Morning Breakouts

Latest KFF Health News Stories

Following Allegations Of Abuse And Lax Supervision, Four Shelters For Immigrant Children In Chicago To Close

Morning Briefing

The decision, announced by the operators of Heartland Human Care Services, comes as another agency, Maryville Academy, plans to open two additional shelters, including one as early as next month. Heartland officials plan to move children out of its four shelters in Des Plaines between now and the end of May. Meanwhile, the Pentagon is reviewing military bases as possible locations to hold up to 5,000 immigrant children.

Entrenched, Sexist Culture At Many Veterans Hospitals Impeding Female Veterans From Seeking Care

Morning Briefing

Veterans are dismayed that they’re being harassed when all they’re trying to do is get health care. At a recent hearing with veterans agency officials, Rep. John Carter (R-Texas) summed up the treatment of female constituents trying to obtain VA health care: “It’s like a construction site.” In other news on veterans and the military: personalized medication regimens, a former VA secretary’s new job, transgender rules for troops, and the high level of suicide among returning soldiers.

Top Indian Health Service Official Pledges To Address Flaws That Allowed Doctor Who Sexually Abused Children To Continue Practicing

Morning Briefing

Rear Adm. Michael Weahkee reassured lawmakers on the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs that he was taking steps to find and fix breadowns in the agency that allowed Stanley Patrick Weber to continue seeing IHS patients for years after he was accused of sexual abuse. Weahkee added that recent scrutiny of the agency and new efforts to encourage employees have unearthed other possible cases.

If Trump Administration Converts Medicaid Into Block Grants As Proposed In Budget, Dems Warn That Plan Will Face Firestorm Of Opposition

Morning Briefing

HHS Secretary Alex Azar faced four hours of questioning at a congressional hearing fending off criticism of President Donald Trump’s proposed budget, which was released yesterday. The plan that drew the most heat was the president’s desire to replace the current open-ended federal commitment to Medicaid with a lump sum of federal money for each state in the form of a block grant, a measure that would essentially cap payments and would not keep pace with rising health care costs. Azar refused to completely rule out the possibility of allowing states to move in that direction. Trump’s proposed Medicare cuts also drew fire from lawmakers.

Director Of NIH’s Cancer Center Tapped As Acting FDA Chief Following Gottlieb’s Surprise Resignation

Morning Briefing

Dr. Norman E. (Ned) Sharpless’ work as the director of the National Cancer Institute has focused on the relationship between aging and cancer, and the development of new treatments for melanoma, lung cancer and breast cancer. Although Sharpless has been mentioned as a possible successor to departing FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, HHS Secretary Alex Azar said this is a temporary appointment and the search for a permanent commissioner is underway.

Sometimes Dirtier Is Better: How Our Sanitized Lives Are Wreaking Havoc On Our Immune System

Morning Briefing

Can a clean environment be too clean? Experts say absolutely. Our immune system evolved to have a job and interact with the world around our bodies. In other public health news: HIV, gun safety, breast cancer, the flu, school nurses, and more.

‘We’ve Become Complacent’: New York Lawmakers Push To Allow Teens To Get Vaccinated Without Parental Consent

Morning Briefing

If passed and signed into law, the bill would make New York part of a group of states — ranging from liberal Oregon to conservative South Carolina — that allow minors to ask for vaccinations without parental approval. News on the outbreaks comes out of Arizona and Missouri, as well.

Hospitals, Health Industry Question Trump Administration’s Legal Authority To Require Price Transparency

Morning Briefing

The Trump administration is considering requiring hospitals and insurers to reveal the true costs of medical services, which have always been tightly held, confidential secrets by the parties involved. The industry says the administration lacks the authority to mandate such disclosures, while also pointing out that they wouldn’t do much to help consumers.

Ocasio-Cortez Makes Comparison Between Trump’s Opioid, Border Wall Emergency Declarations, But The Situations Aren’t Similar

Morning Briefing

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) criticized President Donald Trump for not transferring money to other agencies for the opioid epidemic like he has for the border wall. But the Washington Post Fact Checker points out that the situations can’t be compared. Trump wanted almost $6 billion for his wall, which Congress refused, however Congress acted to give the administration more than $6 billion for the opioid crisis, so there was little need for him to transfer funds without congressional authorization.

Republicans See ‘Medicare For All’ Enthusiasm As Democrats’ Waterloo

Morning Briefing

Although “Medicare for All” has become a rallying cry for many 2020 Democratic hopefuls, Republicans view it another way. GOP lawmakers are eager to use the push to paint their opponents as extremists and socialists. But, really, it’s unclear how the whole debate will play out 21 months from now.

Trump’s Budget Contains $291 Million Funding Boost For Domestic HIV Goals, But Also Cuts Global Aid To Fight Epidemic

Morning Briefing

While experts called the increased domestic spending for HIV “quite significant,” they said any progress will be undermined by the deep cuts that were proposed to the health law and Medicaid in other parts of the budget. Meanwhile, critics used the dichotomy between slashing global aid while increasing funding domestically as an example of the administration’s contradicting messages when it comes to fighting the epidemic.