Morning Breakouts

Latest KFF Health News Stories

Privacy Guidelines For Genetic-Testing Sites Touted As ‘Step Forward,’ But They Don’t Address De-Identified DNA

Morning Briefing

Samples that are stripped of any identifying details are extremely lucrative to pharmaceutical companies and other medical organizations, but the consumers have no way of knowing when their data is used. In other public health news: birth defects, Ebola, scooter injuries, brain surgery, and more.

FDA Had ‘Fox Guarding The Henhouse’ When It Came To Regulating Powerful Class Of Fentanyl

Morning Briefing

The agency entrusted enforcement of the drugs to the companies that were making them, documents show. “People were getting hurt — and the FDA sat by and watched this happen,” Dr. Andrew Kolodny, an opioid policy researcher at Brandeis University, tells The New York Times. Meanwhile, under pressure, another pharmaceutical wholesaler agrees to boost oversight of its opioid distribution.

Trump Administration Puts Burden On ACLU To Locate Deported Parents Of Separated Children

Morning Briefing

The American Civil Liberties Union is pushing back, saying that the White House’s “unconstitutional separation practice” precipitated the crisis and that the federal government has far more resources than non-governmental organizations to find the parents.

Bipartisan Majority Knocks Down Cruz’s Attempt To Kill D.C.’s Version Of Individual Mandate

Morning Briefing

Following the defeat of the measure, Mayor Muriel Bowser said, “Senator Ted Cruz — who otherwise loathes federal government intrusion — launched the most recent attempt to undermine the will of Washingtonians, and we are grateful that a bipartisan majority in the Senate tabled his amendment.” News on the health law comes out of Missouri and Illinois also.

Major Cities Sue Trump Claiming President Is Failing To Uphold His Constitutional Duty To Enforce Health Law

Morning Briefing

Baltimore, Chicago, Cincinnati and Columbus filed the suit, pointing to President Donald Trump’s own words that he is trying to kill the Affordable Care Act. Legal experts say the cities are unlikely to succeed in their suit.

Does One Of Best-Selling Drugs In World Trigger Compulsive Behavior? Scientists Can’t Figure Out The ‘How’

Morning Briefing

Hundreds of lawsuits claim that Abilify, which can be taken for depression and anxiety, causes gambling, binging, and other compulsive acts. But scientists say that if it does play a role, there are likely other factors also at play. In other public health news: tuberculosis, 3D-printed guns, cancer survivors, sleep, worker injuries, and more.

After Tearful Reunion With Her Toddler, An Immigrant Mother Keeps Her Daughter Close By As Questions Loom About Their Future

Morning Briefing

It took more than three months, several DNA studies and other tests before an undocumented mother was reunited with her 1-year-old daughter. She had many questions, but the caseworker who delivered her child disappeared before she could ask them.

Painkiller-Makers Pouring Money Into Communities, States That Are Suing Them Over Opioid Crisis

Morning Briefing

The companies are doling out money to nonprofits, in a move that could potentially be building goodwill ahead of the massive legal battle the industry is about to face. Meanwhile, KHN takes a look at how competition in the early days of the opioid push helped shape the companies’ strategies.