Latest KFF Health News Stories
If You Live To 105, Your Chance Of Dying Actually Goes Down. But Getting There Is Tough.
A new study raises new questions about how long humans can live.
In other news on the pharmaceutical industry, Acceleron experimental blood disease drug hits goal, conflicts of interest of top policy expert often goes undisclosed, and pharmacies face a shortage of more effective shingles vaccine through 2018.
Justice Department Announces Hundreds Of Charges Related To Health Care Fraud, Opioid Epidemic
Not all of the cases were related to the opioid crisis, but the Justice Department emphasized the crackdown on people it says are contributing to the epidemic, including doctors running “pill mills.”
The State Department report also cautioned that the practice can cause lasting psychological harm and should only be used as a temporary, last resort.
Amazon’s $1B Purchase Of PillPack Offers Another Hint At Company’s Ambitious Health Care Plans
Amazon announced that it is buying PillPack, which sells pre-sorted packets of prescriptions drugs, delivering them to customers in their homes. The news seemed to be a confirmation of the worst fears of some in the industry — that Amazon is going to make an aggressive play for a chunk of the pharmacy business. But actually disrupting the health care industry will be a challenge.
Supreme Court Agrees To Take Up Case On Product Warnings Related To Osteoporosis Drug
The pharmaceutical industry has argued that once the Food and Drug Administration approves product labeling, a drugmaker cannot be sued in state court for failing to warn about risks.
All Eyes Are On Collins And Murkowski As Fate Of Roe V. Wade Hinges On Who Fills Kennedy’s Seat
Abortion rights advocates are uniting behind a rallying cry of: “Remember Susan Collins! Remember Lisa Murkowski!” The two senators have a history of supporting abortions rights, and will be pivotal in the vote on whomever President Donald Trump chooses to fill Anthony Kennedy’s seat. Meanwhile, without a filibuster option, Democrats are scrambling to figure out how to have a say, and anti-abortion rights activists plot their strategy.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Research Roundup: TV Ads And The Individual Market; Differences In Obesity By Demographics
Each week, KHN compiles a selection of recently released health policy studies and briefs.
Opinion writers look at these and other health topics.
Editorial pages focus on the pivotal role Justice Anthony Kennedy played in protecting abortion rights, what the future holds for Roe v. Wade and other health issues.
Longer Looks: The Court Without Kennedy; The Neuroscience Of Pain; And Medicaid Work Requirements
Each week, KHN’s Shefali Luthra finds interesting reads from around the Web.
Media outlets report on news from California, Connecticut, Washington, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Ohio, Maryland, Illinois, Arizona, Texas, Kansas, Georgia, Puerto Rico, New Hampshire and Massachusetts.
White House Plan Would Slash Public Health Corps That Responds To Disasters, Disease Outbreaks
“I don’t quite understand the animosity toward the Commissioned Corps,” said Jim Currie, executive director of the Commissioned Officers Association of the U.S. Public Health Service. “These folks are doing day jobs” — at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institutes of Health and elsewhere within the government — “and when they’re needed, they go and deploy and work their butts off for 12 to 14 hours a day.” In other public health news: genealogical sleuthing; cancer patients who defy the odds; bird flu research, mid-life fitness benefits, cancer care for older patients and circadian lighting.
Texas Patients, Families Detail Experiences With How Managed Care Companies Failed Them
Texas state lawmakers called a hearing about the companies after an investigation found that the MCOs failed to provide care for vulnerable Texans. Medicaid news comes out of Kentucky, Missouri and Iowa, as well.
Republicans’ latest attempt to chip away at the health law involves the administration backing away from defending the pre-existing conditions provision in court. If upheld, the effects could be more wide-ranging than some might expect. In other health law news, high deductibles mean some families are putting off getting care.
As Pressure Mounts From All Sides, Purdue May Be Cutting Back On Marketing For Opioids
In 2016, drugmakers spent $15.8 million to pay doctors for speaking, consulting, meals and travel related to opioid drugs. That was down 33 percent from $23.7 million in 2015 and is 21 percent less than the $19.9 million in spent in 2014. Meanwhile, federal regulators want internet companies to take a bigger role in fighting the epidemic.
Massachusetts wanted to exclude some drugs from coverage under its Medicaid program — a common negotiating tactic for private insurers looking to avoid paying for costly therapies. The Trump administration decided that the proposal goes too far, handing the pharmaceutical industry a win.
HHS Inspector General To Investigate Safety And Health Protections In Shelters For Migrant Children
GAO will also launch an investigation into the way HHS tracked minors in the system. HHS and DHS have been widely criticized for a seemingly haphazard approach to family separations. In other news: a look at how separations affect children’s well-being, a judge’s ruling on reunification, toddlers in court by themselves, and more.
VA Nominee Vows To Oppose Privatization, Tackle Long Wait Times
Robert Wilkie, President Donald Trump’s current pick to lead the troubled Department of Veterans Affairs, pledged to “shake up complacency” at the agency during his Senate hearing. He is expected to be confirmed with little opposition from Democrats.
