Latest KFF Health News Stories
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.
According to sources, the frontrunners for Justice Anthony Kennedy’s spot are: Anthony Brett Kavanaugh of Maryland, of the D.C. Circuit; Raymond Kethledge of Michigan, of the Sixth Circuit; and Amy Coney Barrett of Indiana, of the Seventh Circuit. President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence are reported to have spoken with some of the contenders.
States that are enacting regulations on opioids have, in theory, built in ways for people with chronic pain to continue getting the medication they need. But patients say that’s not what’s happening.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Opinion writers weigh in on health topics.
Editorial pages focus on the potentially crucial role the replacement of Justice Anthony Kennedy will have on health issues.
Read recent commentaries about drug-cost issues.
Despite Intense Public And Congressional Scrutiny, Pfizer Raises Prices For More Than 40 Drugs
News outlets report on stories related to pharmaceutical pricing.
Media outlets report on news from California, Connecticut, Massachusetts and Oregon.
Calif. Hospital To Pay $550K Following Investigation Into Hundreds Of Cases Of Patient Dumping
Dumping homeless patients — discharging them when they have nowhere to go other than a shelter unequipped to handle their medical needs — is a national issue that has hit California particularly hard. Meanwhile, a study looks at different teaching hospitals to break down the social dynamics within surgical teams.
Temporary Injunction Against Arkansas’s Law To Restrict Abortion Pills Extended
The judge said that the state cannot impose any civil or criminal penalties on clinics for continuing to administer the abortion pills, but that they must continue trying to find contracting physicians as required by the law. In other women’s health news: candidates focus on abortion while campaigning, and Poland offers insights on how Texas could better improve maternal health.
Many Users Of DIY Genetic Testing Don’t Understand The Results May Not Be Conclusive
More people are flocking to genetic testing, but false positives are rampant and can lead to weeks of unnecessary panic. In other public health news: sepsis, lung cancer, mental health, hogweed and food labels.
Self-Harm Spiking Among Teen Girls In Part Because Of Online Bullying, Sexual Assault
The study looked at differences between states, finding that, out of the states involved in the survey, Idaho has the highest prevalence of self-harm among girls. In other news on children’s health: lithium experiments, autism, dietary supplements, and drownings.
Coffee Drinkers May Live Longer, And It Doesn’t Matter If It’s Caf, Decaf, Instant Or Brewed
Abstainers aren’t advised to start drinking coffee, but the research is great news for java lovers and supports previous studies. “It’s hard to believe that something we enjoy so much could be good for us. Or at least not be bad,” said Tufts University nutrition expert Alice Lichtenstein.
The experiment, which zapped certain parts of the brain, found a 54 percent reduction in aggressive intentions in the group receiving the stimulation and a 31 percent jump in their sense of moral wrongfulness about acts of aggression.
“Do you know how much an ambulance costs?” the passenger said, even though she had a laceration that was so deep it was exposing bone.
Trump Names Top White House Lawyer To Oversee U.S. Drug Enforcement, Focus On Opioid Epidemic
Uttam Dhillon also served under President George W. Bush as director of the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Counternarcotics Enforcement. In other news on the national drug crisis: big gains for businesses and more lawsuits against manufacturers.
CMS Wants To Experiment With Alternative Pay Model For Medicare Advantage Plans
The agency is also considering paying home health agencies for remote patient monitoring.
Pharma Companies Race To Develop Rapid-Acting Anti-Depressant
Right now, it can takes weeks to see if an anti-depressant is effective. And if it’s not, the patient is stuck back at square one.
