Latest KFF Health News Stories
Experts talk about why there isn’t as much public support when survivors talk about why they stayed as there is for women sharing their sexual harassment and abuse stories. Part of the reason, other than safety and stigma, is that while #MeToo exemplifies the strength of multiple accusations, domestic violence survivors are often the lone voice speaking up about their individual experience.
Active drug users are at a greater risk of dying than ever before because of fentanyl, and the illicit drug is not going away, according to Jay Butler, an Alaskan health official. Other news on the opioid epidemic focuses on rural American attitudes, newborns, life-saving naloxone and more.
The company, Devoted Health, was founded last year by Todd Park, a former chief technology officer for the Obama administration, and Ed Park, a former Athenahealth executive. In other health industry news: the ripple effects of Anthem’s privacy breach settlement; UnitedHealth earnings projections; and Catholic Health Initiatives’ merger with Dignity Health
California’s population of immigrants who do not qualify for plans under the health law could make it difficult to get the uninsured number any lower. News on health law plans comes out of Virginia, as well.
Joan Barry is a state legislator who has been a member of the Missouri Democratic Party for decades. She’s also stands against abortion, which has put her at odds with the majority of her own party. Midterm election news also comes out of Michigan, Missouri, Oregon, Florida and Massachusetts.
CDC Stumped By Polio-Like Paralyzing Illness In Children As Cases Surge In 22 States
The condition striking kids in a growing number of states is called acute flaccid myelitis and it can cause paralysis, but health officials are unable to find a cause for the increased number of cases. The wave of illnesses seems to come in alternating years, and this one is similar to surges seen in 2014 and 2016.
The lawsuit alleges the insulin makers fraudulently set an artificially high “list” price but then negotiate lower prices by paying rebates and discounts to pharmacy benefit managers. Stories of patients dying because they weren’t able to pay for their insulin have brought attention to the issue in recent months. Minnesota is the first state to go to court over the prices.
Stat takes a look at what those five drugmakers are spending on ads right now and how they might be impacted by the Trump administration’s proposal to require prices to be included. Meanwhile, some families who have struggled with high drug costs are frustrated that the plan might not actually lower prices.
First Edition: October 17, 2018
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Editorial pages focus on these and other health care issues.
Media outlets report on news from South Dakota, California, Iowa, Wisconsin, Connecticut, Kansas, New Hampshire and Minnesota.
The genome itself doesn’t change, but research about mutations and diseases linked to certain genes does update. And when that happens, there’s no good way to inform people who think they’re in the clear.
First Flu Death Of The Season Is An Unvaccinated Child From Florida
Florida health officials have not revealed the name of the child or where the child lived, but they are saying he or she was healthy before getting the flu. The CDC — which has reported almost 200 children were listed among last year’s 80,000 flu fatalities — is urging everyone to get a flu shot.
The success of a therapy technique that injects viruses into bacteria and lets them reproduce like crazy until the germs explode was great news for Dr. Carl Merril — and convinced him to return to work as a government scientist, starting a new company. Other public health news includes: babies’ sleep, depression, maternal death rates, caregivers, medical data profits, mental health and surgery center ratings.
Dr. Piero Anversa popularized the idea of stem cell treatment for damaged hearts, prompting the formation of start-up companies to develop new treatments for heart attacks and stroke. Harvard has called for the studies to be retracted.
“The flu season is just upon us, and we are seeing that we are having difficulty getting our immigrant children and adults in for flu shots,” said Dr. Lisa Ward, president of the board of the California Association of Family Physicians. “It is quite likely that one of the reasons is that they are too afraid not only to get health care for the adult parents but for their U.S.-born children as well, and that’s just one tiny bit of health care.” News on the policy comes out of Texas and Massachusetts, as well.
No matter the outcome, the massive $69 billion deal between the pharmacy chain and the health insurer will likely transform the health care landscape if it gets final approval from state regulators.
The Anthem settlement is nearly three times larger than the previous highest amount paid to the government in a privacy case. In other health industry news: telemedicine fraud, tariffs and health care construction, and electronic health records.
Mary Mayhew, who was announced as the deputy administrator and director of Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program, worked previously as Maine’s health commissioner under Gov. Paul LePage, a Republican known as a fierce opponent to Medicaid expansion.
Another 4,100 Dropped From Arkansas’ Medicaid Rolls After Failing To Properly Report Work Hours
And the report found that another 4,800 people are at risk at losing coverage if they don’t meet the work requirement by the end of this month. For critics of the requirements, it’s their worst fears realized. “This is an absolute train wreck, and it is a slow-moving train wreck that the state can stop at any time,” said Sam Brooke, deputy legal counsel for the Southern Poverty Law Center, one of three groups that had sued Arkansas over the mandate.
