Latest KFF Health News Stories
Analysis Finds Florida Medicaid Is Not Getting Adequate Drug Rebates
The report, by the Milliman consulting firm, recommends that Florida alter its contracts with pharmacy benefit managers so more of the discounts negotiated by those PBMs goes to the state’s Medicaid managed care plans. Also in the news, Google launches a new research app and some patients in deep pain seek a new study of a controversial pain killer, Vioxx.
Fauci: Trying To Keep Kids In School Is Best Thing To Do
School news also covers bonuses for employees in Alabama, special ed teachers, HBCUs and more.
Biden Transition Team Gets Started On Health Issues
Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar met with the Biden transition team, and Dr. Deborah Birx seeks a role in the Biden administration.
Health Care Industry Hit Hardest By Supply Shortages
Sixty-four percent of health care companies reported a shortage of supplies. In other health care industry news, Encompass Health wants to do away with its home health and hospice segment.
Lobbyist Pressures Sink Surprise Medical Bill Action
Lobbying by the American Hospital Association and the American Medical Association persuaded legislators from moving ahead on a bill to ban surprise medical bills.
Trump Makes Last-Ditch Attempts To Issue Drug Discount Cards, Stop ACA
With six weeks left in President Donald Trump’s term, the administration has put together a revised plan for the discount cards, which it circulated inside the administration Tuesday. The plan came with instructions to expedite approval and send cards in December and January, Politico reports.
Giuliani Released From Hospital
After getting medicines many COVID patients can’t obtain, Rudy Giuliani was released from the hospital. But at least 30 people in the Michigan legislature, where Giuliani spoke maskless, have tested positive.
Multiple Proposals Stymie Relief Bill
There is no consensus yet on a bill to provide economic relief to people and businesses affected by the COVID pandemic, including providing liability protections to employers whose employees get sick or die from COVID.
Scientists Unsure What Triggered Allergic Reactions To COVID Shot
The reactions that two people in Britain suffered Wednesday after receiving the Pfizer vaccine were not predicted by trials in tens of thousands of people, experts say. The exact ingredients used in Pfizer’s vaccine are proprietary and have not been publicly disclosed.
On Your Mark, Get Set: Vaccine Suppliers Prepare For Big Moment
Meanwhile, HHS chief Alex Azar said Wednesday that the Trump administration is confident it has enough contracts with companies to ensure adequate doses of the COVID vaccine for all Americans.
A Record Nobody Wants: US Daily Death Toll Tops 3,000
All the while, America is racing toward another stunning total: 300,000 total deaths from COVID.
FDA Panel Meets Today; Pfizer Vaccine Could Be Approved In ‘Days To A Week’
Emergency-use authorization (EUA) could come as soon as today, but Peter Marks, the director of the FDA division overseeing vaccines, tempered that outlook Wednesday.
Critical Bed Shortages In U.S. Hospitals
Hospitals across the country are overwhelmed as COVID hospitalizations continue to rise.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Trump Plan May Set Clock Ticking on Many Health Rules — Setting Off Alarms
The Department of Health and Human Services has proposed that the new administration review about 2,400 regulations that affect tens of millions of Americans, on everything from Medicare benefits to prescription drug approvals. Those not analyzed within two years would become void.
A Battle-Weary Seattle Hospital Fights the Latest COVID Surge
Harborview Medical Center was at the epicenter of the first wave of coronavirus in the U.S. Staffers have a better understanding of the disease as cases surge, but fatigue and a lack of backup staff are big challenges.
With Becerra as HHS Pick, California Plots More Progressive Health Care Agenda
Gov. Gavin Newsom said he has already begun discussing California health care priorities with Xavier Becerra, tapped this week by President-elect Joe Biden to serve as his Health and Human Services secretary.
Opinion writers express views on these COVID vaccine issues and other public health issues.
How Much Will Amazon Pharmacy Change The Industry?
Read about the biggest pharmaceutical developments and pricing stories from the past week in KHN’s Prescription Drug Watch roundup.
Perspectives: Trump’s Drug-Pricing Order, Precision Medicine And More
Read recent commentaries about drug-cost issues.