Latest KFF Health News Stories
Everyone’s Talking About Trump’s Mental Health. But How Do You Actually Detect Cognitive Decline?
Experts say it isn’t what a lot of people talk about when discussing the president’s mental health–like turning the wrong way or forgetting something. However, a deterioration of language, which was one of the first things that sparked chatter about Trump’s mental well-being, can be a tip-off.
An Imperfect Vaccine, A ‘Bad Strain’, And Cold Weather Combining To Trigger Rough Flu Season
But Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases, actually expects fewer deaths than in 2014-15, the last time the U.S. saw a “moderately severe” flu season.
Foster Care Services Struggling Because Of Gaps In States’ Data On Opioid Crisis
“It’s hard to have enough substance abuse services for these families if we don’t have an accurate idea of how many families are actually being affected by opioid abuse,” said Elissa Glucksman Hyne, a senior policy analyst at the child welfare nonprofit Children’s Rights. Media outlets also report on a rising suicide risk linked to opioids.
The Consequences Of Not Expanding Medicaid: A Significant Increase In Hospital Closures
A new study finds that about half the closures that occurred in states that did not expand Medicaid could have been prevented if they did expand Medicaid.
Despite Doomsday Predictions, Insurers Who Stuck With Health Law Likely To Have Profitable Year
Higher-than-expected enrollment numbers came as a positive surprise to insurers who have faced uncertainty and turmoil over the past year.
CBO Slashes Price Tag For Renewing CHIP Funding For Five Years
One of the sticking points for lawmakers has been how to pay for the funding. Previously they were going to have to find about $8 billion over 10 years to offset it, but the Congressional Budget Office has now revised this price tag to $800 million.
With Eye On High-Stakes Mid-Terms, Republicans Decide To Rein In Ambitious Entitlement Agenda
After a weekend retreat with President Donald Trump, Republicans seem to have narrowed their focus for the year down to the basics. Although House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) has previously announced that he’d like to tackle safety-net programs, others in the party have no interest in pursuing such issues during a campaign year.
HHS Nominee To Be Grilled At Senate Hearing About Pharma Ties, Any Plans To Cut Medicare
Alex Azar, however, enjoys strong support from Republicans on the Finance Committee, so it’s unlikely the hearing will damage his path to confirmation.
First Edition: January 9, 2018
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
A selection of opinions on health care from news outlets around the country.
Different Takes On The Opioid Crisis
Opinion writers offer their thoughts on the current national response to this drug abuse epidemic.
Congress’s CHIP funding challenges and Obamacare status checks from different angles draw commentary from a variety of news outlets.
Media outlets report on news from Maryland, New Mexico, Georgia, New York, Iowa, Ohio, Wisconsin, Florida, Colorado and Texas.
Some Patients May Have Existing Immunity To CRISPR Gene Editing Therapies, Research Finds
The study could be another snag for CRISPR-based therapies but scientists not involved with the research said its findings, if substantiated, could be worked around. In other public health news: alcohol abuse, stomach reduction surgery, autism and sleep talking.
This Anti-Overdose Medication Has Provided Miracles To Families Of Those Struggling With Addiction
Naloxone is increasingly seen as the first line of defense in an opioid overdose. When administered within the first minutes — even up to an hour or more — of a potentially deadly overdose, it can resuscitate a victim
Monitoring Heart Disease: Questions About Statins And New Blood Pressure Guidelines
If you’re over 75 and don’t have cardiovascular disease, why continue to take a statin? New research explains the pros and cons of taking drugs to lower cholesterol and also helps sort out the “discombobulating” changes behind new blood pressure guidelines.
Jana Partners LLC and the California State Teachers’ Retirement System control about $2 billion of Apple share, and want Apple to take responsibility for what they see as a public health crisis.
This Year’s Flu Is A Quirky, Vicious, Misbehaving Strain That Health Professionals Hate
A particularly nasty strain of the flu is sweeping the country–flooding emergency rooms, draining medication resources, and racking up a higher-than-normal death toll. But it’s still not too late to get a flu shot.
Iowa Saving Less On Managed Medicaid Program Than Expected, State Reports
Former Gov. Terry Branstad ordered the shift to private companies managing the state Medicaid program in 2015 and predicted it would save the state $232 million this year. The Department of Human Services now says it will save $47.1 million this year. Meanwhile, voters in Oregon begin to gear up for a special election later this month on funding for that state’s Medicaid program and a hack in Florida exposes files of 30,000 enrollees.
Minn. Officials Worry Rollback Of Nursing Home Penalties Could Undercut Recent Crackdown On Abuse
The federal move comes just as Gov. Mark Dayton has pledged tougher action following revelations of elder abuse in the state’s nursing homes.
