Latest KFF Health News Stories
Carefully Coordinated Campaign From Anti-Abortion Movement Challenges Democrats In Unexpected Ways
Much to the distress of abortion rights supporters, their own polling shows that the right’s message is penetrating beyond the social conservatives who make up a large part of the Republican base. Meanwhile, Democratic candidates continue to speak out against Alabama’s bill as national Republicans try to distance themselves from it.
Most of the bill focuses on reversing steps — largely backed by GOP lawmakers — taken by President Donald Trump to weaken the health law. But the measure also includes language on curbing high drug costs. That put Republicans in the position of voting “no” on a hot-button topic that is at the top of voters’ minds. The legislation is unlikely to make it through the Republican-controlled Senate.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Opinion writers express views about the anti-abortion laws being passed in the nation and the future of Roe vs. Wade.
Opinion writers weigh in on these health topics and others.
Media outlets report on news from California, Minnesota, Oregon, Georgia, Idaho, Connecticut, Pennsylvania and Arizona.
Each week, KHN compiles a selection of recently released health policy studies and briefs.
California Investigation Blames PG&E Equipment For Igniting Deadliest Wildfire
The utility, which had already acknowledged its electrical transmission lines were probably the cause of last November’s blazes, could face criminal charges following the report from state fire investigators and be held responsible for billions of dollars associated with the destruction and loss of lives. PG&E filed for bankruptcy protection in January.
By some estimates, around half a million children have serious medical conditions that are expected to shorten their lives. For too many of them, death will most likely happen amid the fluorescence and thrumming machinery of an intensive-care unit. For the lucky families, there’s pediatric hospice care. In other public health news: the mysterious illness in diplomats, liver transplants, snakebites, exercise for transgender people, tuberculosis, and more.
After Viral #ThisIsOurLane Debate, Doctors Find Gun Activism Has Helped Heal Their Own Trauma
Doctors recently clashed with the NRA over their role in the gun safety debate, speaking out about the endless number of gunshot victims they see. Some have found the process of getting involved therapeutic and a way to combat the burnout so common in the profession.
Low-Fat Diet Helps Reduce Risk Of Dying From Breast Cancer, 20-Year Study Finds
The rigorous study from the Women’s Health Initiative is the first to show postmenopausal women who modified their diets for at least eight years and who later developed breast cancer had a 21% lower risk of dying of the disease compared to others who ate as usual. “It really suggests that changing your diet, losing weight, exercising, could actually be a treatment,” said Dr. Jennifer Ligibel of the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Other women’s health news looks at the benefits of pelvic mesh.
What About Adults And Measles? Here’s A Primer On That Vaccine And Many Others, Including Shingles
The current measles outbreak is causing concern for adults who wonder if they’re safe from the highly infectious disease. NPR explains who needs protection from measles and other diseases. Other news on measles is on anti-vaxxers trolling a physician, Oregon’s defeat of a vaccine bill and Connecticut’s plan to repeal religious exemptions.
Doctors were gushing on social media about a trip that had been sponsored by a new Botox rival. Should they fall under the FTC requirement that social media users be transparent when they’re promoting a product? Ethicists weigh in. In other news from the health industry, CVS will start requiring third-party testing on vitamins and supplements sold in its pharmacies, and Nestle enters talks to sell its skin-health business.
America’s Most Dangerous Hospitals Are Becoming Even Riskier For Patients, New Research Reveals
But the number of avoidable deaths that occur in hospitals annually is on the decline from three years ago. “We are cautiously optimistic we are going to see real change and that is the good news from the report,” said Leah Binder, president and CEO of the Leapfrog Group. “But 160,000 is still a lot of people, it’s still a terrible problem. We have a long way to go.”
North Carolina Attorney General Joshua Stein focused on allegations that the e-cigarette maker targeted teens with its marketing practices, a claim that Juul has been fending off from federal regulators as well. The state is asking the court to apply a marketing and advertising ban that mimics that of the Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement, which went into effect in 1998. Meanwhile, the FDA has been ordered to speed up its review of thousands of electronic cigarettes currently on the market.
Following In Footsteps Of Other Art Museums, Met Turns Down Money From Sackler Family
The moves reflect the growing outrage over the role the Sacklers may have played in the opioid crisis through its links to the company that makes OxyContin, as well as an energized activist movement starting to force museums to reckon with the origins of donations.
New Rules For Liver Transplants Blocked By Judge Amid Controversy Over Fairness Of Guidelines
The transplant system has struggled for decades to find a fair way to distribute livers, kidney, hearts and other organs in the United States. The new policy offers livers to the sickest patients as far as 500 nautical miles from the donor. But critics say that will leave patients in certain places with about 20 percent fewer organs than the current policy.
‘We Will Always Be Here To Defend Abortion’: ACLU Files Suit Against Ohio’s Heartbeat Law
The Ohio legislation bans abortions if doctors can detect a heartbeat, which can occur as early as six weeks into pregnancy. Similar measures have been blocked by the courts in the past.
So far, despite calls from activists, none of the major companies that film in Georgia have commented on the issue. The muted reaction is in striking contrast to what happened just three years ago when Netflix and Disney threatened to pull productions if a law allowing faith-based refusal of services to LGBTQ persons was passed. Meanwhile, one actress uses her personal story to highlight how many women have abortions across the country.
Information On Health Law Is Being Systematically Wiped Off Government Websites
A new report documents 26 instances in which information related to the Affordable Care Act was substantially altered or removed from federal websites. Some of the changes were subtle. Others, including the disappearance of an 85-page site devoted to the ACA, were sweeping.
