Latest KFF Health News Stories
One Way Some Colleges Are Expanding Access To Emergency Contraception? Vending Machines
Many schools offer free or reduced-cost emergency contraception in their student health centers. But campus medical offices or pharmacies aren’t always open when the pills are most needed. Women’s health news comes out of Arkansas and Kentucky, as well.
Although the Trump administration wants to commit $20 million to develop alternative options to using fetal tissue in research, scientists say it is unique. Other news on public health focuses on CRISPR researcher He Jiankui, an increase in homelessness, low-salt diets, palliative care, second-hand smoke, the Marbug virus, a young Ebola survivor, aftershocks of suicides and more.
Although the CDC can’t say what’s causing the trend, researchers note it could be due to memories of last winter’s high death toll.
The findings suggest that the total number of high school students using tobacco surged by 1.3 million between 2017 and 2018. In all that time, the researchers who conduct the survey have never seen a drug’s popularity explode the way vaping did in the past year.
A sweeping investigation examines the quality and effectiveness of care for adult residents who transfer into subsidized apartments under a program called scattered site supported housing. Other news on quality in health care focuses on assisted living facilities and hospitals.
Even As More Red States Move Toward Medicaid Expansion With Caveats, Texas Hasn’t Budged
For years, Texas Democrats have filed legislation to expand Medicaid, but those measures have gone nowhere in the Republican-dominated Legislature. State Rep. John Zerwas (R-Richmond) said for members of his party, Medicaid expansion is a non-starter because of the threat it could pose to their political reputation. Medicaid news comes out of Kansas, as well.
With reports on the rise of fentanyl’s lethality, even through accidental exposure, people are being prosecuted for endangering the lives of police officers who respond to emergency calls. Experts, however, say that the science behind accidental exposure doesn’t support the extreme measures. Other news from the national drug epidemic includes: secret OxyContin documents, recovery in a small town, naloxone, a massive drug operation and more.
7-Year-Old Migrant Girl’s Death To Be Investigated By Internal Homeland Security Watchdog
The girl’s death while in Border Patrol custody sparked a firestorm over the care and conditions of detention facilities holding migrant children. The Trump administration called the incident “horrific,” but eschewed responsibility for the girl’s death. Meanwhile, her father is questioning the official report of what happened to his daughter.
Investigation Reveals Johnson & Johnson Knew About Asbestos In Its Talcum Powder For Decades
The company is facing thousands of lawsuits alleging that Johnson & Johnson talc powder contained carcinogenic asbestos. J&J officials have maintained that the product is safe, but internal memos examined by Reuters show that it has been a concern behind the company’s closed doors for decades.
It’s become common practice for Republicans and Democrats alike to try to strategically handpick judges they see as ideologically friendly to their cases.
Democrats Blast ACA Ruling, Vow To Fight It ‘Tooth And Nail’
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said he will try to force a Senate vote to intervene in the federal case while House Democratic leaders plan to order House counsel to defend the health law as soon as they take control of the chamber next year. Meanwhile, President Barack Obama tried to calm any fears that the decision could ultimately strike down his signature domestic achievement.
Republicans just spent months making campaign promises to retain popular provisions of the health law, such as protections of preexisting conditions coverage. The decision to invalidate those measures in a case pushed by Republican attorneys general ties the party, politically, to a decision undercutting those promises. Meanwhile, President Donald Trump touted the decision, calling it “a great ruling for our country.”
What’s Next?: ‘The Main Effect Right Now Is Just A Tremendous Amount Of Confusion’
The judge’s ruling, practically speaking, won’t have an immediate impact on the way the health law operates. With enrollment closing on Saturday, the Trump administration said the court decision has “no impact to current coverage or coverage in a 2019 plan.” But the case, seemingly bound for the Supreme Court, now threatens to complicate a wide array of policies and send a shock wave through a marketplace that’s been in upheaval for years.
Legal Scholars On Both Sides Of ACA Battle Pan Judge’s Ruling, Saying The Reasoning Is Flawed
Had Congress meant to take such radical action as to invalidate the entire law because of one provision, the experts say, it would have said so at the time. “He effectively repealed the entire Affordable Care Act when the 2017 Congress decided not to do so,” Yale law professor Abbe Gluck told The New York Times.
Health Law Cannot Stand Without The Individual Mandate, Federal Judge Rules
In a closely watched case, Judge Reed O’Connor of the Federal District Court in Fort Worth, Texas ruled that the Affordable Care Act’s individual mandate, which Republicans zeroed out with their tax bill, “can no longer be sustained as an exercise of Congress’s tax power.” And the rest of the law cannot be separated from that provision and is therefore invalid, he wrote.
First Edition: December 17, 2018
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Judge Strikes Down Federal Health Law
U.S. District Judge Reed O’Connor, ruling on a suit brought by opponents of the Affordable Care Act, says that the law was invalidated when Congress dropped the tax penalty for not having coverage. Advocates for the law say they will appeal the decision.
Editorial writers weigh in on these health care topics and others.
Research Roundup: ACOs; Diabetes; Food Allergies; And Medicaid
Each week, KHN compiles a selection of recently released health policy studies and briefs.
Media outlets report on news from California, Washington, Tennessee, Missouri, Ohio, Connecticut, North Carolina, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Delaware and Massachusetts.
