Latest KFF Health News Stories
Media outlets report on news from California, Illinois, Tennessee, Minnesota, Idaho, Colorado, Texas, Ohio, Maryland and Arizona.
Puerto Rico Releases Data Showing Higher Hurricane Maria Death Toll
The information supports other research finding the death toll from last September’s hurricane far exceeds 64, the official number. In other news, water service on the U.S. island remains spotty.
Texans Want State Leaders To Lower Health Care Costs, Consider Expanding Medicaid, Poll Finds
In a state that prides itself on a less-government-is-better mantra, the findings might reflect changing values: 64 percent think Medicaid should be expanded.
Relatively Flat Growth In Medical Costs Is Steady Yet Unsustainable For Consumers
“It looks like costs are stabilizing, but they are still going up at a rate above inflation,” said Barbara Gniewek, of PricewaterhouseCoopers. “They are still increasing at an uncontrolled level and are ultimately unsustainable.”
This Scientist’s ‘Reason To Live’? Helping Others Fight The Disease That Has Ravaged His Body
Rahul Desikan had just begun the biggest study ever of the genetics of ALS when he himself was diagnosed with the disease. Now he’s continuing his research even as the condition takes its toll on his health. In other public health news: cellular recycling, JUUL, fertility treatments, IBM’s Watson, gang violence, and living wills.
There were flaws found in the way the study was conducted, as it is hard to clinically test the benefits of any specific diet, but many experts are still putting stock in the findings.
Why Middle-Age Suicides Have Become A Chronic Problem In America
Experts talk about the problems that arise around midlife — such as health issues, social isolation and financial stress — that are playing a role in the sharp uptick of suicides the country is seeing in those who are middle-age.
DEA’s Crackdown On Opioids Has Led To Uptick Of Illicit Trading On Digital Black Market
Sales of prescription opioids on so-called cryptomarkets rose faster after 2014 in the U.S. than elsewhere. By July 2016, sales through cryptomarkets in the U.S. represented 13.7 percent of all drug sales.
Work Requirements For Medicaid Programs Are About To Get Their Day In Court
As more and more states start adding work requirements to their Medicaid programs, this court will decide if they’re legal. Medicaid news comes out of Kansas and Iowa, as well.
The measure from Rep. Doris Matsui (D-Calif.) could clarify the intent of the program and define which patients are eligible — two bones of contention over the program, which requires pharmaceutical companies to give steep discounts to hospitals and clinics that serve high volumes of low-income patients. In other news from Capitol Hill: CHIP funding, an Indian Health Services bill, and gun control.
If the pre-existing conditions provision of the health law is stripped away by an upcoming court case — which the Justice Department announced last week it will not defend — it won’t just affect people who buy their health care on the health law marketplace. Meanwhile, a group of Democratic lawmakers are demanding more information on the administration’s decision, and candidates plan on using it as a talking point in the upcoming midterms.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Opinion writers look at these and other health care issues.
Perspectives: FDA Needs To Demand More From The Drugs It Approves
Read recent commentaries about drug-cost issues.
Despite All The Talk About Cutting Drug Costs, Triple-Digit Spikes In Prices Are Still Around
News outlets report on stories related to pharmaceutical pricing.
Media outlets report on news from Texas, Puerto Rico, Maryland, Oklahoma, California, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, Illinois and Arkansas.
Vaccination Exemptions For Kids Are Causing Pockets Of Vulnerability To Spread Across U.S.
“We were able to identify some scary trends that were happening,” said Peter Hotez, dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine at the Baylor College of Medicine and one of the study authors. There were both rural and urban areas that were identified as being vulnerable because of a high number of exemptions. In other public health news: CRISPR, eggs, c-sections, emergency go-bags, snacks, “chemobrain,” electrocardiograms, and more.
Despite Progress Made Against HIV, These Three Very Different Communities Show The Fight Isn’t Over
PBS Newshour examines the social stigma, economic hurdles, and other obstacles that stand in the way of beating the HIV epidemic.
More Than One-Third Of Americans Take A Medication That Has Depression As Potential Side Effect
The side effect was well known in some of the drugs, but to see it listed on others was a surprise, the study’s authors say. The topic of suicide and depression has been thrust into the spotlight following two celebrity deaths and a startling CDC report last week.
AMA Adopts Nearly A Dozen Gun-Related Proposals After Strong Outcry From Doctors
“We as physicians are the witnesses to the human toll of this disease,” Dr. Megan Ranney, an emergency-medicine specialist at Brown University, said at the American Medical Association annual policymaking meeting. The group voted to support age bans, safety-class requirements, better training for physicians, and more.
