Latest KFF Health News Stories
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.
Opioid Deaths Push Challengers To Run Against Incumbents Who ‘Sold Out’ To Drug Companies
As 2018 elections loom and the opioid crisis weighs heavy on voters’ minds, the Ways and Means Committee is expected to begin marking up bills intended to curb opioid abuse.
For ever woman who dies, there are 70 who come close. And the rate of severe complications from childbirth has been rising faster than the rate of women who died.
Vermont’s Successful Experiment To Lower Health Costs Closely Watched By Other States, Experts
Vermont’s program — that both incentivizes doctors to keep patients as healthy as possible and focuses on social factors that play a role in people’s wellbeing — is expected to be within 1 percent of meeting its financial target. Meanwhile, insurers look beyond just the doctor’s office, in an effort to cut costs.
The agency warns states that didn’t expand Medicaid that their requests need to include a plan to avoid the “subsidy cliff,” in which a person earns too much to keep their Medicaid coverage and too little to qualify for a tax credit on the insurance exchange. News on Medicaid comes out of Iowa, Michigan and Virginia, as well.
In Politically Charged Year, Democrats Talk Up Expanded Government Role In Health Care
Voters have signaled that health care will be a key issue in the elections, and Democrats hope that the tables have turned from previous election cycles when they were on the defense. Meanwhile, the federal penalty for the individual mandate may be gone, but that doesn’t mean everyone can eschew insurance.
