Latest KFF Health News Stories
Legal experts say that nursing facilities rejecting patients on addiction medication violates the Americans with Disabilities Act, yet an investigation finds that it’s a common practice. In more news on the crisis: medical groups are advocating for a new reimbursement model of physicians who treat opioid patients; researchers find that organ transplants from overdose victims fare as well as from traditional donors; West Virginia reaches a settlement with a pharmacy over its distributing practices; and more.
‘You Can’t Hate Up Close’: How Personal Connections To Opioid Crisis Change How Lawmakers Address It
No one is being spared from the opioid epidemic — including the families and loved ones of members of Congress.
News That Amazon Is Shelving Plans To Sell Drugs To Hospitals Sends Distributors’ Stock Soaring
“This is not necessarily an all-clear event for the supply chain,” said Eric Coldwell, an analyst at Robert W. Baird & Co. “Still, it’s a good reminder that Amazon’s supply chain ambitions might not be as big as feared or valuations indicate.”
Immunotherapy Drug Significantly Boosts Odds Of Survival For Lung Cancer Patients
The study is a huge victory, and could lead to doctors changing the standard way they treat the common form of lung cancer, experts say.
Trump To Give Speech On Drug Prices, But No New Policies Are Expected To Be Unveiled
President Donald Trump’s remarks are expected to coincide with a formal request for information from HHS on various ideas to lower prescription drug costs.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Editorial pages focus on these and other health topics.
Perspectives: Flint Residents Are Being Asked To Trust A Government That Betrayed Them
Editorials focus on the crisis of trust among Flint residents as the state cuts off its bottled water program.
Media outlets report on news from Michigan, New York, Maryland, Florida, Illinois, Minnesota, Texas and Missouri.
Company Recalls More Than 200 Million Eggs Following Salmonella Outbreak
Rose Acre Farms is recalling the products after federal officials tied illnesses to the company’s facility in North Carolina.
Older Americans Without Adult Children Need To Be Proactive In Creating Aging Plans, Experts Say
There’s a growing population of older adults without children having to navigate getting older and the pitfalls that come with it. But it can be done successfully, experts say. In other aging news: the financial toll of dementia, older patients who have been living with HIV, positive perceptions about aging, and more.
Experts caution that extending use of the tests to the broader population may lead some people of average risk to forgo recommended screenings or, on the flip side, lead to unnecessary and extreme medical procedures. In other public health news: a smart gun, drug-resistant typhoid, viruses, hypertension, the dangers of sitting, bright lights for hospital patients, and more.
A Vaccine For Opioid Addiction? It Might Not Be That Far Off
The vaccine would stop opioids by effectively blocking them from reaching the brain by way of the circulatory system. It is one suggestion in a renewed push to treat addiction like a disease rather than a lack of willpower or character flaw.
Pure Caffeine Products Banned From Being Sold In Bulk Directly To Consumers
The FDA says that the products “present a significant public health threat” and that it will immediately begin removing them from the market.
New CVS Hire Signals Company’s Interest In Providing Medical Services Directly To Consumers
Marc-David Munk, a proponent of in-clinic diagnostics and treatment, will become CVS’s chief medical officer for its MinuteClinics.
Virginia Lawmakers Add Tougher Medicaid Work Requirements In Attempt To Reach Agreement On Budget
The House Appropriations Committee passed the new version of the budget that includes a handful of amendments to woo Senate Republicans. The lawmakers in the upper chamber had blocked the budget earlier because of the House’s attempts to expand the state’s Medicaid program. Medicaid news comes out of Colorado, Tennessee, Mississippi, Florida and Maine, as well.
The tactic of suing companies over potentially harmful products is a lucrative one, and those looking to get a chunk of that money have made a business out of luring women into sometimes unnecessary procedures to make them a more valuable plaintiff.
Some in the movement see the possible retirement of Justice Anthony Kennedy as their chance to have the Supreme Court revisit Roe v. Wade. Other activists want to focus on more incremental gains instead, though.
Pharma’s Anti-Competitive Tactics That Stymie Generics Drugmakers Targeted By Officials, Lawmakers
Generic drug developers need samples of brand-name drugs to show that a generic copy is equivalent to the original, but the drug companies are refusing to provide samples of their products. In other pharmaceutical news: an appeals court hands the industry a victory in price gouging case; a former Mallinckrodt employee claims she was fired for warning company about illegal sales practices; and a shortage of EpiPens outside the U.S.
GOP Candidates Shy Away From Once-Favorite ‘Repeal And Replace’ Talking Point
After years of using the health law as a rallying cry with voters, Republican candidates are keeping quiet on the topic. “Yeah, we probably can’t talk credibly about repeal and replace anymore,” said Rep. Tom MacArthur (R-N.J.).
