Latest KFF Health News Stories
Since 2013, Walmart has given the option for employees to travel to certain hospitals and has offered to pay for expenses as well as the full procedure. Half of the workers who volunteered to travel ended up avoiding the high-cost surgery even though their local doctors said it was needed, so the company is now expanding the policy so it’s mandatory starting in January. Other health care spending news looks at diabetes, genetic testing, mammograms and retirement.
“What if we gave organizations more flexibility so they could pay a beneficiary’s rent if they were in unstable housing, or make sure that a diabetic had access to, and could afford, nutritious food?” HHS Secretary Alex Azar said. The proposals are part of a broader strategy in health care to address social determinants that impact patients’ wellbeing. Meanwhile, Medicaid programs are a driving force behind rising state spending.
When asked about the agency’s implementation of the “Right to Try” law — which allows desperate patients access to drugs that haven’t been approved by the FDA — Dr. Peter Marks, director of the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, pointed to stem cell clinics as an example of the sometimes fatal consequences of an unregulated industry. In other pharmaceutical news: blood pressure medication is recalled; a study finds that rapid release Tylenol is actually slower than others to dissolve; a watchdog agency reports that a Ginkgo biloba supplement had neither ingredient in it; and more.
Rep. Frank Pallone (D-N.J.) says fast-tracking generic drug approvals is also on the agenda. Meanwhile, the Trump administration moves forward with ideas to curb high drug prices — specifically plans that don’t need congressional approval. And, Michigan’s Medicaid program is granted a waiver to pay for drugs based in part on how well they work.
Health Law Enrollment Numbers See Slight Dip From Last Year, But It’s Too Early To Call It A Trend
Some experts are worried the slower rate is a grim sign of things to come, but others say there are reasons the numbers might be lower — such as consumers being distracted by the election in early November.
‘Profound’ Study Challenges Traditional Diet Tenet That All Calories Are Created Equal
A study that was unique in both its size and rigor found that adults who cut carbohydrates from their diets and replaced them with fat sharply increased their metabolisms. Meanwhile, states want to get kids moving, but children of low-income families struggle to get to parks because of lack of transportation.
First Edition: November 15, 2018
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Editorial pages focus on these public health topics and others.
Read recent commentaries about drug-cost issues.
News outlets report on stories related to pharmaceutical pricing.
Media outlets report on news from Massachusetts, Texas, New Hampshire, Missouri, North Carolina, Florida, California, Hawaii and Ohio.
Leapfrog’s Hospital Safety Grades For Delaware, D.C., North Dakota Are Worst Among 2,600 Facilities
While hospitals in Texas, New Jersey, Oregon, Virginia, and Massachusetts have the the highest percentage of “A” graded hospitals. Leapfrog grades are based on 28 factors, including responsiveness of staff, doctor procedures and outcome measures.
“What we do know is that these patients had fever and respiratory symptoms three to 10 days before their limb weakness,” CDC’s Dr. Nancy Messonnier said. “And we know that it’s the season where lots of people have fever and respiratory symptoms. What we need to sort out is what is the trigger for the [acute flaccid myelitis].”
NRA Tweet Opens Floodgate Of Doctors Sharing First-Hand Experience With Gun Violence
“I see no one from the @nra next to me in the trauma bay as I have cared for victims of gun violence for the past 25 years,” one doctor wrote in response to NRA’s suggestion. “THAT must be MY lane. COME INTO MY LANE. Tell one mother her child is dead with me, then we can talk.”
A ProPublica investigation shines a light on Oregon’s unique process of reviewing the cases of defendants found not guilty by reason of insanity. About 35 percent of the people in that category were charged with new crimes within three years of being freed by state officials.
Hundreds Of Californians Still Missing As Death Toll Rises To 48 In State’s Most Destructive Fire
“It’s just earthshaking for all of us, you know?” said Chico resident Tammy Mezera. Other news on the fires report on the searches for victims, the technology being used to identify the dead, closures caused by poor air quality and the expected impact on everyone’s pocketbooks.
Local Ties In Suit Against Opioid Manufacturer Makes Case Personal For New Jersey Officials
The Johnson & Johnson subsidiary that New Jersey says minimized the risks of opioid addiction in its marketing messages is based in the state. “It is especially troubling that so much of the alleged misconduct took place right here in our own backyard,”said Gurbir Grewal, the New Jersey attorney general, at a news conference announcing the legal action. “New Jersey’s pharmaceutical industry is the envy of the world, with a long history of developing vital, lifesaving drugs. But we cannot turn a blind eye when a New Jersey company like Janssen violates our laws and threatens the lives of our residents.” Meanwhile, Naloxone can be a lifesaving drug, but not all pharmacies are on board with offering it. News on the epidemic comes out of Oregon, Kansas, New Hampshire and California, as well.
The Brockton VA nursing home is a one-star facility, the lowest rating in the agency’s quality ranking system of its 133 nursing homes.
A New York Times analysis looks at the financial impact of hospital consolidation. The new research confirms growing skepticism among consumer health groups and lawmakers about the enormous clout of such hospital groups.
HHS To Relax Outdated Restrictions On Medicaid Funding For Mental Health Inpatient Treatment
The initial exclusion was meant to phase out the use of psychiatric wards by preventing Medicaid from paying for treatment in facilities with more than 16 beds, but this rule ended up leaving many vulnerable patients without care. The expanded waivers would let Medicaid pay for patients for an average of 30 days.
