Latest KFF Health News Stories
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.”
Officials Point To Drug Spending For Jump In Medicare’s Part B Premiums
“For people who live with little to no savings, any increase in Medicare premiums or drug costs is going to be a struggle,” said Fred Riccardi, president of the Medicare Rights Center.
When Labels Mislead, Spur Health Crisis : A Look At How Even Lead Once Got A Thumbs Up
The Washington Post looks at why governmental limits lagged for years on the use of lead in products. News about regulations to reduce health risks is on baby foods and ethylene oxide, as well.
“Everyone sat up and said: ‘Wow, we’re not very good. Not only are we very expensive, we kill a lot of people,’ ” recalled Dr. Robert Wachter, chair of the department of medicine at University of California at San Francisco, who who has written about patient safety issues for years. Many of the report’s ambitious goals, such as creating a reliable system of measuring errors, have yet to be realized. In other news on hospitals: debilitating lawsuits, financial struggles at rural facilities, infant deaths from contaminated equipment, and more.
FDA Revokes Controversial Orphan Drug Status For Opioid Addition Treatment In Unusual Move
Critics had argued that the FDA goofed in granting the orphan status in the first place. Stat takes a dive into the complicated background of the case. In other news from the national drug crisis: chronic pain, how Germany avoided an opioid epidemic, needle exchanges, and more.
The startup with only 14 employees raised flags with U.S. regulators over the safety of Zantac leading to an ever-growing recall of the product. “I had a fairly dim view of drug quality in the United States going into this, but we’ve discovered tons of problems I never even thought of — and they’re all over the place,” said Adam Clark-Joseph, one of Valisure’s founders. In other pharmaceutical news: the patent battle over the HIV prevention drug; 340B payment cuts; and Congress’s struggle to contain high drug prices.
Under the Trump administration, there’s been a push to allow veterans to seek care outside the VA system as a way to cut down on wait times and improve access. But some worry that will ultimately hurt veterans in the long run. Media outlets cover other news related to vets’ health care on Veterans Day.
The oil can become “like honey” and stick to the vaper’s lungs. Officials left open the possibility that other chemicals or toxins from vaping fluids or devices could also be causing the severe respiratory ailments. Meanwhile, ahead of any announcement on a vaping ban, President Donald Trump said he supports the idea of raising the minimum age to purchase e-cigarettes to 21.
Separating Rhetoric From Fact Can Be Tricky With Politically Divisive ‘Medicare For All’
The New York Times offers a fact check of some of the more pervasive claims and explains why there’s such different takes about how much the program will cost. Meanwhile, doctors, hospitals and specialists are gathering their forces to fight against any such proposal. And the topic of health care continues to dominate the 2020 Democratic primary race.
First Edition: November 11, 2019
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Opinion writers weigh in on these health care topics and others.
