Latest KFF Health News Stories
Three Years After Anthrax Scare, Defense Department Still Behind On Biosafety Upgrades, Report Finds
“When it comes to reforming procedures, this is not a one-off thing that you can do once and take a vacation,” said Gigi Gronvall, a biosecurity expert at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security. In other public health news: yoga and meditation, Alzheimer’s, germs, concussions, and food safety.
Since last year’s hurricane, The National Science Foundation has funded a small set of water studies, finding possible lead contamination significant enough to warrant further investigation. News on water safety comes out of Detroit, also.
Researchers are more and more trying to break taboo’s on unique treatments for military veterans with mental health disorders. A new study on how an octopus given Ecstasy acts offers clues about how the drug can be used in broader settings.
Scientists Take A Step Closer To Creating Human Eggs In A Lab Dish Using Stem Cells
The technique might someday help millions of people suffering from infertility because of cancer treatments or other reasons, but is also ethically controversial because it involves human intervention in creating life.
Part of the problem is that the real-life application of the models is far too complicated to analyze. But experts say if the government overhauls how models are developed they might save money.
Funds for the Children’s Health Insurance Program are technically outside the jurisdiction of the Appropriations Committees and don’t count against annual discretionary caps, and the pool of “contingency money” dedicated to the program has been tapped sparingly. Medicaid news comes out of Alabama and Maine, as well.
‘A Lot Of Opportunities’ Exist For Cutting Drug Costs, Trump Health Official Tells Congress
Joe Grogan, OMB’s associate director for health programs, didn’t specify what lawmakers can do before year’s end to stem rising costs, but one bill with bipartisan support helps generic companies obtain samples of brand drugs as part of the development process. News on the industry also spotlights a new lobbying heavyweight for PBM and Medicaid pharmaceutical spending.
America’s Drug Death Trends Are More Complex Than The Current Narrative About Opioid Overdoses
Overdose deaths are on a sharp upward trajectory, but the roles different drugs play in that overarching epidemic has been simplified to focus on opioids. A new study reveals the depth of the crisis in America over the past four decades, and offers a grim picture of the country’s future. In other drug-related news: hospitals and addiction treatment; the Trump administration’s efforts to curb the epidemic; information exchanges; and more.
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and its officials hold an equity stake in the artificial intelligence startup to which the center has granted exclusive rights to use its vast archives. The connections raised some eyebrows so soon after the resignation of the center’s chief medical officer over his failure to disclose financial conflicts.
In February, Congress passed a provision forcing drug manufacturers to pay more for drugs used by Medicare beneficiaries. The industry has been railing about the change ever since, and the bipartisan opioid package might be lawmakers’ chance to hand pharma a big win.
HHS Secretary Alex Azar became the public face of the crisis because his agency is responsible for housing the migrant children that were separated from their parents. The Washington Post looks at how he handled the pressure. Meanwhile, Azar plans to shift millions from public health programs to help pay to house detained migrant children.
If Congress Can Assure Her Safety, Kavanaugh Accuser Says She’s Open To Testifying
Christine Blasey Ford originally said she wouldn’t testify about her allegations against Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh without an FBI investigation. While that’s still her preference, she said that she’s willing to come in next week “on terms that are fair.” Meanwhile, psychological experts dig into the complexities of memory.
First Edition: September 21, 2018
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Editorial pages focus on these health issues and others.
Longer Looks: Deaths In Maria; The Apple Watch; And A Fake Town For Dementia
Each week, KHN’s Shefali Luthra finds interesting reads from around the Web.
Media outlets report on news from New York, Connecticut, Tennessee, Delaware, South Dakota, Michigan, Massachusetts, Wisconsin, California, Florida, Oregon, Texas, Arizona, New Hampshire and Missouri.
Here Comes Flu Season: Health Law Requires Free Vaccines, If You Know Where To Get One
It’s no surprise the CDC wants more people to get the flu shot — only 40 percent of adults do. But what many people might not know is where to get the vaccine for free and that it’s your best bet to prevent the flu. Meanwhile, Delaware is reporting its first cases of the season, a month earlier than last year.
If states address the issue at all, the panels usually end up blaming the mothers’ health conditions and lifestyle choices rather than looking at hospitals and the quality of care delivered by providers. For example, In Louisiana — the deadliest state in America for pregnant women and new mothers — the state’s 2012 report on maternal deaths emphasized suicide, domestic violence and car crashes.
Drug Companies Back New California Bill To Protect Integrity Of Research Data From Consumers
The legislation comes in reaction to a law that was geared toward protecting consumer privacy. Drug companies say, though, that it could inadvertently invalidate research, make it difficult to obtain funding and ultimately drive scientists from the state. In other industry news, companies in Massachusetts are being wooed by Maryland, and Europe signs off on another Humira copy.
CRISPR’s International Patchwork Of Patents
There’s been a bitter and fierce battle between the Broad Institute and the University of California over patents for the technology. In the U.S., courts have come down firmly on the side of the Broad Institute, but internationally it’s a different story.
