Latest KFF Health News Stories
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.
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.
