Latest KFF Health News Stories
Public Health Advocates Worry Vaccination Science Is Becoming As Politicized As Global Warming
Republicans in state legislatures are pushing back against Democratic measures aimed at tightening vaccination laws. Advocates are concerned that it’s a trend that could lead to vaccination requirements to becoming politicized and thus subject to the pitfalls of tribal politics.
The search comes just days before the 20th anniversary of the school massacre at Columbine High School. The FBI discovered that 18-year-old Sol Pais arrived at the Denver airport before buying a pump-action shotgun and ammunition at a store. “Her comments, her actions that we have heard about from others tend to cause us great concern that she may pose a threat to a school,” officials said. Other news on gun violence focuses on research, the effects of mass shootings on first responders, and police-related gun deaths.
Acting FDA Commissioner Ned Sharpless plans to keep moving at full-speed ahead to address the issue that became central to former FDA commissioner Scott Gottlieb’s mission. “Let me dispel any misconceptions that the change in leadership reflects some desire of the president or the secretary for the FDA to go in a different direction from the Gottlieb era,” Sharpless said. Meanwhile, Democrats are releasing a measure that would would raise the minimum age to purchase tobacco products to 21 years of age and make it unlawful for companies to market certain products to those under 21.
Litigation over pelvic mesh, also called transvaginal mesh, ranks as one of the largest mass tort cases in the nation’s history in terms of claims filed, number of corporate defendants and settlement dollars. Advocates have been trying to persuade the FDA for years about the dangers of the product.
UnitedHealth Group CEO David Wichmann spoke out against the measures, which are popular among progressive Democrats and some 2020 presidential candidates. The move comes as shares of hospitals and insurers lose $28 billion in market value.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Opinion writers weigh in on these health issues and others.
Media outlets report on news from New York, Illinois, New Hampshire, Missouri, Connecticut, Texas and California.
Families are finding they are able to keep loved ones with Alzheimer’s and other neurodegenerative diseases at home longer with special apps, but if those devices fail then life becomes tricky once again. News on Alzheimer’s looks at early warning signs and the burden on the African-American community, as well.
Even People With Employer-Sponsored Plans Are Spending A Big Chunk Of Income On Health Insurance
“The affordability trends in the employer market are driven by healthcare costs rising a lot faster than the median income,” said Sara Collins, vice president of healthcare coverage and access at the Commonwealth Fund. The trends may be fueling some of the “Medicare for All” interest, experts say.
The changes were made to address complaints from hospitals—safety-net hospitals in particular—that they are unfairly penalized in the readmissions program because of their complex patient case mix. For rural hospitals, their average penalties are estimated to decline from $55,268 to $53,633; while average penalties for teaching hospitals will drop from $287,268 to $283,461. Other news from CMS looks at accountable care organizations and primary care accounts.
‘Born-Alive’ Measure Passes North Carolina Senate, But Faces Possible Veto From Democratic Governor
The legislation would punish doctors who fail to treat babies who are born as part of a failed abortion attempt. Critics of the measure say that it’s attempting to fix a nonexistent problem, and that there are already penalties for doctors who do not treat babies who are born alive. Abortion news comes out of North Dakota, Alabama, Ohio and Kansas, as well.
Behind The Scenes, Three Key Figures Help Shape The Democrats’ Strategy On Reducing Drug Prices
Stat offers a closer look at Richard Frank, Lauren Aronson and Gerard Anderson — three of the key figures and Democratic health-policy thought leaders working closely with Wendell Primus, a top adviser for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.). In other pharmaceutical news, the Supreme Court dealt pharma a loss by rebuffing Allergan’s efforts to shield patents by transferring them to a Native American tribe.
Democrats are seizing the opportunity to blast Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) for taking President Donald Trump’s side in the battle of disaster relief. But Scott is fighting back. “This is a great example of why people hate politics. Not only did @SenSchumer block a bipartisan bill, now he’s lying about it,” Scott tweeted Sunday evening. “Our bill doesn’t strip funding for P.R. It includes $600 mil in nutrition assistance funding for P.R. that I fought to get in the bill.” As the bickering in Washington continues, many in Puerto Rico are left uncertain and worried about the future.
While 20 states have reported cases, New York — in particular, an ultra-Orthodox Jewish community that lives in Brooklyn — has been the epicenter of the outbreak. The infections test the boundaries between religious freedom and protection of public health. Meanwhile, the boom in cases in America is mirrored worldwide: globally there are four times as many measles cases so far this year as there were at the same time last year.
Town Hall Audience Erupts In Cheers When Asked About Support For Sanders’ ‘Medicare For All’ Plan
The slice of public opinion at the town hall for 2020 hopeful Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) reflects broader polling that shows support for a system that guarantees universal coverage. However, when details about paying for the plan are revealed, that support has, in the past, dropped.
Past Trauma Still Haunts Columbine Survivors As They Now Watch Their Children Go To School
For some Columbine survivors who are now parents, the worst part of the day is dropping their kids off at school. In other public health news: the importance of studies being done in mice versus humans, Melinda Gates’ global health work, “three-parent” babies, a 3-D printed heart, dating and homicide, and hunger.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Opinion writers weigh in on these health topics and others.
Media outlets report on news from Rhode Island, Massachusetts, California, Ohio, Texas, Mississippi, Louisiana, Arkansas, Georgia, New Mexico, Kansas and Missouri.
