Latest KFF Health News Stories
FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, however, said that high-risk food surveillance inspections will resume soon. The shutdown’s impact is being felt across many sectors, including drug approvals, pollution inspections, and approval of mergers such as the CVS-Aetna deal.
The vote forced House Republicans to go on record against the health law and its popular provisions — such as protections for preexisting conditions — which were big winners in the midterm elections.
Tech Companies Are Done Waiting For Drugmakers To Provide Miracle Cure On Alzheimer’s
There’s been a decades-long stagnation when it comes to drug-based treatments for Alzheimer’s so a cadre of tech companies are rushing in to fill the gap with digital products, robotics and software. In other public health news: fertility rates, artificial sweeteners, vaccines, hormone replacements and sick days.
First Edition: January 10, 2019
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Editorial pages focus on these health care topics and others.
Opinion writers weigh in about the single-payer system.
News outlets report on stories related to pharmaceutical pricing.
News outlets report on stories related to pharmaceutical pricing.
Media outlets report on news from Georgia, Massachusetts, Missouri, Delaware, California, New Hampshire, Connecticut, Texas, Pennsylvania and Florida.
The technology has been adapted to provide fast information that help inform patient treatment, doctors say. News on the opioid epidemic comes out of Pennsylvania and New Hampshire, as well.
There’s a dark history of lapses in ethics that have resulted in a greater knowledge of treatments and diseases. Experts take a look at just how researchers should weigh the risk factors of an experiment. In other public health news: weight loss, the flu, toxic chemicals in paint strippers, migraines, mental health and more.
Cancer Death Rates Fall For 25 Years, But The Good News Impacts More Whites And Wealthy Patients
A drop in lung cancer deaths is the main reason. A new government report also shows while the country has seen increases in fatalities from seven of the 10 leading causes of death, the cancer death rate has dropped 27 percent from the 1990s to 2016. But minorities and poorer people are not faring as well.
With Justice Brett Kavanaugh on the court, the anti-abortion movement is eager to see cases move through the judicial branch. “Our agenda is very focused on the executive branch, the coming election, and the courts,” said Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of the anti-abortion organization Susan B. Anthony List. Abortion news comes out of Louisiana, as well.
In a separate development, the San Carlos Apache Tribe issued a statement saying the woman involved in the case was a 29-year-old “enrolled member” who “has been in a persistent vegetative state and coma for over a decade.”
A new analysis of marketing data from the FDA, Medicare, other federal and state agencies, private companies and medical research finds a 69 percent increase, to $29.9 billion, over a recent 20-year period. “Marketing drives more treatments, more testing” that patients don’t always need, said Dr. Steven Woloshin, a Dartmouth College health policy expert.
“The president’s been really clear — prices of drugs need to be coming down, not going up,” said HHS Secretary Alex Azar, who was reportedly a part of the meeting. Meanwhile, Democrats on Capitol Hill are looking to score some early wins with small drug pricing legislation.
Every NYC Resident To Be Guaranteed Health Coverage As Part Of Mayor’s Expanded $100 Million Plan
The NYC Care plan, which Mayor Bill de Blasio said would be funded without tax increases, is an expansion of the city’s existing MetroPlus plan that covers hospital bills for low-income residents. “No one should have to live in fear. No one should go without the health care they need. Health care is a human right. In this city, we’re gonna make that a reality,” de Blasio said during a news conference. The plan would also cover immigrants who are living in the country illegally. Meanwhile, Washington Gov. Jay Inslee announced plans to offer residents a public option which would be a step toward single-payer health care.
The lawsuit seeks the creation of a fund to pay for mental health treatment for children separated from their parents. In arguing that the case should be thrown out, the Department of Justice also said that the government officials named are shielded by qualified immunity.
Although the FDA is officially continuing to oversee food recalls, monitoring for outbreaks, and can call staff back to work to address any emergency situations, FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb said that there is no question that “it is not business as usual” at the agency. Meanwhile, President Donald Trump says his border wall will help with the opioid crisis, but experts say it won’t really be a deterrent for the flow of drugs into the country.
“We should be the guys and gals that are putting up things that make health care more affordable and more accessible,” said Jim McLaughlin, another Republican pollster. “No question Democrats had an advantage over us on health care.” In other health new from Capitol Hill: short-term insurance plans, single-payer and gun control legislation.
