Latest KFF Health News Stories
Ahead Of Vote, Wisconsin Governor’s Reinsurance Plan Gets Support From Medical Community, Insurers
Gov. Scott Walker’s bill would authorize Wisconsin to seek a federal waiver to offer a reinsurance program to lower premium costs. Under the program, the government would provide money to health insurance providers to pay for between 50 percent and 80 percent of medical claims costing between $50,000 and $200,000.
Google Maps Often Including Pregnancy Crisis Centers In Abortion Search Results
The centers are designed to convince women not to have abortions. St. Juan Women’s Center Executive Director Christine Ibañez said that although her organization does not manipulate search results, she’s heard that others have bought keywords from Google.
Beware Marijuana Holiday: Stoned Drivers Pose Same Dangers As Drunken Super Bowl Revelers
Two doctors examined 25 years of data and determined the risk of a fatal crash on American roads is 12 percent higher after 4:20 p.m. on April 20, the day set aside to celebrate marijuana. The numbers are comparable to the increased risk seen on Super Bowl Sunday, and the younger the driver, the greater the risk. Also, a Massachusetts top safety official warns that a licensing plan for marijuana is likely to create a surge of stoned drivers.
Tamiflu Cost Discouraged Patient From Getting Prescription Filled. She Died A Few Days Later.
This flu season has been vicious, leading to a high rate of deaths and hospitalizations. Second-grade teacher Heather Holland, of Texas, was one of those patients.
Cheaper and Easier To Find Than Opioids, Meth Is Making A Comeback
Drugs tend to go in cycles, and although meth may seem like a thing of the past, it turns out it was only on hiatus. In other public health news: antibiotics, ovarian cancer, fertility, autism, high blood sugar and memory, the science of love, and more.
Brain Implant To Treat Addiction Comes With High Risk, High Reward
Deep brain stimulation has shown some success in countering addiction, but implementing it requires a dangerous surgery. In other news on the nation’s drug crisis: the financial toll; police involvement in needle exchanges; opioid-makers’ donations to patient advocacy groups; and more.
How Amazon Is Nudging Into Health Care Space Beyond New Initiative With Tech Billionaires
The retail giant now wants to become a go-to place for hospitals to procure medical supplies. Amazon says it is seeking to sell hospitals on a “marketplace concept” that differs from typical hospital purchasing, which is now conducted through contracts with distributors and manufacturers.
Truvada is the closest thing there is to an AIDS vaccine — several studies have shown that users who take the drug daily are at nearly zero risk of HIV infection. But lifetime disability providers see it as a red flag.
Emboldened By Medicaid Work Mandate, States Begin Eyeing Lifetime Limits
To date, five states — Maine, Arizona, Utah, Wisconsin and Kansas — have applied for waivers to put a cap on how long Medicaid beneficiaries can receive health benefits. Critics of lifetime limits say they would fundamentally shift Medicaid from a health care safety net program for the poor and sick to a welfare program.
The Wall Street Journal reviewed the financial history of Robert Weaver, President Donald Trump’s nominee to lead the Indian Health Services, and found that he has filed for personal bankruptcy and has liens against one of his businesses. Elsewhere in the administration, documents show that HHS worked with a conservative group to find ways to defund Planned Parenthood.
HHS’ $95.4 Billion Budget In Trump’s Plan: CDC Faces Big Cut, But NIH And FDA Get A Boost
“The president’s budget makes investments and reforms that are vital to making our health and human services programs work for Americans and to sustaining them for future generations,” Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar said in a statement.
Trump Takes Aim At Medicare, Medicaid In $4.4 Trillion Budget Proposal
From gutting safety net programs to funding the opioid epidemic battle, President Donald Trump’s budget includes a host of health issues. The proposed cuts released Monday are unlikely to come to pass, as Congress controls the purse strings, but the plan is a good blueprint of the administration’s priorities.
First Edition: February 13, 2018
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Viewpoints: Regardless Of Fiscal Issues, Don’t Underfund CDC; Trump’s Health Care Agenda Is ‘Robust’
Opinion writers expressed views on health care topics.
Media outlets report on news from Texas, Iowa, California, Hawaii, Washington, Maryland, Minnesota, Georgia, Oregon, New Orleans, Ohio, Wisconsin, Arizona and New Hampshire.
Our Smartphones Are Training Us To Expect Rewards Just Like Pavlov’s Dogs
Researchers look at the brain chemistry behind our addiction to smartphones. In other public health news: the common cold and the Olympics, a new malaria drug, the dreaded hospital gown, sugar cravings, superbugs, and more.
‘We Were Hoping To Have Better News’: Flu Continues To Get Worse For Yet Another Week
The latest weekly report shows 1 out of every 13 doctor visits last week was for fever, cough and other symptoms of the flu, matching the peak levels during the 2009 swine flu pandemic, and 1 in 10 of all deaths reported in the United States were caused by flu or pneumonia. Meanwhile, the severity of the season is driving up profits for those in the health industry.
In Effort To Reduce Number Of Opioid Deaths, NYC Weighs Pros And Cons Of Safe Injection Sites
“What’s most important to us is saving lives,” says Kassandra Frederique, the New York director of the Drug Policy Alliance. Nearly four overdose deaths occur daily in New York City. While the U.S. has not opened any official centers yet to monitor safe drug use, dozens are being funded across Canada.
Under Intense Fire For Role In Opioid Epidemic, Purdue Announces It Will Stop Marketing OxyContin
The company also cut its sales force in half and plans to send a letter Monday to doctors saying that its salespeople will no longer come to their clinics to talk about the company’s pain products. Purdue is facing numerous lawsuits from counties, cities and states for its aggressive marketing tactics.
A Look At Amazon’s Health Benefits Administrator Gives Hints Of What’s To Come With New Initiative
Making better use of patient data is at the heart of Amazon’s effort.
