Latest KFF Health News Stories
But the same panel did advance a separate anti-abortion bill — known as the Human Life Protection Act — that would ensure most abortions would be outlawed should the Supreme Court overturn Roe. News on abortion comes from Ohio and Massachusetts as well.
The NC Health Care for Working Families Act would help low-income people get coverage through the state’s Medicaid program, but it wouldn’t technically be “expanding” Medicaid. It’s estimated that about 543,000 people would end up gaining coverage through the proposal. Medicaid news comes out of North Dakota, Illinois and Ohio, as well.
The pressure from the Education Department on the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center in Lubbock is part of a broader push to roll back affirmative action policies. The school said in a letter to the department in February that it “is committed to exploring race-neutral alternatives to enhancing diversity and fully and completely evaluating its current admissions policies and practices.”
Feds Charge 24 People In $1.2B Medicare Scam Involving Prescriptions For Unnecessary Orthotic Braces
Among those charged in what authorities say is one of the largest health care fraud schemes in history are doctors, call centers and medical equipment companies.
According to internal company documents, Johnson & Johnson distributed baby powder samples through churches and beauty salons in African-American and Hispanic neighborhoods, ran digital and print promotions with weight-loss and wellness company Weight Watchers and launched a $300,000 radio advertising campaign in a half-dozen markets aiming to reach “curvy Southern women 18-49 skewing African American.”
According to the data, diagnoses of either suicidal ideation or suicidal attempt increased from 580,000 in 2007 to 1.12 million in 2015. Researchers also pointed out that 43.1% of either diagnoses were for children between 5-11 years. In other public health news: osteoporosis drugs, pregnancy-tracking apps, gun safety, STD risks, the harms of sitting all day, and more.
NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio declared a public health emergency that requires unvaccinated individuals living in parts of Brooklyn to have the measles vaccine. The mayor said the city would issue violations and possibly fines of $1,000 for those who did not comply. Although mandatory vaccinations are rare, it has been done before and upheld by the courts.
Federal prosecutors claim that Indivior, which makes Suboxone, bilked Medicare, Medicaid and other health care providers out of billions of dollars as they paid for a more expensive version of the drug, believing it to be safer. In other news, the CDC updates three-year-old guidelines on opioid prescriptions to clarify that the agency did not intend for them to restrict painkillers for patients who clinically need the drugs.
Trump May Delay Change That Could Cause Medicare Drug Premiums To Jump 19% Until After 2020 Election
The monthly cost to individual seniors from the Trump administration’s proposed change could rise by about $6. While that may not a large amount, it would not go unnoticed by seniors on fixed incomes. Meanwhile, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is urging the president to sign a bill to allow Medicare to negotiate drug prices.
“We’re not looking to do that,” President Donald Trump said. “Once you don’t have it, that’s why you see many more people coming. They’re coming like it’s a picnic, because let’s go to Disneyland.” The possibility of the return of family separations, a policy that received fierce blow back from both lawmakers and the public, came amid 12 days of turmoil in the White House over immigration and the Department of Homeland Security. Media organizations pull back the curtain to offer a glimpse behind the scenes. Meanwhile Trump continues to say that the Obama administration was responsible for separating families and that he put a stop to it, but fact checkers show this claim to be false.
Economists Weigh In On True Cost Of ‘Medicare For All.’ Bottom Line: It Would Be Expensive.
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), a 2020 hopeful at the front of a crowded pack, is set to unveil an updated version of his “Medicare for All” legislation, a plan that has gained momentum with progressive Democrats. It’s difficult to put an actual price tag on one of the largest proposed domestic policy changes in a generation, but economists try providing an estimate. In the end, patients would probably pay less, and the government would pay a whole lot more.
“The [Justice] Department owes Congress and the public an explanation as to why it refuses to enforce the law,” chairmen of five House committees wrote. Meanwhile, Attorney General William Barr defended the decision at a hearing on Tuesday. “Do you think it’s likely that we are going to prevail?” he asked, in response to questions about the reversal. “If you think it’s such an outrageous position, then you have nothing to worry about. Let the courts do their job.”
Congressional action on emergency aid has been held up since December, due in large part to President Donald Trump’s insistence that Puerto Rico shouldn’t receive any more money. Victims of storms, the fall’s deadly wildfires and floods are also awaiting help from the legislation.
Senate Finance Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) made it abundantly clear at Tuesday’s high-profile hearing that he is not intent on regulating PBMs out of business. Even though PBMs have weathered much of the blame lately for high drug prices, most of the pointed questions at the hearing fell flat.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Editorial pages focus on these health topics and others.
Media outlets report on news from Georgia, Texas, Massachusetts, Missouri, Louisiana, Kansas, Maryland, Iowa, California, Wisconsin, Connecticut and Florida.
Baltimore Mayor Catherine Pugh took a leave of absence last week when she came under fire for profiting from sales of her book “Healthy Holly” to the University Of Maryland Medical System and for other business dealings. Pugh has apologized and says she plans to return.
Louisiana Could Become Latest State To Ban Abortions Once Fetal Heartbeat Is Detected
Similar legislation has been blocked in courts, but red states continue to move forward with the strict measures. A total of 13 states including Florida and Texas have introduced bills that would outlaw abortions as soon as the fetal heartbeat is detectable.
“We have enough challenges finding healthcare providers that will come and stay as it is,” said Sen. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.), who said he talked to HHS Secretary Alex Azar about the issue. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, incidents of serious workplace violence are four times more common in health care than in private industry.
