Latest KFF Health News Stories
Suspending the use of the immigration background checks could speed up the release of children by at least two or three days. About 13,200 children are in custody. Other administration news focuses on the flawed safety approval of the new depression drug esketamine.
Maine is now set to allow nurse practitioners, physician assistants and certified nurse-midwives to provide abortion medication and perform in-clinic abortions. Critics said they are concerned that some non-doctors lack the training to handle rare but major complications from abortion procedures, such as hemorrhages. Abortion news comes out of Georgia, Louisiana and Indiana, as well.
Few state or federal rules exist governing body donation facilities, raising questions about what the donors and their families are getting themselves into. “There’s a price list for everything from a head to a shoulder, like they are a side of beef,” lawyer Michael Burg said. “They make money, absolutely, because there’s no cost in getting the bodies.” The Arizona Republic looks at the burgeoning industry in its state.
Both Arkansas’ and Kentucky’s work requirements have been blocked by federal judges. But unlike those states, South Carolina won’t completely end Medicaid benefits for people who don’t comply. Other Medicaid news comes out of New Hampshire and Vermont.
“I can imagine a situation like the ACA with folks who are ideologically opposed suing just because they don’t want to go into this system — in addition to industry groups,” said Katie Keith, a law professor and researcher with Georgetown University’s Center on Health Insurance Reforms. “There could be a death by a thousand lawsuits approach.” Meanwhile, the American Medical Association is being pressured to support a “Medicare for All” plan.
Dr. James Heaps pleaded not guilty Monday to sexual battery by fraud against two patients in 2017 and 2018. Heaps worked part time at the UCLA student health center from about 1983 to 2010, was hired by UCLA Health in 2014 and held medical staff privileges at the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center from 1988 to 2018. University officials first heard complaints about the doctor in 2017, but they were not publicized.
Study Upends Common Myth That Legalizing Marijuana Can Help Cut Opioid Deaths
Supporters of legalizing marijuana have long used a study about a potential link between looser restrictions on pot and a decrease in opioid death rates. But a more comprehensive look at the issue doesn’t support that talking point.
The Anatomy Of A Pandemic: A Look Back On The H1N1 Outbreak Ten Years Later
A Stat reporter delves into what it was like to be at the starting point of a pandemic. It’s not quite the Hollywood version replete with bio-hazard suits and swoon-worthy scientists. In other public health news: the Dengue fever, a potential Alzheimer’s breakthrough, asthma treatments, vaping, musical pitch, HIV, hand sanitizer, and more.
The phenomenon occurs when patients become anxious at doctor’s appointments so their blood pressure readings are higher there than at home. A new study shows that, left untreated, the effects can still be devastating. Other heart health and nutrition news looks at cholesterol levels from meat, fasting, and sleeping with the TV on.
In the bankruptcy court filing, Insys Chief Executive Andrew Long said sales of Subsys, a fentanyl spray, have declined substantially. That drop, coupled with more than 1,000 lawsuits by municipal governments seeking to hold the company responsible for the opioid epidemic, was more than the company could withstand.
The stem cell industry is regarded as unregulated and dangerous, but recently a judge granted FDA the authority to oversee a popular procedure at a bustling Florida clinic. While safety advocates cheered the decision, it’s unclear how much of an impact that will have on an industry that’s comprised of hundreds of such clinics scattered across the country.
There has long been an uneasy truce in Congress that Democrats don’t try to eradicate the Hyde amendment. They have voted for it over the past decades so that other important funding priorities get through. But with renewed national attention on the issue, there’s a growing cry to get rid of it.
The recent laws impair “our ability to build diverse and inclusive workforce pipelines, recruit top talent across the states, and protect the well-being of all the people who keep our businesses thriving,” the ad reads. While some business dip their toes into the turbulent waters of the abortion debate, there’s little consensus on how best to actually make change.
State Circuit Court Judge Michael Stelzer said Missouri’s health department has to make a decision whether to renew the license for the Planned Parenthood facility before the case can be properly reviewed. Stelzer says the department has until June 21 to make a decision on the license, but the injunction would remain in place until he issued another ruling.
As People Flock To Health-Sharing Ministries, Increase In Consumer Complaints Draws State Scrutiny
The ministries connect people with similar religious beliefs, and members then help pay for each other’s medical costs. Because the ministries aren’t regulated by state insurance commissioners, consumers have little recourse if their medical bill isn’t paid or is late. Meanwhile, the Senate health committee scheduled a hearing on health costs for next week.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Editorial writers weigh in on abortion issues.
Opinion writers weigh in on these health care topics and others.
Media outlets report on news from Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Oregon, Wisconsin, Arizona, Louisiana, California, North Carolina, Ohio and Texas.
Massachusetts Surgeons Tired Of Sewing Up Victims Of Gun Violence Look Toward Prevention
Massachusetts General Hospital will open the Mass General Center for Gun Violence Prevention, a center devoted to gun violence prevention. “We’re really good at asking patients about their safety. . . . Pediatricians do it all the time,” said Dr. Peter Masiakos, a pediatric trauma surgeon at MGH. “I think this is the opportunity that we have as health care providers to do the same thing for gun violence.” Other news on gun safety comes out of Rhode Island and Colorado.
