Morning Breakouts

Latest KFF Health News Stories

Doctors Should Identify Patients Who Are At Risk For Depression During Or After Pregnancy, Task Force Recommends

Morning Briefing

The new guidelines comes from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, a group whose guidance most insurance plans are required to follow. In 2016, the federal task force recommended that primary-care physicians screen for depression among adults, especially pregnant women and recent mothers, but this year the group went a step further and advises doctors to identify women who may be at risk.

‘Guns Are No Longer The Third Rail’ Of Politics: How The Debate Has Shifted Dramatically In The Past Ten Years

Morning Briefing

Political strategists say that Democrats used to have to be very careful when talking about guns, but that’s not the case anymore as shown by the role the issue played in the recent midterms. “The primary thing that’s shifted in the politics of this issue is voter intensity was on their side. It’s now on ours,” said Peter Ambler, executive director of the gun control group founded by former Rep. Gabby Giffords. Meanwhile, the American Medical Association’s push for gun control is getting attention on Capitol Hill.

‘Medicare For All’ May Be A Litmus Test For Progressives, But Not All Possible 2020 Hopefuls Are Rushing To Back It

Morning Briefing

Moderate Sens. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) are bucking the trend of Democratic hopefuls voicing strong support for “Medicare for All.” “I want to see universal health care, and there are many ways to get there,” Klobuchar said when asked if she backed Medicare for All, whereas Brown has said he supports incremental changes to Medicare.

With Promise Of Governor’s Support, Ohio Lawmakers Reintroduce Restrictive ‘Heartbeat’ Abortion Bill

Morning Briefing

The GOP-led Ohio Legislature passed such a bill twice but didn’t have enough votes to overcome vetoes in 2016 and 2018 by then-Gov. John Kasich, who said that the measure would lead the state into a costly court battle. New Republican Gov. Mike DeWine, however, is more friendly to the cause.

Where Is The Line Between Getting A Suicidal Person Help And Their Right To Privacy? Experts Wonder If Facebook Is Toeing It

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“It’s important to have innovative approaches. But just because people are suicidal and in crisis doesn’t mean they don’t deserve rights,” said Dr. John Torous, the director of the digital psychiatry division at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. In other public health news: race and the medical community, colds, mental health, exercise, allergies, gene-editing and more.

How Unconscious Physician Biases About Race, Ethnicity And Pain Plays A Role In The Opioid Crisis

Morning Briefing

A new study reveals that residents of neighborhoods with the highest proportions of white people were more than twice as likely to be prescribed an opioid pain reliever than were residents of neighborhoods where whites were most scarce. “Medicine has a long, unsavory history of expecting people of color to tolerate larger levels of pain,” said Dr. Steven Woolf of Virginia Commonwealth University. In other news on the crisis: naloxone, wrongful death lawsuits, opioid-based medication and more.

Migrant Families Separated By U.S. Government File Claims For Millions In Damages

Morning Briefing

Eight separated families submitted claims to the departments of Homeland Security and Health and Human Services, saying that their children were traumatized by the experience. Stanton Jones, a lawyer for the families, said, “The government was harming children intentionally to try to advance what it viewed as a policy objective. It’s heinous and immoral, but it’s also a civil wrong for which the law provides a claim for relief.” In related news, 70 detainees condemn the conditions at a California detention center.

Pharma Companies Dramatically Slash List Price For Cholesterol Drug In Rare Move

Morning Briefing

Rival cholesterol drugs Praluent and Repatha struggled as insurance companies and benefit managers made it difficult for patients to get the treatment. Because they were so expensive, even for patients with a genetic disorder that causes super-high cholesterol, insurers rejected the drugs 63 percent of the time. Now, both of their list prices have been cut, a move that could possibly hint at a change in the drug pricing system on the horizon. In other pharmaceutical news, brain cancer drugs, fatty liver disease and vaccines.

With New Rules To Give Patients Better Access To Own Records, CMS Takes Aim At ‘Electronic Silos’ That Keep Health Data Separated

Morning Briefing

The draft rules touch on a broad array of issues, including technology standards that are supposed to help unlock digital data stored in the electronic health records used by hospitals and doctors to track patients’ care. Meanwhile, a new paper touts the possibilities of artificial intelligence when diagnosing common conditions.

In Era Of Public Rage Over Drug Prices, Cory Booker Is Haunted By His Past Relationship With ‘Big Pharma’

Morning Briefing

As Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) eyes the 2020 White House race, he’s scrambling to mitigate any damage that may have been done by his decision to accept campaign donations from pharmaceutical companies. As public outrage boils over about high drug prices, most presidential contenders, such as Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), are trying to get in front of the issue by offering plans they believe will demonstrate a hard stance against Big Pharma.

Utah Governor Signs Plan To Minimize Voter-Approved Medicaid Expansion, Offering Road Map To Other Red States

Morning Briefing

“I think we’re doing the long-term responsible thing,” said state Sen. Allen Christensen, the bill’s lead sponsor. But there was an outcry from critics who said the Legislature was ignoring the wishes of the voters. “This is a dark day for democracy in Utah,” said Andrew Roberts, a spokesman for the group Utah Decides. The lawmakers’ moves will likely act as an example to other red states for how they can avoid being pushed into an uncontrolled expansion.

FDA To Target Products That Claim To Cure Serious Disease As It Beefs Up Oversight Of Sprawling Supplement Industry

Morning Briefing

The FDA announced that it sent 12 warning letters and five advisory letters to companies the agency says are selling products that contain unapproved drugs or making illegal claims for treating Alzheimer’s or other serious conditions. “I’m concerned that changes in the supplement market may have outpaced the evolution of our own policies and our capacity to manage emerging risks,” said FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb.

First Edition: February 12, 2019

Morning Briefing

Mark your calendar: Join our Facebook Live chat, “Helping People Age With Independence,” with KHN columnist Judith Graham on Tuesday, Feb. 12, at 12:30 p.m. Share your questions or experiences ahead of time, or ask questions on Facebook during the event.