Latest KFF Health News Stories
Opinion writers weigh in on the Supreme Court’s recent decision to not hear a case against Planned Parenthood.
Media outlets report on news from Texas, California, Florida, Maryland, Ohio, Virginia, North Carolina and Pennsylvania.
Is Surgery For Prostate Cancer Necessary? It Depends On How Advanced It Is, Study Finds
Prostate cancer is the No. 2 cause of cancer death in men. Removing the prostate can add 3 years to the life of a man who has a tumor that is lethal, the research says, but active surveillance might be a better option for less aggressive cancer and spares men the consequences of surgery. Other news on cancer focuses on obesity, co-existing conditions and the safety of robot-assisted surgeries.
For Therapeutic Clowns, Silliness Is Serious Business
A quest to find out if therapeutic clowns were really helping disabled children who could not respond to their antics leads to an exploration of those kids’ silent worlds. In other public health news: gene-editing, eczema and suicide, Zika, dirty air, tampons, salmonella, diabetes, and more.
A Clue In The Mysterious Case Of The U.S. Diplomats In Cuba: They All Suffered From Inner Ear Damage
Scientists and doctors have been flummoxed by the illness that has struck down a few dozen diplomats that were stationed in Cuba, but the evidence of damage to the inner ear may hold answers to help them move forward at figuring out the cause.
Holiday Season Brings Presents, Colorful Lights And A Sharp Spike In Heart Attacks
Researchers have found that on Christmas Eve the risk of a heart attack is 37 percent higher than normal. Although they didn’t draw conclusions on why the increase occurs, experts say the stress of the holidays combined with excessive drinking and eating could be the likely culprit.
The ruling makes it easier for providers and plan members to prove that the plans impede competition by offering insurance coverage in exclusive markets.
“The starting point is very different for insulin,” said Andrew Mulcahy, a policy researcher. “Will more competitors help bring down prices further? Yes, but it’s starting off from a place where there is already some of that price competition.” Meanwhile, lawmakers in Minnesota, where some diabetics say they are rationing insulin, consider price controls due to the high costs.
The Kroger Rx Savings Club will be available in more than 2,000 pharmacies. The initiative comes as experts and patients are beginning to pay more attention to the savings that can sometimes accrue by paying cash for a medication instead of a high copay. In other pharmaceutical news: drug prices in television ads; insider trading; off-label use; and direct reimbursements; and more.
Last month a report found that Kaleo had increased the price of Evzio by 600 percent from $575 per unit in July 2014 to $4,100 in January 2017. Lawmakers have criticized the increase that came in the middle of the opioid crisis.
How Fentanyl Changed The Landscape Of Opioid Epidemic To Overtake Oxycodone As Deadliest Drug
Fentanyl is part of what the CDC calls the “third wave” of the opioid epidemic, following in the footsteps of oxycodone and heroin. In a recent analysis, researchers found that the rate of drug overdose deaths involving fentanyl doubled each year from 2013 to 2016.
Justice Department To Take Up Suit That Alleges Sutter Health Bilked Medicare For Higher Payments
The lawsuit alleges that Sutter and Palo Alto Medical intentionally submitted inaccurate diagnosis codes that inflated so-called risk scores given to patients.
Quietly Simmering Feud Over Fetal Tissue Research Is Reaching Its Boiling Point
The Trump administration back in September launched an audit over all government-funded fetal tissue research, citing “serious regulatory, moral, and ethical considerations.” The decision recently affected a lab that has played a key role in testing antiviral drugs to treat HIV infection, highlighting the far-reaching ramifications of the debate.
“You always want to take advantage of the moment, and I think we’re in the moment,” said Scott Whitaker, CEO of AdvaMed, a lobbying group for medical device companies. Meanwhile, Republican governors are joining the push to get Congress to delay the three taxes — medical device tax, health insurance tax, and tax on high-cost “Cadillac” health plans — as well.
Nearly 20 Percent Fewer New People Have Signed Up For Health Law Plans Than At This Time Last Year
Though there has been a surge in sign-ups over the past week as the Dec. 15 deadline closes in, overall, enrollment is down 12 percent compared to last year.
First Edition: December 13, 2018
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Editorial pages focus on these health care topics and others.
Opinion pages focus on these health insurance issues and others.
Media outlets report on news from Florida, Texas, Massachusetts, Georgia, Ohio, Virginia, California, Tennessee and New York.
The plan for the 2019-21 budget comes after years of court orders and federal inspection findings that highlight the suffering and unlawful treatment of Washington’s mental-health patients at the hands of the state. Mental health news comes out of Illinois, Oregon, California, Massachusetts and Alabama.
