Latest KFF Health News Stories
Opinion writers express views about health care reforms.
Media outlets report on news from New York, Oregon, Montana, Wisconsin, Massachusetts, California, Maryland, Ohio, Georgia, Tennessee and New Hampshire.
By Revamping Device Therapy, Tech Companies See New Hope For Trimming Reliance On Opioids
Neuromodulation, which started appearing in the 1960s, works when electricity interrupts pain signals carried to the brain, providing relief to patients. But costs make them impractical for everyone and there are risks involved. In other news on the opioid crisis: Boston’s mayor examines needle exchange programs; Ohio aims to lower HIV rates; Texas website focuses on education; and California doctors cry foul on probe.
Added sugars, typically high in fructose, aren’t discouraged in current health guidelines and can lead to obesity. Other public health news looks at liver disease causes, definitions of toxic masculinity, new insights into MS, a report on black lung disease, benefits of insta-workouts, educating future doctors about LBGTQ issues, protection from Zika and more.
Maine Governor Rejects Medicaid Work Requirements, Saying Mandates Would Be ‘Problematic’
“We believe that the likely result of this 1115 demonstration would leave more Maine people uninsured without improving their participation in the workforce,” Gov. Janet Mills said. The work requirements had been sought by Mills’ predecessor Republican Gov. Paul LePage and were approved just days before he left office. Medicaid news comes out of Georgia and Florida, as well.
In sharp contrast to 2014, mean wait times in 2017 at VA hospitals had gone down to 17.7 days, while rising to 29.8 for private practitioners. In other news on veterans affairs, two U.S. senators seek answers on a veteran’s death in Missouri.
State Judge Strikes Down Iowa’s ‘Fetal Heartbeat’ Law As Unconstitutional
The legislation that would have outlawed abortion as soon as a fetal heartbeat was detected — which is usually at six weeks, often before a woman even realizes she’s pregnant — would have been the most restrictive anti-abortion law in the nation. Meanwhile, in New York, lawmakers pass legislation expanding women’s access to abortions in the state.
Big Jump In Prescription Drug Sales Propels Johnson & Johnson To Strong Fourth-Quarter
But Johnson & Johnson said it expects its sales growth to slow in 2019. Meanwhile, the company has agreed to pay $120 million to resolve claims over deceptive marketing.
Federal prosecutors said Walgreens configured its electronic pharmacy management system to prevent its pharmacists from dispensing less than a full box of five insulin pens, even when patients didn’t need that much. In a second settlement, Walgreens agreed to pay $60 million to settle claims that it overbilled Medicaid by failing to disclose and charge the lower drug prices it offered the public through a discount program.
In Sign Of Increasing Threat Facing Industry, Big Pharma Spent A Record $27.5M On Lobbying In 2018
The lobbying numbers from the pharmaceutical industry’s leading trade group reflect an industry under fire from all sides over its pricing practices, as well as its efforts to roll back changes to a Medicare program. The changes is expected to cost drugmakers as much as $1.9 billion in 2019. Meanwhile, there’s a lot of money going toward influencing drug cost decisions, but it’s not always clear who is behind the groups ponying up the cash.
Rep. Anthony Brown (D-Md.) says he would prefer an outright ban on assault-style weapons, but hopes that the new Democratic majority in the House will push the age-limit proposal through. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court agrees to hear a right-to-carry case coming out of New York. With a potential majority after the confirmation of Justice Brett Kavanaugh, conservatives may have their chance to make a broad ruling, holding, for example, that the right to own a gun means the right to carry one.
Azar Declines House Democrats’ Request To Testify On Trump Administration’s Child Separation Policy
Although HHS offered to have other officials testify, House Energy and Commerce Chairman Frank Pallone (D-N.J.) said Secretary Alex Azar was the best person to testify. “We are going to get him here at some point one way or another,” Pallone said.
How The Shutdown’s Freeze On USDA Funding Is Affecting Rural Hospitals
Low-interest Department of Agriculture loans, delivered through its rural development program, are attractive to rural hospitals that have been economically struggling in recent years. As the shutdown continues, hospitals may have to bear the brunt of getting another loan with higher interest. In other shutdown news: food safety, the FDA, and mental health services for furloughed workers.
A new poll finds that support for a single-payer health care system depends on how the question is framed. When people were told “Medicare for All” would guarantee health insurance as a right, support rose to 71 percent. But when taxes were brought up, it plunged to 37 percent. Meanwhile, as the 2020 gets into swing, progressives embrace calls for a “Medicare for All” plan.
The Supreme Court justices lifted injunctions on the restrictions — but that decision does not resolve the underlying legal question about banning many transgender people from the military. The plan, which is working through the lower courts, makes exceptions for about 900 transgender individuals who are already serving openly and for others who say they will serve in accordance with their birth gender.
The rise in costs was driven by price increases by drugmakers. Insulin has recently become the face of high prescription drug costs in the U.S., and the report is likely to add fuel to the fire. “It must be nice to be part of the American economy where you can raise the price of your product almost 100 percent over five years,” said Niall Brennan, who heads the Health Care Cost Institute.
Read recent commentaries about drug-cost issues.
News outlets report on stories related to pharmaceutical pricing.
First Edition: January 23, 2019
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Editorial writers focus on how to reduce health care costs and other health issues.
