Latest KFF Health News Stories
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Editorial pages focus on these and other health care topics.
Opinion writers express views on these and other health topics.
Media outlets report on news from California, Texas, Massachusetts, Tennessee, Georgia, Missouri, Minnesota, Florida and New Hampshire.
Do-It-Yourself Gene-Editing Revolution Poised To Go Catastrophically Wrong
The most pressing worry is that someone could use the budding technology to create a bioweapon. But experts are also concerned about the safety of so-called biohackers with altered genes that they brewed at home. In other public health news: fertility advances, LGBTQ teens, immunotherapy, PTSD, strokes, and more.
Melania Trump’s Embolization Procedure Explained
First lady Melania Trump underwent the procedure and will remain in the hospital for the week. The purpose of an embolization is to cut off the blood supply to a lesion to cause it to shrink and ultimately die off.
Maryland’s current model, which was approved in 2014, doesn’t provide comprehensive coordination across the entire health care system, so the federal government required the state to develop a new model to include health care that patients receive in the hospital and in the community.
Virginia’s budget has been held up by a fight over whether to expand the state’s Medicaid program. Meanwhile, activists stage a “die-in” at the state’s Capitol over the debate.
Providers Eager For Amazon To Expand Into Medical Supply Space, Disrupt Prices
But it remains to be seen whether Amazon will expand beyond commodities and target more specialized medical devices and equipment that physicians prefer.
Doctors Who Receive Freebies From Drug Companies Tend To Prescribe More Opioids
And the ones who didn’t, cut back on their prescription practices. The freebies most often came in the form of meals. In other news on the crisis: the Justice Department is joining a kickback case; hospitals are experiencing an opioid shortage; Delaware officials are releasing strategies on combating the epidemic; and more.
The Trump administration is considering reinstating back Reagan-era regulations that banned organizations receiving Title X funding from promoting or referring patients for abortions. But if Planned Parenthood is cut off from that funding, other Title X providers would not be able to absorb the patients, more than 200 Democratic lawmakers said in a letter to HHS.
Meanwhile, the Democrats are unifying behind a strategy that capitalizes on the health law’s rising popularity and points fingers at the Republicans for high premiums.
HHS Secretary Alex Azar blasted a long-standing Democratic idea for Medicare to negotiate drug prices, saying it would deny access to medicines “through rationing or setting prices,” which he called a “move toward socialized medicine.” However, Azar did promise to upend Medicare Part B’s payment structure.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Opinion writers focus on these and other health care topics.
Editorial writers focus on President Donald Trump’s speech on lowering drug prices and Michael Cohen’s payment from Novartis.
Media outlets report on news from Texas, Puerto Rico, California, Seattle, Minnesota, Colorado, Tennessee, Louisiana and Missouri.
WHO Wants Countries To Remove Or Limit Trans Fats Over Next Five Years
The World Health Organization promotes a six-point blueprint called “Replace” to help governments implement regulations, create awareness and take other steps to eliminate trans fats in their countries.
Regulatory Action Lags Even As Carbon Monoxide Deaths From Keyless Cars Mount
Many people think that when they take the keys from the car, the vehicle turns off. But it remains on, and deadly gas can seep into their homes as a result. In other public health news: suicide, cancer, gene-editing, senior bullying, Ebola, sepsis and more.
Doctors Should Be Discussing Gun Safety With Aging Patients, Researchers Say
“No one would challenge you about discussing driving safety with a patient having memory trouble,” said Dr. Donovan Maust, a University of Michigan psychiatry professor.
