Latest KFF Health News Stories
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Read recent commentaries about drug-cost issues.
News outlets report on stories related to pharmaceutical pricing.
Perspectives: New Abortion Laws Put Pressure On Physicians Who Are Trying To Give Best Care To Women
Opinion writers weigh in on the laws being passed at the state level to prevent abortions.
Media outlets report on news from Minnesota, California, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Oregon, Washington, Texas, Wyoming, Florida, Louisiana, Colorado, Pennsylvania, Missouri, Georgia, and Connecticut.
“I will say the depth and breadth of the problem did take me back just a bit,” said acting Illinois State Police Director Brendan Kelly. News on gun safety also comes from California and Florida.
Women Respond Very Differently Than Men To HIV And Treatment, But Most Research Subjects Are Men
“If we’re going to find a cure, it’s important that we find a cure that actually works for everybody,” said Rowena Johnston, a research director. Public health news focuses on reporting disparity, longevity, climate change, sleep apnea, mighty microbes, brain wearables, a rare women’s disorder, irritable bowel syndrome, mental health awareness on Instagram, mortality rates for pro athletes, spina bifida, ER visits, healthier beer and palliative care.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom didn’t include the tax, which helps offset the state’s Medicaid costs, in his budget because it requires approval from the Trump administration. Lawmakers were more optimistic, pointing out that the federal government has already approved a similar tax in Michigan. The tax is unusual because many managed care organizations want to keep paying it. The money they send to the state is used to draw down federal cash that’s sent back to them for providing coverage to Medicaid recipients. Other Medicaid news comes out of Texas and North Carolina, as well.
What’s new about the current anti-vaccine movement is the argument that government has no right to force parents to vaccinate their kids before they enter school, which is drawing in some Republican lawmakers who might have had little interest in the debate previously. In other news on the measles outbreak: more cases, summer camp and medical exemptions.
Democrats, who have been focusing more on drug companies and profitable insurers, are wary about taking on hospitals, which rank as top employers in many congressional districts and are seen by the public as life-saving institutions.
Credible scientists are nervous that working for Juul will hurt their reputations, but that leaves the e-cigarette company employing researchers who have ties to the tobacco industry, which in turn calls into doubt any scientific work done by Juul. In other news: how schools are handling vaping and a study that finds the flavoring in e-cigarettes may be bad for the heart.
The decision made by former EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt about exempting southeastern Wisconsin from federal smog regulations came at the same time as Gov. Scott Walker, a Republican, was campaigning for a third term. Hundreds of emails and internal documents released Friday show senior EPA scientists complaining that conclusions in support of the decision, which could not be supported by data, were being demanded by top Trump administration officials.
Most of the litigation against opioid makers and distributors is wrapped up in a single massive lawsuit overseen by a federal judge in Ohio, but the Oklahoma lawsuit will be the first to reach trial and could establish a precedent for damages paid to communities ravaged by opioids. The case is trickier than emotions surrounding it may suggest because opioids are legal and regulated and meant for medical treatment. That sets the arguments apart from the Big Tobacco reckoning that these lawsuits are often compared to. Over the weekend Teva Pharmaceuticals settled with the state, leaving Johnson & Johnson alone to bare the brunt of the nation’s scrutiny.
Editorial pages focus on these and other health care topics.
Both Sides See Renewed Attention On Abortion Wars As A Boon Heading Into 2020 Elections
Advocates in both parties are hoping that the hot-button, emotional topic will drive voters to the ballot boxes. In other news on the issue: not all Democrats are falling in line with the party, arguments over rape and incest divide anti-abortion activists, a look at what would happen if Roe v. Wade is overturned, and the pope weighs in.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Despite Turmoil In Industry, It’s Still Health Care CEOs Who Get Paid The Most In The Country
The typical CEO in the industry made $16.1 million last year. In other health industry news: health benefits brokers, a possible merger, and a scheme involving pelvic mesh implants.
HHS’ proposed regulation would replace a 2016 rule from the Obama administration that defined discrimination “on the basis of sex” to include gender identity. Under the provision, health care services for transgender patients and patients with a history of abortion had to be offered by hospitals and covered by patients’ health plans. The move is a part of a broader push by the administration to roll back specific protections for transgender individuals.
The drug made by Novartis alters the underlying genetic cause of spinal muscular atrophy and may permanently stop the disease, offering hope to families who had none before. But the cost has been set at over $2 million. Though patients won’t be on the hook for that amount, the eye-popping figure has raised questions once again about pricey gene therapies.
In a tweet, the Army asked veterans to sound off about how serving has impacted their lives. What followed might not have been what officials were expecting. Meanwhile, The Associated Press fact checks President Donald Trump’s statements about health care improvements for veterans.
