Latest KFF Health News Stories
Media outlets report on news from New York, North Carolina, Minnesota, Texas, Iowa, New Hampshire, California, Georgia, Missouri, Ohio and Florida.
The “chemical castration” law says a judge must order anyone convicted of a sex offense involving a child under the age of 13 to start receiving testosterone-inhibiting medication a month before their release from prison. There are few studies that attempt to determine the success rate of the treatment, and experts say it shouldn’t be viewed as a panacea.
Stat takes a look at the key players involved in the ride-sharing companies’ forays into the health care landscape. Research has shown that a lack of transportation is a top reason why some patients skip physician visits.
Psychological Wounds For Pulse Shooting Victims, Community Far From Healed Three Years Later
June 12 marks the third anniversary of when a gunman killed 49 people and wounded 53 others inside the gay Orlando night club. “It’s a really different kind of year — something else we learned from our colleagues in 9/11,” said Barbara Poma, the owner of Pulse and executive director of the onePulse Foundation. “They warned us that years three, four and five will be very different. They are. I don’t know how to explain it, but it really is a different feeling. It’s hard to really wrap your brain around.” In other news about the LGBTQ community: a candidate’s promise, a transgender woman’s death, and a look at San Francisco’s response to the AIDS crisis in the 1980s.
Republicans who supported Medicaid expansion efforts were targeted by conservatives for primary challenges, but Republican state Sen. Emmett Hanger, one of the state’s most powerful senators, fended off the challenge. A lesser-known lawmaker who supported Medicaid was defeated by his more conservative rival. Medicaid news comes out of New Hampshire and Georgia, as well.
The defense lawyers refuted the claims saying the doctor had “no training or education in marketing.” Meanwhile, the judge hasn’t signed off yet on an $85 million settlement with Teva Pharmaceuticals. News on the epidemic comes from Maryland, North Carolina, California, Connecticut and Massachusetts, as well.
In an effort to eliminate nearly 40,000 new HIV infections in the U.S. each year, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommended Truvada, which can reduce the risk of infection by 92% when taken daily, should be offered to more patients. High cost has been a barrier, and so far fewer than 10% of high-risk people take the medication.
Health Industry Players Gird Themselves For Tough Fight Over Surprise Medical Billing
Lobbying is only expected to intensify as lawmakers start to work through legislation aimed at coming up with a solution to surprise medical bills. In other news from Capitol Hill: Democrats put the kibosh on any attempts to get rid of the Hyde Amendment, a single-payer hearing may expose rifts in the Democratic party, and two senators work on patent legislation.
Highly processed foods have become the dominant food source for many Americans, but many households depend on them because they are cheap, convenient and, in some cases, their only option. In other public health news: elder abuse, mental health, supplements, science posters, talk of dying, and more.
The Trump administration is under scrutiny for its treatment of the detained youth in its custody after the deaths of several immigrant children.
Firefighters, police and other first responders on 9/11 “did their jobs with courage, grace, tenacity and humility,” 9/11 advocate Jon Stewart said as he blasted Congress. “Eighteen years later, do yours.” Stewart spoke at a hearing over the Victims Compensation Fund, which had only been authorized for five years–through the end of 2020. Now legislation that would fund the trust through 2090 has more than 300 co-sponsors in the House.
“I definitely think of regardless of the outcome of the case, this case could have a chilling effect on doctors that provide abortions,” said Rebecca Reingold, a lawyer at Georgetown University’s O’Neill Institute for National and Global Health Law. “Not only in Missouri but also other parts of the country.” Meanwhile, a third petition to get an eight-week ban in front of Missouri voters failed like the two before it. In other news: a network of volunteers helps women in conservative states, a look at how women’s health suffers after being denied an abortion, and more.
The two lawsuits filed in Manhattan federal court say enforcing the expanded “conscience” rule would encourage discrimination against women, minorities, the poor, the uninsured, and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer people by curbing access to legal healthcare procedures, including life-saving treatments. A few dozen states and municipalities have already sued the government over the rule.
American Medical Association Retains Decades-Long Stance Against Single-Payer Health Plans
The effort to drop opposition was largely led by medical students. Protesters demonstrated outside the group’s annual meeting in Chicago over the weekend, but the AMA reiterated its support for strengthening the health law instead of overhauling the system. Meanwhile, CMS Administrator Seema Verma lambastes “Medicare for All.”
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Perspectives: There’s A Pressing Need To Shine A Bright Light In The Dark Corner Where PBMs Thrive
Read recent commentaries about drug-cost issues.
News outlets report on stories related to pharmaceutical pricing.
Opinion writers weigh in on abortion issues.
Editorial writers weigh in on these health topics and others.
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