Latest KFF Health News Stories
Opinion writers weigh in on the allegations against Brett Kavanaugh.
Perspectives: While Congress Sleeps, The Opioid Crisis Continues To Get Worse
Editorial writers weigh in on the nation’s opioid epidemic.
Media outlets report on news from D.C., Missouri, California, Virginia, Ohio, Texas, Kansas, Florida, Wisconsin and Georgia.
And scientists are starting to think we need to create a new mouse model. In other public health news: dyslexia, alcohol, depression, autism, organ transplants, sleep and more.
Results of a large clinical trial were reported Sunday. “It’s a huge advance,” said Dr. Howard Herrmann, the director of interventional cardiology at the University of Pennsylvania. “It shows we can treat and improve the outcomes of a disease in a way we never thought we could.” Other reports on heart health focus on dangerous, undiagnosed holes in the heart and the benefits of fish oil.
The agency is tasked with making sure that compounded drugs, which are made at facilities that don’t have to meet the same standards as regular drug manufacturers, are safe. Director of the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research Janet Woodcock says that her inspectors are seeing concerning problems, but lacks resources to be truly effective.
CMS Targets Regulation That Penalizes Hospitals If Too Many Patients Die After Organ Transplants
CMS officials say they’re eliminating inefficiencies created by the regulation on hospitals’ Medicare funding, but advocates say rolling the rule back weakens the government’s authority to hold transplant programs accountable if they fail to provide safe patient care.
A 50-page report from the VA’s Office of Medical Inspector discrediting accusations against the Manchester VA Medical Center sparked outrage by advocates and the whistleblowers who made the allegations, including claims that the center used dirty equipment, neglected veterans and had flies in its operating rooms.
Opioid Bill Gives Endangered Republicans A Health Care Talking Point On The Campaign Trail
The massive bipartisan opioid package allows incumbents to highlight a victory ahead of the midterm elections. Meanwhile, health groups are worried measures in that package threaten Medicare discounts. And news on the national drug crisis comes out of Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Ohio and Arizona, as well.
Second Accuser Comes Out Against Kavanaugh As Ford Agrees To Testify This Week
Soon after Christine Blasey Ford agreed to testify in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee on her allegations against Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, another woman came forward. Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) is now asking for the hearing to be delayed so that the FBI can conduct an investigation.
Democrats Hammer Health Care Message As Republicans Focus On Discord Over ‘Medicare For All’
Even Democratic candidates on the campaign trail in traditionally deep red states are using the threat to the health law’s preexisting conditions in ways that would have been unthinkable a few years ago, while Republicans target progressives’ support of universal health care. Meanwhile, The New York Times fact checks President Donald Trump’s promises to protect preexisting conditions coverage.
Medicaid Beneficiaries Won’t Report Hours If They Don’t Know The Requirements Exist
Thousands of people were dropped from Arkansas’ Medicaid rolls after failing to report new required work hours, but advocates say that’s because people don’t realize they have to. The federal government invested millions into getting the word out about the health law, and still it took years for people to understand what it was. States have far fewer resources and time.
The Trump administration announced last week that it will divert nearly $200 million in public health funding to support the cost of housing detained immigrant children. Advocates and lawmakers sound the alarm over the shift.
The proposal would expand the parameters that immigration officials use to determine if an immigrant is likely to become a “public charge.” Currently, cash benefits are taken into account, but the administration wants to allow officials to consider legal immigrants’ use of public health insurance, nutrition and other programs as a strongly negative factor in their applications for legal permanent residency.
With Immediate Threat From Florence Dissipated, Carolinas Begin Long Recovery Process
Public health threats will continue to plague residents who were impacted from Hurricane Florence, including the fallout from toxic coal ash pouring into a river that supplies drinking water.
First Edition: September 24, 2018
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Editorial pages focus on these and other health issues.
Research Roundup: Employer-Sponsored Health Care; Cost Of Care; And Medicaid
Each week, KHN compiles a selection of recently released health policy studies and briefs.
Media outlets report on news from New Hampshire, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Massachusetts, Maryland, Tennessee, Louisiana, Texas, Washington, Ohio, Connecticut, California, Minnesota and Kansas.
The legislation was one of several bills California Gov. Jerry Brown (D) addressed this week. Brown also signed into law a measure that requires restaurants to offer water or milk as the default drink for children’s meals, but vetoed a statewide change to school start times.
