Latest KFF Health News Stories
House Easily Passes Sweeping Opioid Package, Sending It To Senate
The legislation is a rare bipartisan effort that lawmakers in hard-hit states are touting as a victory as they campaign for the midterm elections.
Government Shutdown Averted After Trump Signs Spending Bill
The legislation includes a big bump for the National Institutes of Health, as well as an overall increase in funding for HHS.
Midnight Journeys To Move Immigrant Children To Texas Tent City Play Out Across Country
To deal with the surging shelter populations, which have hovered near 90 percent of capacity since May, a mass reshuffling of detained immigrant children is underway and shows no signs of slowing. Hundreds of children are being shipped from shelters to a West Texas tent city each week, totaling more than 1,600 so far. Meanwhile, the Trump administration is seeking authority to block abortions sought by undocumented immigrants under 18.
Most of Democrats’ past attempts to campaign on the health law’s Medicaid expansion have fallen flat, but state Rep. Beto O’Rourke talks about bringing more people into the program at every campaign event as he campaigns against Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas). O’Rourke isn’t the only Democrat pushing expansion — gubernatorial hopefuls are seizing on the issue as well.
The Associated Press fact checks statements from President Donald Trump about what’s going on with those popular provisions, the threat to which has voters worried just weeks before midterms.
Studies show that physicians with mental health conditions have long been discriminated against and suicides have often been kept hidden from colleagues and the public. Some doctors are trying to fight that stigma.
The Swedish Academy said that the work done by Drs. James P. Allison and Tasuku Honjo constitutes “a landmark in our fight against cancer.” The revolutionary treatment harnesses the body’s own immune system to find and fight cancer.
First Edition: October 1, 2018
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Opinion writers weigh in on these and other health topics.
Media outlets report on news from Connecticut, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Massachusetts, Vermont, California, D.C., Wisconsin, Georgia, Ohio, Colorado and Kansas.
Research Roundup: Tuberculosis; Heart Health; And Spinal Cord Injuries
Editorial pages focus on these and other health issues.
How CTE Unraveled The Life Of A Young Football Player
When Daniel Te’o-Nesheim was young he loved football. Once he joined the pros he started showing early symptoms of CTE, a neurological disease found in athletes who play the sport. In other public health news: depression, caffeine, back pain, clinical trials, cannabis drugs, and more.
While a similar ruling in Texas was struck down by the U.S. Supreme Court in 2016 because it would place undue burdens on women, the Louisiana appeals court ruling said no there is no evidence any clinics will close because of the provision. Opponents claim it’s very hard to get admitting privileges. News on women’s reproductive health comes out of Georgia, Texas and California, also.
The push is part of a renewed focus on medication-assisted treatment for those addicted to opioids. It’s often hard for patients to find a doctor who is able to prescribe the necessary drugs. Meanwhile, in Congress’ sweeping opioid package is a provision to shield people who are trying to buy cheaper, needed prescription medication from other countries. More news on the drug crisis comes from Massachusetts, Ohio, North Carolina and Kansas, as well.
Aetna To Sell Medicare Part D Business As Step Forward In Deal With CVS
Industry experts say regulators may have been concerned about a Medicare business overlap between Aetna and CVS.
The work requirements have drawn criticism after more than 4,000 Arkansas residents lost Medicaid coverage after three months of failing to report their hours. CMS Administrator Seema Verma once again touted the number of people who found work underneath the rules, and said the government would continue monitoring the data closely going forward. Meanwhile, the battle over Medicaid expansion continues to play out in Maine and a study looks at the effects of expansion for rural residents.
The marketplace is getting stronger and next year’s premiums are not expected to be as shockingly high as previous years. While HHS Secretary Alex Azar credits that success to President Donald Trump’s policies, other experts say that it’s because states’ insurance departments have been working to blunt the attacks to the law. Meanwhile, Azar took a swing at Democrats’ “Medicare for All” plan, saying it’s too good to be true.
Judiciary Committee Set To Vote On Kavanaugh Following Emotional, Heated Hearing That Riveted Nation
It’s unclear whether Republicans have the votes to get Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh through following the fireworks of Thursday’s hearing, but the votes are set both for the committee and the full Senate, with procedural votes on Saturday and Monday and a final confirmation vote on Tuesday. Meanwhile, experts dig into the psychological trauma of sexual assault and Christine Blasey Ford’s testimony.
Surgeon General: It’s ‘A Social Responsibility To Get Vaccinated’ For The Flu
Health officials are urging everyone get a flu shot this year. “I’m tired of hearing people say, ‘Well, I didn’t get sick and I didn’t get the flu shot.’ Or, ‘I don’t like it, my arm hurts,’” said Jerome Adams, U.S. Surgeon General. “Those 80,000 people who died last year from the flu, guess what? They got the flu from someone.”
First Edition: September 28, 2018
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
