Latest KFF Health News Stories
The results of a study from 2005 to 2016 in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology predict a 15% to 20% reduction in risk of heart attack and strokes, but doctors say many Americans still don’t know if they have high cholesterol, a key risk factor for heart disease. Public health news is also on: breast cancer prevention, safety of contact sports for kids, racial bias’ influence on heart transplant decisions, Omega-3s fail to aid mental health, and an increase in big hurricanes over a century ago.
Self-harm behavior, like cutting, can often be met with fear and an overreaction from parents. But now researchers are starting to better understand the root causes of such actions. In other mental health news: sadfishing, teens seeking care for crises, and a call to action in San Francisco.
‘A Historic Milestone’: Merck’s Ebola Vaccine First-Ever To Get Approval From European Commission
The vaccine, Ervebo, has already been used under emergency guidelines to help contain an Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Nearly 70,000 Migrant Children Were Detained In U.S. Custody This Year, Up 42 Percent From 2018
The number of children held separated from their parents exceeds any other country in the world, according to United Nations researchers. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court is set to hear arguments on “Dreamer” protections on Tuesday.
Trump Meeting With Vaping Industry, Medical Professionals As He Nears Decision On E-Cigarette Ban
The meeting aims to “come up with an acceptable solution to the Vaping and E-cigarette dilemma,” President Donald Trump wrote in a tweet Monday morning. “Children’s health & safety, together with jobs, will be a focus!” Advocates worry the meeting signals that the president is backing off of a promised ban on flavored e-cigarettes. Meanwhile, a hospital announced it’s performed a double-lung transplant on a patient with the vaping-related illness.
VA Hospices Face Unique Challenges In Providing End-Of-Life Care For Veterans
Veterans tend to be more chronically ill compared to the general population, with higher rates of disability, intricate psychiatric issues, post-traumatic stress disorders and depression. That can add complexities to end-of-life care beyond what the rest of the population faces. Other news from Veterans Day focuses on the 2020 Democratic candidates’ stances on the VA, organizations helping veterans transition back into civilian life, homelessness, and more.
The new rule dictates that scientists disclose all of their raw data, including confidential medical records, before the EPA can issue guidance. But many of those old studies that form the basis for air-quality and other public safety regulations rely were conducted under confidentiality agreements. Something like research proving lead in paint dust is tied to behavioral disorders in children would be inadmissible, then, when the Trump administration drafts rules.
Google launched the initiative with St. Louis-based Ascension, a Catholic chain of 2,600 hospitals, doctors’ offices and other facilities. The large volume of patient data collected includes lab results, doctor diagnoses and hospitalization records, and amounts to a complete health history, including names and dates of birth. But privacy experts say the company didn’t break the law.
Bernie Sanders Secures Coveted Endorsement From Powerful Nurses Union
The National Nurses United enthusiastically threw its weight behind Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) in the 2016 presidential campaign due to his “Medicare for All” plan, so it was unlikely the union would go for anyone else in the current primary contest. Union members, though, say that while they support Sanders, they won’t be going negative in attacks against his rivals. Meanwhile, KHN fact checks Sen. Elizabeth Warren’s (D-Mass.) claims about out-of-pocket spending.
Trump Allies Cashed In On Hundreds Of Thousands Of Dollars Through Health Contracts With CMS, Verma
Politico obtained documents that detail how much contractors bill CMS under Administrator Seema Verma, who has been a vocal proponent for cutting federal spending by reining in Medicaid programs. One longtime Verma ally was greenlighted to bill as much as $425,000 for about a year’s worth of work.
First Edition: November 12, 2019
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Opinion writers weigh in on these health issues and others.
Perspectives: Any Health Care Plan That Doesn’t Get Spending Under Control Is A Failure
Editorial pages write about ways to control rising costs associated with health care.
Media outlets report on news from Oregon, Connecticut, New York, Oklahoma, Georgia, Louisiana, Ohio, Texas, Virginia, Florida, Maryland, Delaware, and California.
The suit, filed in U.S. District Court in Baton Rouge, argues that the state has violated federal laws by failing to offer children intensive mental health services, instead relying on psychiatric institutions and the juvenile justice system to stabilize children in crisis. Medicaid news comes out of Minnesota and Tennessee, as well.
How A Cholesterol-Related Gene Could Be Key To Cracking Alzheimer’s Prevention
Research on the APOE gene has been shunted aside in favor of focusing on beta-amyloid protein fragments. But after following a case study on a woman who didn’t get Alzheimer’s when she should have, there could be a sea change. In other public health news: bike helmets, hypnotherapy, and breast cancer.
Amid a growing suicide crisis, mental health advocates are frustrated that a seemingly easy step in saving hundreds of lives a year can’t be implemented in emergency rooms. In other mental health news: a large philanthropic gift, a culture change in workplaces, and the trauma of wildfires.
The FBI is taking serious strides in trying to address domestic terrorism as the country heads into a potentially volatile year. Meanwhile, a new poll shows that mass shootings are a significant part of Americans’ stress these days, especially in the Hispanic community.
“Despite the safety, efficacy, and convenience of medication and aspiration abortion, Oklahomans face substantial obstacles in accessing these services because of legal barriers erected by the Oklahoma Legislature,” the lawsuit states. Other news on women’s health comes out of Texas and Wisconsin, as well.
Kaiser Permanente CEO Bernard Tyson Dies Unexpectedly At Age 60
Bernard Tyson was described by colleagues in a company statement as “an outstanding leader, visionary and champion for high-quality, affordable health care for all Americans.”
