Latest KFF Health News Stories
News outlets report on stories related to pharmaceutical pricing.
Media outlets report on news from Kansas, California, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Iowa, Florida, Minnesota, Texas and Virginia.
California Lawmakers Send Nine Gun-Control Measures To Governor, Including Wait Times, Lifetime Bans
The news of the legislation was hailed as far away as Parkland, Fla., the site of February’s school massacre. “If we had these bills in place in Florida, then I would not have had to go through this tragedy and lose some of my friends,” said Sari Kaufman, 16. In other gun news, the Florida commission studying the Parkland shootings is making recommendations to improve school safety.
How Do You Live With Cancer When Its Recurrence Is A ‘When’ Instead Of An ‘If’?
Adam Hayden was diagnosed with glioblastoma more than two-years ago. His doctor told him since the very first day that it will come back, leaving him and his wife to navigate through daily life without knowing how much time they have left. In other public health news: concussions, maternal health, caregiving, exercise, alcohol abuse, and more.
“Just as local governments had to lead during the HIV epidemic, cities like ours will be on the forefront of saving lives in the opioid crisis,” said James Garrow, a spokesman for Philadelphia’s Department of Public Health. Justice Department officials last week promised “swift and aggressive” action against any city that set up such a site. In other news on the crisis: California’s proposed prescription drug take-back law, the opioid package in the Senate, Rudy Giuliani’s connection to Florida’s investigation into OxyContin marketing, and kratom.
French Drugmaker Sanofit Pays $25 Million To Settle SEC Bribery Charges
The Securities And Exchange Commission outlined various ways the company violated the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act in multiple countries and sent a signal it would be monitoring businesses in countries where it’s often difficult to gain sales.
But then a larger hospital in Naples, Fla. derailed those plans by asking the state to deny the proposal, saying that the small, rural hospital would siphon away patients and revenue. “It’s just horribly mean,” Dr. Beau Braden said. Meanwhile, growing consolidation among hospitals and doctors’ practices in California is linked to higher health insurance premiums and higher prices for care.
Comcast Executive Nabbed For COO Position At Amazon-JPMorgan-Berkshire Health Initiative
The initiative from Amazon, JPMorgan Chase and Berkshire Hathaway is recruiting an executive team to help craft solutions to skyrocketing health care costs. The latest hire is Jack Stoddard, who has been credited with bringing an innovative approach at Comcast to employee health.
Scandal-Ridden Theranos To Formally Dissolve Following Failed Bid To Sell The Blood-Testing Company
The big-name investors who poured money into Theranos will get nothing. All told, investors in Theranos have lost nearly $1 billion.
Republican Sen. Heller Tries To Go On Offensive Over Health Care After Challenger’s Attack
Rep. Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.) had previously challenged Sen. Dean Heller (R-Nev.) for initially opposing attempts to repeal the health law before switching to support it. Heller fired back saying Rosen has “done nothing to fix health care. Nothing. Zero.”
If the judge rules that the health law is unconstitutional because Congress zeroed-out the individual mandate, 17 million people could lose their insurance and popular provisions — such as protections for preexisting conditions and coverage for young adults up to age 26 — could be wiped out. Democrats are seizing on the challenge as a 2018 campaign talking point.
Supreme Court Hearings Provide Platform For 2020 Contenders’ Campaign Speeches
Sens. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and Cory Booker (D-N.J.) were all vocal in their resistance to Kavanaugh, in what might be a theatrical preview of an unpredictable 2020 race against President Donald Trump.
In a recent lawsuit where an undocumented teenage immigrant sued to be allowed to have an abortion, Brett Kavanaugh wrote that HHS shouldn’t be required to allow an abortion and that a delay until the plaintiff found a sponsor didn’t constitute “undue burden.” Many of the raucous protests at the hearings were sparked by concerns about women’s rights.
“If you want to pick judges for your way of thinking, then you better win an election,” Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) told Democrats who dominated the first day of hearings for Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh. Republicans remained mostly unfazed, confident that they have enough votes to get him through.
First Edition: September 5, 2018
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Opinion writers weigh in on these health topics and others.
Perspectives: Keeping Medications Away From Pain Sufferers During Opioid Epidemic Is No Solution
Opinion writers express views about how to ease health problems stemming from the opioid crisis.
Editorial pages examine health insurance issues.
Media outlets report on news from Massachusetts, Michigan, Texas, California, Ohio, Tennessee, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Kansas, Louisiana, Minnesota, Connecticut and Maryland.
Patrick Soon-Shiong had vowed to turn the Verity Health hospital system around, but over the past year, it continued to struggle. Hospital news comes out of Texas, D.C. and Illinois, as well.
