the lead author of the report says. In other news, the first uterus transplant in the U.S. could offer hope to women across the country.
Retail Clinics May Drive Up Health Spending, Study Finds
Advocates say consumers can use the retail clinics to provide a less expensive alternative to emergency rooms and doctor visits. But the research in the journal Health Affairs suggests that instead patients are going to the clinics for care that they wouldn’t necessarily seek from a doctor.
Prescription Drug Costs Trigger State Pushes For Transparency
Stateline reports that 11 states have introduced legislation that would require drug makers to justify their prices by disclosing spending on marketing and research, among other things. Meanwhile, STAT reports on how Harvoni’s ad blitz is generating significant interest in the hepatitis C drug despite its high cost. In other news, Texas officials are studying whether adding more generics into the Medicaid program would help control costs, and Valeant is poised to release its fourth-quarter results.
N.H. Lawmakers Weigh Work Requirement As They Prepare For Medicaid Expansion Vote
The legislature is expected to vote this week on a measure determining whether to continue the state’s Medicaid expansion program. In Arkansas, a panel backs the governor’s plan to continue the state’s expansion, and a Kansas poll finds community support growing for Medicaid.
Democratic Candidates Asked About Abortion For First Time At Fox Town Hall
At Fox’s town hall on Monday, Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders both said they support a woman’s right to choose when moderator Brett Baier grilled them on late-term abortions. The lack of questions on the topic in debates and town halls sparked an #AskAboutAbortion movement from those who want the candidates to solidify their positions.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Retail Clinics Add Convenience But Also Hike Costs, Study Finds
Researchers say the clinics tucked in stores and pharmacies lead patients to seek more medical attention than they otherwise would for minor ailments.
Can’t Get In To See Your Doctor? Many Patients Turn To Urgent Care
A recent poll shows 27 percent of Americans have visited an urgent care center in the past two years. Why? Most cite convenience.
Report Details Senior Health Care That Misses The Mark
New research from the Dartmouth Atlas Project identifies areas where older patients get care that doesn’t meet guidelines or their own goals.
Managing Depression A Challenge In Primary Care Settings, Study Finds
Primary care physicians see many patients with depression. New research finds they continue to struggle to apply the treatment strategies used for other chronic illnesses.
A selection of opinions from around the country.