Latest KFF Health News Stories
Despite Intense Public And Congressional Scrutiny, Pfizer Raises Prices For More Than 40 Drugs
News outlets report on stories related to pharmaceutical pricing.
Media outlets report on news from California, Connecticut, Massachusetts and Oregon.
Calif. Hospital To Pay $550K Following Investigation Into Hundreds Of Cases Of Patient Dumping
Dumping homeless patients — discharging them when they have nowhere to go other than a shelter unequipped to handle their medical needs — is a national issue that has hit California particularly hard. Meanwhile, a study looks at different teaching hospitals to break down the social dynamics within surgical teams.
Temporary Injunction Against Arkansas’s Law To Restrict Abortion Pills Extended
The judge said that the state cannot impose any civil or criminal penalties on clinics for continuing to administer the abortion pills, but that they must continue trying to find contracting physicians as required by the law. In other women’s health news: candidates focus on abortion while campaigning, and Poland offers insights on how Texas could better improve maternal health.
Many Users Of DIY Genetic Testing Don’t Understand The Results May Not Be Conclusive
More people are flocking to genetic testing, but false positives are rampant and can lead to weeks of unnecessary panic. In other public health news: sepsis, lung cancer, mental health, hogweed and food labels.
Self-Harm Spiking Among Teen Girls In Part Because Of Online Bullying, Sexual Assault
The study looked at differences between states, finding that, out of the states involved in the survey, Idaho has the highest prevalence of self-harm among girls. In other news on children’s health: lithium experiments, autism, dietary supplements, and drownings.
Coffee Drinkers May Live Longer, And It Doesn’t Matter If It’s Caf, Decaf, Instant Or Brewed
Abstainers aren’t advised to start drinking coffee, but the research is great news for java lovers and supports previous studies. “It’s hard to believe that something we enjoy so much could be good for us. Or at least not be bad,” said Tufts University nutrition expert Alice Lichtenstein.
The experiment, which zapped certain parts of the brain, found a 54 percent reduction in aggressive intentions in the group receiving the stimulation and a 31 percent jump in their sense of moral wrongfulness about acts of aggression.
“Do you know how much an ambulance costs?” the passenger said, even though she had a laceration that was so deep it was exposing bone.
Trump Names Top White House Lawyer To Oversee U.S. Drug Enforcement, Focus On Opioid Epidemic
Uttam Dhillon also served under President George W. Bush as director of the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Counternarcotics Enforcement. In other news on the national drug crisis: big gains for businesses and more lawsuits against manufacturers.
CMS Wants To Experiment With Alternative Pay Model For Medicare Advantage Plans
The agency is also considering paying home health agencies for remote patient monitoring.
Pharma Companies Race To Develop Rapid-Acting Anti-Depressant
Right now, it can takes weeks to see if an anti-depressant is effective. And if it’s not, the patient is stuck back at square one.
Kentucky Governor Cuts Coverage For 460,000 As ‘Unfortunate Consequence’ To Work Requirements Ruling
Republican Gov. Matt Bevin’s office said the Medicaid work requirement changes had offered “a sustainable path” to provide the dental and vision benefits, but said the judge’s move to block them means there’s “no longer a viable method” to provide the services. Some experts say, though, that the announcement is misleading and people will continue receiving their benefits.
The data shows that, even though the total number of people choosing a health plan for 2018 dipped, a higher proportion of those who picked coverage went on to make a premium payment so that they would actually be insured.
Collins Thinks Chief Justice Roberts Will Act As Bulwark Against Attempts To Overturn Roe V. Wade
“I think, for example, [Chief Justice] John Roberts given his respect for precedent and his cautious approach, despite what personal views he may hold, I would be very surprised if the chief justice would ever vote to overturn Roe v. Wade, just to give you an example,” Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) said. Collins, who has a history of supporting abortion rights, is being watched carefully as one of the crucial votes for any Supreme Court nominee.
Liberal Groups Gird For A Fight As Trump Begins Interviewing Supreme Court Nominees
A new group is pouring millions into the fight over the Supreme Court pick. Meanwhile, President Donald Trump’s widely publicized list of potential nominees was a winning part of his campaign strategy, but it may now have become a liability.
NOTE TO READERS: KHN’s First Edition will not be published July 4. Look for it again in your inbox July 5. Here’s today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Viewpoints: Fight Back Against The Ban On Soda Taxes; Stop Using Opioid Prescriptions As Easy Fix
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Editorial pages express views on health care policy issues.
Media outlets report on news from Connecticut, California, Ohio, New York, Colorado, Minnesota, Arizona, Michigan, Tennessee and Iowa.
