Latest KFF Health News Stories
Which Came First: Cannabis Use Or Psychotic Disorders? Scientists Weigh In On Dangers, Myths
Top scientists who specialize in marijuana research are divided over whether the drug can lead to disorders like schizophrenia. “I’ve been doing this research for 25 years, and it’s polarizing even among academics,” said Margaret Haney, a professor of neurobiology at Columbia University Medical Center. Other public health news focuses on climate change’s dangers; pain’s origins in the brain; the race for health apps; a video game for kids with ADHD; a new way to tell if patients take their meds; and lessons to stop severe bleeding.
Court documents that came to light this week show just how involved the Sackler family was in Purdue Pharma’s strategies to flood the country with its painkillers. Activists are calling on institutions such as Harvard and the New York Metropolitan Museum to cut ties with the family.
Financial Challenges Top Hospital Leaders’ Main Concerns From 2018
Those economic worries were followed by concerns about government mandates and patient safety.
Appeals Court Rules Texas Can Bar Planned Parenthood From Medicaid
The appeals court returned the case to U.S. District Judge Sam Sparks, arguing he didn’t follow proper medical standards when ruling in favor of Planned Parenthood in 2017. Texas has sought repeatedly to cut funding for Planned Parenthood.
Largely Symbolic Proposal To Permanently Ban Federal Funding For Abortion Knocked Down In Senate
The legislation would have enshrined in law a long-standing provision that is tacked on to appropriations bills every year, but the measure wasn’t expected to get the 60 votes it needed to begin the debate. The vote was scheduled just ahead of the country’s largest annual march against abortion.
The FDA’s rejection of Immunomedics’ drug designed to treat aggressive breast cancer cements a 37-year drug development drought for the biotech company. In other news, a FDA advisory panel splits over a decision on approving a diabetes drug.
The inspector general report also found a consistent pattern of ethical violations within the security detail tasked to protect top VA officials.
The proposed rules are necessary to cut inflated subsidies for people buying coverage on the exchanges, CMS officials said. But Democrats view the plan as one more way the Trump administration is chipping away at the health law.
FDA To Focus On Drug Review Process As Shutdown Forces Agency To Make Tough Prioritization Decisions
Drugs to treat epilepsy, triple-negative breast cancer and spinal muscular atrophy are just a few of the medications slated for review over the next several months. But there’s only so much time that FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb can buy with dwindling funds. Meanwhile, a furloughed worker who had to start rationing her insulin puts a face to the troubles thousands of people are facing as the shutdown drags on. Other news on the standoff focuses on school lunches and food security.
A government watchdog report found that there was an influx of separations even before the “zero tolerance” policy drew international outrage last year. The total number of children separated from a parent or guardian by immigration authorities is “unknown,” but officials estimate it being in the thousands.
First Edition: January 18, 2019
NOTE TO READERS: KHN’s First Edition will not be published Jan. 21. Look for it again in your inbox Jan. 22. Here’s today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Editorial pages focus on these public health topics and others.
Research Roundup: ‘Public Charge’ Policy; Medicare Part B; And Romaine Lettuce Contamination
Each week, KHN compiles a selection of recently released health policy studies and briefs.
Media outlets report on news from New York, Oregon, Florida, Texas, Massachusetts, Ohio, Idaho, California, Georgia, Texas and Tennessee.
The task force’s report recommends that Delaware impose its own individual mandate, including a penalty to subsidize the state’s health law marketplace, which saw enrollment drop about 7 percent last year. State marketplace news comes out of Minnesota, as well.
Minnesota Lawmakers Get A Lesson On Public Health Dangers Of Climate Change
A doctor from Health Professionals for a Healthy Climate met with a new climate policy committee to inform them about the dangers of greenhouse gas emissions and how to regard legislative proposals about it. The advocacy group plans to travel to Washington, D.C. later this year to meet with more lawmakers. Legislative news comes out of Vermont, New Hampshire, Texas, Washington, Missouri and Virginia, also.
Third-Party Manager To Take Over Nursing Facility Where Comatose Woman Gave Birth
Arizona agencies cited Hacienda HealthCare’s “critical failures” in protecting the safety of the comatose woman. The facility has until 5 p.m. Thursday to respond to the state’s demand for a third-party manager, “or the state will pursue any and all of remedies legally available to it.”
A recent court case over a theater program and a child with a peanut allergy highlights the social isolation some young people deal with when they have a food allergy. “The child starts to feel like he or she is the problem,” said Dr. James Baker Jr., the director of the Mary H. Weiser Food Allergy Center at the University of Michigan. In other public health news: stem cells, embryos, physician burnout, vitamin D, sleep, mental health, and more.
As Teen Vaping Epidemic Continues To Increase, No Therapy Exists To Help Break Addiction
The anti-smoking therapies on the market — such as nicotine patches and gums — are not approved for children. Teens who become addicted will just need to have ”discipline” to quit, some experts say. In other news on the epidemic, researchers say e-cigarettes seem to be more appealing to teens than tobacco and are causing more serious problems.
Despite the slower pace, though, many Advantage insurers still experienced big enrollment increases as they picked up more market share. Other industry news looks at UnitedHealth’s court loss over withholding payments to out-of-network physicians and Dr. Atul Gawande’s decision to step out of a major health care conference.
