Latest KFF Health News Stories
Research Roundup: State Health Scorecards; Caregivers And Veterans; And Artificial Light
Each week, KHN compiles a selection of recently released health policy studies and briefs.
Media outlets report on news from New York, North Carolina, Tennessee, California, Florida, Ohio, Arizona and Arkansas.
Revenue Growth Beats Out Cost Controls For Hospital CEOs
In a survey of hospital and health CEOS, only one of the top-five areas of interest from 2018 remained in 2019: innovative approaches to expense reduction. Last year’s No. 1 topic, preparing for sustainable cost control, fell to No. 11 out of the 29 included.
Discovery From An Ancient Cemetery Reveals That Humans’ Use Of Marijuana Spans Thousands Of Years
Finding evidence of ancient people getting high is particularly difficult because such plant matter tends to degrade quickly. Earlier “discoveries” made at other archaeological sites were discredited later. But that’s now changed.
One Of The Biggest Myths About The AIDS Epidemic Is That It’s Over
Dr. Demetre Daskalakis, deputy commissioner for the Division of Disease Control of the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, talks with The New York Times about his philosophy in addressing the AIDS epidemic. In other public health news: breast milk, blood donations, gene tests, protecting your DNA, spousal abuse, and more.
Experts say millennials are dealing with “burdensome levels of education debt,” the cost of housing and the challenge of building careers during the “great recession” and the opioid crisis. More broadly, rates of deaths from suicides, drug overdoses and alcohol have reached an all-time high in the United States.
There’s been an unusual and heated war being waged between Catalyst Pharmaceuticals and small, family-run Jacobus Pharmaceutical over their rare drug. The battle is being closely watched to see if incentives for developing such drugs may be jeopardized. Other pharmaceutical news focuses on GSK’s investment in CRISPR, privacy and drug importation.
In towns hit hardest by the opioid epidemic, elementary schools are in many ways on the front lines of the crisis. “My preschool teachers just started screaming, ‘We have these kids, their behavior is off the wall and none of the traditional measures are working,’” said Marin Applegate, a psychologist for an Ohio school district. Meanwhile, a look at why Nebraska’s attorney general hasn’t joined in the legion of others suing Purdue Pharma.
“Too often, women and members of other groups underrepresented in science are conspicuously missing in the marquee speaking slots at scientific meetings and other high-level conferences,” National Institutes of Health director Francis Collins said in a statement. Collins challenged other scientific leaders to take a similar pledge.
The event will take place in Columbia, S.C., on June 22, the same weekend as the state Democratic Party convention, when nearly all the candidates will be in the city. Organizers said the event aims not only to shape the views of the candidates but also to further energize Planned Parenthood’s own supporters. Abortion news comes out of Mississippi, Texas and Illinois, as well.
Governor Larry Hogan (R-Md.) pledged to name new board members to serve with “integrity” and “accountability” after The Baltimore Sun’s investigation into business practices led to the resignation of the Baltimore Mayor Catherine Pugh and dismissal of other board members for lucrative contracts. An independent review released Wednesday found additional such business deals.
Maine Governor Signs Off On ‘Death With Dignity’ Bill, Saying She Hopes It’s Used ‘Sparingly’
Since Oregon first approved legislation in 1997 allowing people to end their lives with medication, seven states have also passed such bills. Nearly 20 other states have considered similar measures this year. Maine’s proposal failed at least 7 previous times.
Party Lines Fall By The Wayside During Hearing Over What To Do About Surprise Medical Bills
Although many lawmakers agree that surprise medical bills are an urgent problem, the devil is in the details of how to determine who gets stuck with the costs. “I worry that if Congress chooses the wrong approach, consumers will simply end up paying those costs through higher premiums,” Rep. Frank Pallone (D-N.J.) said at the opening of the House Energy and Commerce health subcommittee hearing. “We simply cannot allow this to happen.”
If it passes the House, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said the upper chamber will handle the issue in a “compassionate way.” The movement comes after a House committee hearing where comedian Jon Stewart criticized congressional feet-dragging on funding the trust.
Juul now faces additional congressional scrutiny over allegations that it markets its e-cigarette products to young people. “The safety and well-being of America’s youth is not for sale,” said Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-Ill.), chairman of the House Oversight Subcommittee on Economic and Consumer Policy. Meanwhile, a bill to ban the use of e-cigarettes in schools across the country will be unveiled on Thursday.
The progressive wing of Democratic House lawmakers is angry over the way leadership has been crafting its drug pricing strategy. On Wednesday night, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said she would take one of their key criticisms and adjust the number of drugs that Medicare could negotiate over. Meanwhile, the progressives called for six drugmakers to testify over price increases next week.
Major House Hearing On ‘Medicare For All’ Heavy On Fiery Partisan Rhetoric, Light On Substance
While Democrats on the House Ways and Means Committee are divided over the issue, they focused their collective fire on Republicans, accusing them of using “scare tactics” to fight back against any government expansion of health care. Republicans, meanwhile, painted “Medicare for All” supporters as socialists.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Opinion writers weigh in on abortion issues.
Editorial pages focus on these health care topics and others.
