Latest KFF Health News Stories
Editorial pages focus on these health topics and others.
Perspectives: Valeant May Be Ditching Its Name, But It Can’t Outrun Its Past Misdeeds
Read recent commentaries about drug-cost issues.
News outlets report on stories related to pharmaceutical pricing.
Media outlets repot on news from Colorado, California, Connecticut, Georgia, Maine, Massachusetts, Texas, Maryland, Minnesota, Arizona, Washington and Virginia.
Thousands of University of California workers were joined in sympathy strikes by the California Nurses Association and the University Professional & Technical Employees.
Precision Medicine Could Help Narrow Down Treatment For Depression, But It Will Be Tricky
Researchers want to use precision medicine to try to tackle depression in the way they use it to fight other diseases, but a lot of hurdles remain. “It remains to be shown that depression coalesces into neat subcategories, as opposed to being a fuzzy set,” said Dr. Steven Hyman, of the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard. In other public health news: crowdfunding scams, artificial intelligence, healthy sperm, back pain, and brain fluid leaks.
Previously, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force said that for men aged 55 to 69, the cons outweighed any net benefits of screening. But researchers have found that testing for the prostate-specific antigen can save lives.
Thousands Of Nursing Home Residents Face Eviction Due To Louisiana’s Cuts To Medicaid Funding
In addition, the cuts could force nursing homes to close, leaving more than 25,000 people unemployed. Medicaid news comes out of Illinois, Nevada and Missouri, as well.
Former CMS Administrator Andy Slavitt says his new firm, Town Hall Ventures, will invest in companies that are geared toward serving high-risk patients and tackling problems such as the opioid epidemic, mental health, loneliness, maternity health, kidney dialysis and care to people in the earliest and latest stages of life.
Pharma Company At Heart Of Price Gouging Outrage Shucks Old Name In Hopes For Fresh Start
Valeant announced that it will change its name to Bausch Health Companies. “We think this name captures who we really are becoming,” said Chief Executive Joseph Papa. “We are much more than a pharmaceutical company.”
California Counties File New Lawsuits Against Opioid Manufacturers, Distributors
The 30 counties formed a coalition to develop their litigation strategy, which will likely be sent to an Ohio judge who is overseeing hundreds of other opioid lawsuits from across the country.
Bill Granting Veterans More Freedom To Seek Care Outside VA System Moves Forward In House
The legislation also contains $5.2 billion to keep the Veterans Choice Program funded until the new system can be implemented. Without action, the program will run out of money by May 31.
Republicans counter, saying Americans are now just seeing the “true costs of a terribly flawed Obamacare health system.”
Following Furor Over High Salary, CDC Chief’s Compensation Cut To $209,700
When first in the job, CDC Director Robert Redfield’s $375,000 salary was almost twice that of his predecessor.
‘It Is A Red Flag’: Lawmakers Balk At Trump’s Proposal To Cut Funding For Popular CHIP Program
Administration officials say the proposed $7 billion cut wouldn’t negatively affect the Children’s Health Insurance Program, because it would target an emergency fund that states can tap into if they have higher-than expected enrollment and other money that can’t be spent.
Most Drug Distributors Skirt Responsibility For Any Role In Opioid Epidemic During Testimony
Only one executive at the congressional hearing said that his company had a “shared responsibility” for the opioid crisis. Lawmakers hauled the companies to Capitol Hill after an investigation into alleged pill dumping in West Virginia found that a small town was flooded with painkillers.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Editorial pages focus on these and other health topics.
Opinion writers look at topics surrounding health care.
Media outlets report on news from Massachusetts, California, Connecticut, Minnesota, Maryland, Illinois, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Kansas and Texas.
