Latest KFF Health News Stories
While it’s tempting to blame social media and gaming for mental health problems among teens, that is a mistake, says Dr. Michael Rich, an associate professor of pediatrics at Harvard Medical School. “What we need to do is look at the whole picture around these young people; we need to look at how kids and how we all are using social media,” he said. Other news on technology looks at a debate over the term “screen time” and pornography on YouTube.
New Drugs Substantially Improving Outcomes For People With Hard-To-Treat Forms Of Cancer
Experts say there have been some “wonderful” strides made in drugs to help those battling previously hard-to-treat cancers. But, they say, cost and side effects remain an issue. In other public health news: liquid biopsies, vaccines, doctor burn out, hunger, protection against mosquitoes, and more.
Generation O: The Kids Growing Up In Families That Are Ravaged By The Opioid Crisis
“My biggest fear is I’m going to get home and she’ll be dead,” said Cadence Nance, 12, of her mother. Across a country held in the grips of an opioid crisis, chaos, trauma and grief is the norm for children whose parents are addicted to the drugs. In other news on the crisis: painkillers for new moms, Johnson & Johnson’s track record of weathering trouble, an upcoming lawsuit, and more.
Acting Commissioner Ned Sharpless launched the agency’s first hearing on CBD products Friday with a laundry of list of questions about cannabidiol. During the 10 hours of testimony that followed, hemp growers, start-up businesses, academic researchers and consumer advocates argued about how FDA should regulate the already booming CBD industry.
With More Flexibility, States Can Become More Nimble In Operating Medicaid Program, CMS Chief Says
CMS Administrator talks with CQ about the ways she wants to grant states more flexibility in operating their Medicaid programs. “I like to think about the future in Medicaid where we can say if this is the amount of money we have, these are the flexibilities, and we’re going to hold you accountable for health outcomes,” she said. “If we move to that different type of paradigm, we may see better results from the program in terms of the growth of the program, the costs of the program, and the quality of the program.” Medicaid news comes out of Utah, Illinois and Iowa, as well.
Health Law’s Medicaid Expansion Helped States Reduce Racial Disparities In Cancer Treatments
Before the health law went into effect, African Americans with advanced cancer were 4.8 percentage points less likely to start treatment for their disease within 30 days of being given a diagnosis. But today, black adults in states that expanded Medicaid have almost entirely caught up with white patients in getting timely treatment, researchers said.
Records Indicate Abuse Complaints Rarely Result In Discipline For Workers Caring For Migrant Kids
There have been hundreds of allegations of abuse or mistreatment, yet only one Department of Homeland Security employee was disciplined. A federal judge found the records disturbing and ordered the names of the accused agents made public. The government is trying to fight the decision.
2020 hopeful Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) unveiled the plan at the start of Pride Month. Meanwhile, President Donald Trump receives blowback for his administration’s attempts to chip away at protections for transgender patients.
Eleven of the victims were city employees, with tenures ranging from 11 months to more than 40 years. Many worked in the Public Utilities Department, the same department where the suspected shooter had worked as an engineer for about 15 years, according to police. The country’s latest mass shooting sends waves of grief through the network of survivors who have lived through similar crimes.
Judge Grants Missouri’s Last Remaining Abortion Clinic A Reprieve For Now
A stand-off between the St. Louis Planned Parenthood clinic and the state’s health department would have led to the closure of the facility on Friday had the court not intervened. U.S. St. Louis Circuit Judge Michael Stelzer granted Planned Parenthood a temporary restraining order, saying the group demonstrated immediate harm would occur if its license was allowed to expire. A hearing on the temporary injunction is set for Tuesday.
Americans are fed up with rising health care costs and are ready to vote about it. But candidates pushing for a massive overhaul may alienate some voters who are happy with their insurance. It’s going to be a fine line to walk for the 2020 candidates. Meanwhile, The Washington Post Fact Checker looks at potential “Medicare for All” savings.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Editorial pages focus on these health issues and others.
Opinion writers weigh in on topics about abortion and women’s health.
Media outlets report on news from Alaska, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Connecticut, Georgia, Maryland, California, Florida, Kansas, Minnesota and Texas.
Medicaid DSH is the second-largest federal program to boost hospital Medicaid funding, representing about $12 billion in federal spending annually. It has been the subject of a political fight over proposed reforms to the program.
While many transgender teens wear breast compression devices to diminish feelings of discomfort known as body dysphoria, they can be creating problems such as breathing difficulties and overheating, physicians warn. In other public health news: intersex individuals, social work training for police, low sperm counts, potential cancer-detecting blood tests, burnout and more.
Health Care Ranks At The Top Of Americans’ Financial Woes
The Gallup poll found that older Americans especially ranked health care as their top issue. High costs are likely to come into play in the 2020 election.
“This is unusual,” said Carmen Catizone, executive director of the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy. “We keep seeing the states trying to find new ways to finance the costs of the opioid crisis. But this is a new angle, although it follows a pattern of states and municipalities assessing costs for disposing of unwanted or unused medicines.” In other news on the crisis: New Jersey becomes latest state to sue Sackler Family, a federal task force issues best practice guidelines, Texas lawmakers limit opioid prescriptions, and more.
The New York Times looks at what went wrong with Rosewood Care Centers, and how the program it relied on is a dangerous vulnerable spot for the federal government.
