Latest KFF Health News Stories
Despite Litany Of Red Flags, Purdue Continued To Pursue Profits Over People, Unsealed Lawsuit Claims
The newly unsealed 274-page lawsuit from Tennessee against the opioid-maker provides deeper details about the warning signs Purdue allegedly ignored in pursuit of profits. News on the epidemic comes out of Illinois and Pennsylvania as well.
Insurers are making patients pay a higher portion of the pricey drugs’ costs, but pharmaceutical companies are parrying that move by dramatically raising the financial aid they offer, in the form of “copay assistance” cards.
EPA Report On Dangers Of Formaldehyde To Most Americans Being Deliberately Delayed, Sources Claim
The new assessment on the chemical could lead to greater restrictions and possible class-action lawsuits. “They’re stonewalling every step of the way,” one official said, accusing political appointees of interfering with the formaldehyde assessment and other reports on toxic chemicals.
In Wake Of Court’s Decision On Kentucky’s Work Requirements, Mississippi Tweaks Its Own Waiver
But advocates in Mississippi remain alarmed about the work proposal as the revamped policy could still lead to loss of coverage. More on Medicaid comes out of Kentucky and Nebraska.
HHS Secretary Alex Azar says there have been obstacles to meeting the deadline on returning young children to their parents, but the agency is using DNA to help match the families.
The upcoming fight over the Supreme Court nomination has Democrats walking a fine line of protecting vulnerable seats and not discouraging their revved-up liberal base. Their strategy: make the conversation about both abortion and the health law. For moderate Democrats who can’t defend abortion rights in their red states, they have the ACA as a talking point. Meanwhile, a nominee could be named as early as Monday, but behind-the-scenes sources say President Donald Trump hasn’t settled on a pick yet.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Editorial pages look at these and other health issues.
Opinion writers express views about how to address the opioid epidemic.
Opinion writers express views on anti-abortion and abortion right movements.
Longer Looks: AIDS Victims; Food Recalls; And The Dangers Of Power
Each week, KHN’s Shefali Luthra finds interesting reads from around the Web.
Media outlets report on news from Connecticut, Puerto Rico, Missouri, Maryland, California, Colorado, Pennsylvania, Texas, Florida, Arizona, Ohio, Kansas and Tennessee.
One-Two Punch Of Combining Antibiotics Could Help Combat Ever-Increasing Drug Resistance
With antibiotic drug resistance on the rise, those in the medical field are looking for ways to outsmart bacteria. In other public health news: vaccines, walking drunk, testosterone, exercise, probiotics and more.
Glitches At Embryo Storage Clinics Spark Movement To Increase Oversight Of Facilities
Assisted reproduction is largely self-regulated in the United States, and many lawmakers in the past have shied away from the potentially politically fraught issue. But that may change following a clinic’s mishap earlier this year.
HPV Test More Sensitive To Precancerous Cell Changes Than Widely Used Pap Smear, Study Finds
Most medical groups have been recommending both tests, but now some experts suggest the HPV test alone is sufficient. Almost all cervical cancers are caused by the human papillomavirus.
Drug Companies Announce Hefty Price Increases In Move Critics Say Is Tone Deaf In Current Landscape
Public and congressional anger is high when it comes to drug costs, but price tags continue to rise. Meanwhile, CVS Health pushes back against HHS Secretary Alex Azar’s comments that the company is standing in the way of lower costs.
Democrats Focus On Medicaid Work Requirements In Race For Coveted Kentucky House Seat
In a state that leans Republican, Democrats hope to use the latest efforts to add restrictions to Kentucky’s Medicaid program as a rallying point for their congressional candidate, Amy McGrath, who is running against U.S. Rep. Andy Barr. Meanwhile, Kansas Gov. Jeff Colyer says he’ll still pursue work requirements even after Kentucky’s waiver was blocked by a judge.
Although HHS didn’t write the separation policy, it has become enmeshed in the public relations nightmare for its role of housing the children separated from their parents at the border. Meanwhile, officials try to cut down on lawmakers’ unannounced visits to the detention centers.
The Stubborn Resilience Of The Affordable Care Act
Despite Republicans’ efforts to chip away at the law, experts say, “The market is in a better position now than it has ever been since the exchanges have opened.”
Some of the lawsuits challenge the reasons to allow a woman to get an abortion, while others debate the method a physician could use. And many of them could be turned into a broader discussion about overturning Roe v. Wade. Meanwhile, because of those ramifications, the open Supreme Court seat is ramping up the heat during an already charged midterm season.
