Latest KFF Health News Stories
Legislation Making It Tougher To File ADA Complaints Passes House On Mostly Party-Line Vote
Proponents of the bill said the changes would protect businesses from frivolous lawsuits, but advocate groups warned that the changes would shift the burden to people with disabilities who aren’t able to access public spaces instead of the businesses in violation of the ADA.
Virginia Lawmaker Becomes First Republican In State To Explicitly Call For Medicaid Expansion
Republicans in Virginia have been softening their stance against expansion in recent weeks because of the Trump administration’s decision to grant work requirement waivers.
Imposing Work Requirements Just Tip Of Iceberg In Administration’s Goal To Restructure Medicaid
Lifetime limits and monthly premiums are just some of the other ideas states are floating after being encouraged by the Trump administration to retool their Medicaid programs. Media outlets report on Medicaid news out of California, New Hampshire, Kansas, Maryland and New York, as well.
In Face Of Skepticism, HHS Secretary Vows Trump’s Proposed Budget Really Would Lower Drug Prices
HHS Secretary Alex Azar pointed to two specific provisions as he defended the plan: how Medicare Part D recipients who have reached the “catastrophic coverage” phase would have more of the cost of their prescription drugs paid for by private insurance and how the administration has proposed changing the way in which out-of-pocket costs are calculated.
Travel Scandal Just Latest Spark In Fiery Infighting Between VA Secretary’s Supporters, Opponents
Veterans Affairs Secretary David Shulkin, the only holdover from the Obama administration, thinks he’s being forced out by political rivals. Shulkin has come under fire this week for a European visit last summer that used taxpayer dollars for his wife’s travel. The secretary has promised to reimburse the government for the amount.
HHS Will Take Wait-And-See Approach To Idaho Going Rogue On Health Law Regulations
Facing questions from the Senate Finance Committee, HHS Secretary Alex Azar would not commit to stepping in to block Idaho’s move to allow insurers to sell plans that don’t meet the health law’s rules.
How Florida Shooter Slipped Through The Gaps Of A Fractured Mental Health System
There were several warning signs that could have potentially helped avert the mass school shooting in Florida, but were missed or written off. Meanwhile, news outlets look at the psychological toll events like this take on teens.
HHS Chief Wants CDC To Conduct Gun Research, Waving Off Congressional Restrictions
“We believe we’ve got a very important mission with our work with serious mental illness as well as our ability to do research on the causes of violence and the causes behind tragedies like this,” HHS Secretary Alex Azar said. “So that is a priority for us.” Others spoke out about the longstanding policy that bars CDC from studying gun violence as a public health issue, as well.
As national focus turns to mental health after the mass shooting in Florida, advocates warn against making assumptions about violence and mental health. “It feels like mental illness is being used as a political football to deflect attention away from some other important issues,” said Ron Honberg, senior policy adviser at the National Alliance on Mental Illness.
First Edition: February 16, 2018
NOTE TO READERS: KHN’s First Edition will not be published Feb. 19. Look for it again in your inbox Feb. 20. Here’s today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Longer Looks: Feuding Sacklers; Expensive Procedures; And The Flu
Each week, KHN’s Shefali Luthra finds interesting reads from around the Web.
Opinion pages feature stories on these topics and other health care issues.
Editorial writers focus on the health policy topics of the day.
Media outlets report on news from New York, California, Maryland, Wisconsin, Illinois, Massachusetts, Oregon, North Carolina, Texas and New Orleans.
N.H., Baltimore Want To Curb Soda Consumption For Kids At Restaurants
Meanwhile, McDonald’s has announced it is removing cheeseburgers as an option for kids’ meals. By 2022, McDonald’s aims to have at least half of its Happy Meals contain 600 calories or less.
Fecal Transplants Gaining Traction In Era Where Doctors Are Trying To Rein In Use Of Antibiotics
The Infectious Diseases Society of America is now recommending fecal transplants at least be considered for patients with C. diff. In other public health news: hysterectomies, yellow fever, breastfeeding, autism, HPV, medical records and more.
During A Nasty Flu Season, Promising Drug That Kills The Virus Is On Horizon
A Japanese company says its drug reduced influenza viral load to undetectable levels within 24 hours for more than half of the 414 participants in a study. Tamiflu similarly killed the virus, but only in 9 percent of its participants, the company said.
Blood Test For Concussions Approved By FDA For First Time
Currently, most patients with suspected traumatic brain injury are evaluated using a neurological exam, followed by a CT scan. FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb said that the blood test could save the health care system money by preventing unnecessary scans.
Surge Of Babies Born Addicted To Opioids Has Outpaced Science Of How To Treat Them
Hospitals around the United States are taking a scattershot approach to treating the tremors, hard-to-soothe crying, diarrhea, and other hallmark symptoms of newborn abstinence syndrome. In other news: a medication-assisted treatment program in Rhode Island jails shows success; public health advocates are concerned with the pick for “drug czar”; the surgeon general has advice about supporting long-time recovery in those battling addiction; senators want information on if new opioid rules are working; and more.
‘People Are Afraid’: Families Who Rely On Safety Net Programs Despair Over Trump’s Budget Proposal
The plan takes aim at programs like Medicaid that are designed to help struggling Americans. Those who receive benefits are afraid of what the proposed cuts means for them. Meanwhile, House Democrats are asking the HHS Secretary to reject states’ requests to enforce Medicaid work requirements, and Kentucky’s changes to its program will actually cost the state more money than if it didn’t touch it.
