Latest KFF Health News Stories
Preexisting Conditions And ‘Medicare For All’ Emerge As Key Health Care Attack Points In Midterms
The two issues are hot topics for both sides’ ads as the 2018 midterm elections near. Meanwhile, Utah Senate candidate Mitt Romney say he doesn’t think a full expansion of Medicaid in the state is viable, but supports partial efforts.
Currently the air ambulance rides fall into a “regulatory blindspot” that leaves patients unprotected for bills ranging up to nearly $100,000. But with Congress working to reauthorize funding for the Federal Aviation Administration, lawmakers have tucked some provisions into the legislation that experts say might be a step in the right direction.
Following the news that HHS would terminate a small contract with a California biosciences firm came a larger announcement that the agency is going to launch a comprehensive review of all government-funded research that uses fetal tissue. Biomedical scientists were alarmed that the audit could lead to restrictions, saying fetal tissue has been vital in testing vaccines, exploring Parkinson’s disease treatments and understanding the transmission of HIV.
Key Republican Senator Urges Colleagues To Take Kavanaugh Accusations Seriously As Hearing Nears
Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), who is eyed as a swing vote on the Supreme Court nomination of Judge Brett Kavanaugh, issued a warning that senators should not prejudge the allegations of Professor Christine Blasey Ford. Meanwhile, the battle heated up as President Donald Trump tried to discredit the second woman who spoke out against his nominee. And Republicans have obtained the services of outside counsel to aid in questioning Ford during Thursday’s hearing.
Negotiators for the House and Senate smoothed out the differences between their two versions on the massive opioid package that lawmakers are banking on as a winning talking point before the midterms. Not included in the final version of the agreement was pharma’s push to use the legislation to roll back a provision that puts them on the hook for covering more drug costs for Medicare beneficiaries. News on the crisis comes out of Minnesota, D.C., and New Jersey, as well.
First Edition: September 26, 2018
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Editorial pages focus on these health care topics and others.
Media outlets report on news from Ohio, South Carolina, Florida, Utah, D.C., Arkansas, Texas, Iowa, California, New Hampshire and Minnesota.
Former Facebook Content Moderator Files Lawsuit, Says Images She Witnessed Gave Her PTSD
Facebook employs more than 7,500 workers to monitor written posts and images. Director of communications Bernie Thomas says Facebook ensures “that every person reviewing Facebook content is offered psychological support and wellness resources.” However, the lawsuit claims workplace safety guidelines aren’t followed.
Rebranding as WW, the 55-year-old company is also creating new rewards programs and blending in popular cultural trends like mindfulness, connecting with others and moving more.
Sepsis can be a catastrophic, life-threatening condition, and patients in the study require critical care. But, in an effort to determine which method works best against sepsis, the patients are limited to one type of treatment. In other public health news, malaria, birth centers, Ebola, and recovery from paralysis.
Judge Dismisses Clinical Labs’ Challenge To A Multibillion-Dollar Medicare Reimbursement Cut
U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson said that the court has no jurisdiction to hear the case because Congress “expressly precluded judicial review” of such issues. Meanwhile, as Medicare’s open enrollment season creeps closer, there are some traps for new beneficiaries to avoid.
Democratic Candidate In Massachusetts Gubernatorial Race Snags NARAL Support
NARAL Pro-Choice Massachusetts PAC says it needs a “vocal champion” and has found one in Democrat Jay Gonzalez, who is running against Republican incumbent Gov. Charlie Baker. More news on midterm races and ballot initiatives comes out of Massachusetts, Tennessee and Texas.
Money Managers Betting On Stability, Success Of Health Care Stocks
Rising interest in health care stocks coincides with surging profits across the industry. Plus, the needs of an aging population are expected to insulate companies from a downturn.
The pledge called on countries to develop national action plans to reduce demand for illicit drugs through education, expand treatment efforts, strengthen international cooperation on justice, law enforcement and health, and cut off the supply by stopping production.
Lawmakers, Advocates Accuse Pharma Of Trying To Hijack Opioid Bill With ‘Doughnut Hole’ Change
The pharmaceutical industry has been trying to get Congress to change a law passed earlier this year that requires drug manufacturers to provide deeper discounts to Medicare beneficiaries whose spending on prescription drugs falls within a range called the coverage gap. The fast-moving, massive opioid package seemed like a perfect opportunity for the drug companies, but the move is sparking outrage from some lawmakers and consumer advocates.
The company says that it’s offering the generic treatment so that it can lower costs for patients, but skeptics say Gilead’s expensive hepatitis C drugs has put them behind competitors who are offering much cheaper versions. Meanwhile, an Associated Press investigation finds that it’s been mostly business as usual for pharma, despite President Donald Trump’s vows to cut drugs costs.
Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh and his original accuser Christine Blasey Ford will testify on Thursday in front of the Judiciary Committee, a hearing that many moderate Republicans say will be crucial to figuring out how to proceed. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, however, is standing firm on pushing for a full Senate vote as early as next week.
First Edition: September 25, 2018
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Editorial pages look at these health care issues and others.
