Latest KFF Health News Stories
In Progressive States, Abortion Foes Make The Fight About Money Instead Of Morality
Although defeating abortion rights efforts in liberal-leaning states is still an uphill battle for anti-abortion activists, they see an opportunity in appealing to an anti-tax faction. Oregon’s referendum on banning public funds for the procedure could offer a template for the strategy. News on abortion comes out of Louisiana, as well.
Drug For Rare And Fatal Disease Approved By FDA, But Given Black Box Warning
The warning is the strongest label the FDA can put on a prescription drug. In other news, the agency is banning the use of seven types of synthetic food additives.
HPV Vaccine Approved For Adults Up To 45
The cancer vaccine had previously only been approved for teens and young adults up to the age of 26, but testing done in older adults showed the treatment worked for them, too. In women 24 through 45, the original Gardasil was about 90 percent effective three years after the women received a third dose.
With Brett Kavanaugh on the bench, the Supreme Court is likely to be pulled right just as hot-button cases work their way through the lower courts. But it’s not clear yet what strategy the justices will use when deciding to tackle such politically charged issues — such as abortion and Planned Parenthood funding.
The New York Times fact checks President Donald Trump’s recent statements about the health law — and finds both truth and exaggeration. Meanwhile, insurers in the individual marketplace are returning to the financial stability of pre-ACA times.
Therapy Dogs Can Bring Joy And Relief To Hospitalized Kids — But They Can Also Bring Superbugs
Kids who spend more time with the dogs had a 6 times greater chance of coming away with superbug bacteria than kids who spend less time with the animals, a new report finds. In other public health news: primary care doctors, the flu, breast feeding, vaping, allergies, insomnia, memory, and more.
First Edition: October 8, 2018
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Editorial pages focus on insurance, public health and other health care issues.
Columnists take a look at women’s health issues.
Research Roundup: Sexual Harassment; The Health Law And Small Businesses; Childhood Language
Editorial pages focus on these and other health issues.
Media outlets report on news from Colorado, Hawaii, Kentucky, Montana, New Mexico, Puerto Rico, Connecticut, Ohio, California, Utah, Minnesota, Georgia, Arizona, Louisiana, Florida and Massachusetts.
The program’s goal is to use gene-editing technology to get insects to infect plants with viruses that protect against such dangers.
Flu season is about to ramp up, and officials are trying to get out the word. But a look at how the flu virus hits different population centers highlights that cities should focus on reducing spread while rural areas should focus on reducing harm. In other public health news: special education, cognitive behavior therapy, DNA, HIV organ donations, mental health and dirty air.
Since 1981, the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation has granted over 1,000 “no-strings-attached” grants to a mix of artists, scientists, writers and social justice advocates. Meet a few of the 2018 fellows.
The Wisconsin money involved 1,654 “capitation payments,” which are monthly fixed payments to managed care organizations on behalf of enrolled individuals who are low-income or who have disabilities. Medicaid news comes out of California, as well.
Women Taking Daily Baby Aspirin Have Reduced Risk Of Ovarian Cancer
But researchers found no risk reduction for those women taking a full dose of aspirin.
It’s possible Missouri’s abortion restrictions are headed for the Supreme Court. But for now, take a look at what’s happening in the state. Meanwhile, a federal judge knocks down part of a St. Louis ordinance banning employers from hiring or firing workers based on whether they have had an abortion, been pregnant outside marriage, or used contraceptives or artificial insemination.
The move comes on the heels of the FDA’s surprise raid of the Juul headquarters in an investigation seeking information on the company’s marketing practices.
CMS To Bolster Oversight Of Commission That Inspects Hospitals For Safety Violations
The move comes following a Wall Street Journal investigation that found that the commission that inspects hospitals typically took no action to revoke or modify its accreditation when state inspectors find serious safety violations. Other hospital news comes out of Massachusetts and Virginia, as well.
MiMedx’s Limit On Range Of Products It Sold To VA Forced Government To Buy More Expensive Treatments
At Veterans Affairs and Department of Defense hospitals, The MiMedx Group — which manufactures skin grafts and injectable products from donated placental tissues — didn’t offer the small sizes of two popular products it offered elsewhere. As a result, the government agencies had to buy bigger, more expensive offerings for smaller treatments, former employees said.
