Latest KFF Health News Stories
State legislatures also focus on changing home health-care workers’ contracts, ending gay conversion therapy and allowing paid family leave.
Kansas’ Abortion Laws Could Be In Jeopardy Depending On How High Court Rules In Pending Case
The state’s supreme court will rule whether the Kansas Constitution includes a right to abortion. Ahead of the ruling, Gov. Jeff Colyer wants lawmakers to consider amending the constitution to guarantee protection of laws restricting the procedure. Outlets report on news from Iowa and Florida, as well.
Researchers Discover Common Patterns In Brain Activity Between Five Major Psychiatric Diseases
Researchers find links between the brain activity of people with autism, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, depression and alcoholism. In other public health news: sexual harassment, pain management, prostate cancer, modified mosquitoes and hysterectomies.
How Close Should Anti-Addiction Experts Be To An Industry That Many Blame For Opioid Crisis?
Specialist Jessica Hulsey Nickel through her advocacy group, the Addiction Policy Forum, has accepted funding from the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America. The decision to take the money is roiling the anti-addiction world. Meanwhile, Attorney General Jeff Sessions talks tough on fighting the opioid crisis and investors want more information on wholesaler AmerisourceBergen’s roll in the epidemic.
Beyond Tamiflu: After Decades With Just One Main Drug To Fight Virus, More May Be On The Horizon
“For several decades now, we have not sought to develop the tools we need to fight the flu,” said Olga Jonas, a senior fellow at the Harvard Global Health Institute. “The tax we pay for this folly is as inexorable as it is enormous.” Pharmaceutical companies stand to make quite a fortune off of any medicine they develop to treat the flu.
CVS To Use $1.5B Windfall From GOP Tax Plan To Raise Hourly Wages For Workers
The company also said it will invest in technology that can help it track prescription drug use or monitor data like blood tests to determine if a patient’s health or a condition grows worse.
Medicare Beneficiaries Would Be Able To Share In Rebates From Drugmakers Under Trump’s Plan
President Donald Trump is also proposing to expand Medicare’s “catastrophic” drug benefit so that many seniors with very high costs would not face copayments.
Enrollment Numbers For State-Run Vs. Federal Exchanges Reveal A Great Divide
States that run their own exchanges tend to want them to succeed so they invest time and energy into getting people to sign up. Meanwhile, the Trump administration approached the enrollment period as if the health law has failed. The enrollment numbers from the year reflect those different mentalities.
In the early hours of Friday morning the House passed a spending deal to very quickly reverse a government shutdown that was triggered at midnight. The bill includes many of the Democrats’ top health care priorities, but they had to compromise in some places as well.
First Edition: February 9, 2018
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Viewpoints: Time To Be ‘Freaking Out’ About CDC Budget; Medicaid Work Requirements Are Unlawful
Opinion writers highlight these health issues and others.
Longer Looks: A $10,000 Injection; Babe Ruth’s Cancer Treatment; And The Science of ‘Man Colds’
Each week, KHN’s Shefali Luthra finds interesting reads from around the Web.
Media outlets report on news from New York, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Minnesota, Kansas, Florida, California, Arizona and Ohio.
Oregon Hospital Reverses ‘Archaic Transplant Policy’ After Undocumented Woman Denied A Liver
When Silvia Lesama-Santos could not produce documents to show she was in the country legally she was denied a transplant through the Oregon Health and Science University. The decision immediately received backlash as being “cruel and inhumane,” leading to the facility to change its policy.
Getting To The Olympics Takes Years Of Training And Dedication … For These Doctors
Getting onto the crew of medical personnel that care for the Olympic athletes isn’t easy, nor is it paid. But for the doctors, getting a taste of Olympic glory, even if it’s just vicarious, is worth it.
Researchers study how people react to a large political shift, and whether they exhibit psychical symptoms of depression. In other public health news: the human genome, suicide, bacteria in hospitals, breast cancer and dementia.
In Midst Of Flu Season That’s Hit Kids Hard, Here’s What To Look Out For As A Parent
“The trick with the flu is that it happens very quickly,” said Dr. Flor M. Munoz. “You have to be really paying attention. Things can progress within 48 hours or so.” Media outlets report on flu news out of Texas, Florida and Wisconsin, as well.
The Government Accountability Office recommends more federal guidance from the Department of Health and Human Services on what states and hospitals should do when it comes to infants affected by the opioid crisis, but the agency says it’s doing enough. Meanwhile, President Donald Trump in recent speeches seems to be focusing on law enforcement over treatment to curb epidemic.
Abortion Debates Ramp Up in Many States; Planned Parenthood Begins Search For Next President
While Mississippi’s House recently passed the strictest bill on record, banning abortions more than 15 months after contraception, other states eye limits for certain fetal conditions. Meanwhile, former Planned Parenthood board member Anna Quindlen is tagged to lead the search to replace Cecile Richards.
Strong Medicare Advantage Growth Helps Humana Beat Q4 Revenue Projections
The insurer’s revenue, driven largely by Medicare Advantage premiums, grew 3.8 percent to $10.2 million in the fourth quarter of 2017.
