Latest KFF Health News Stories
Virginia Lawmakers Optimistic About Medicaid Expansion Negotiations
House Del. Alfonso Lopez said there could be a bill as early as Monday or Tuesday of next week. Medicaid news comes out of Pennsylvania and Mississippi, as well.
Banner Health To Pay $18 Million To Settle Whistleblower Case Involving False Medicare Claims
Former employee Cecilia Guardiola said she discovered that Banner hospitals billed an “inordinate and improper number of short-stay claims, particularly those for expensive cardiac procedures,” according to the Justice Department statement.
Software That Uses Artificial Intelligence To Screen Eyes For Diabetes Damage Approved By FDA
It’s the first screening device the FDA has authorized that doesn’t need a clinician’s interpretation to look for a particular condition. In other news, the agency also is going to relax its review of next-generation sequencing tests.
First Large-Scale Study Of Transgender Children Gets $1 Million Boost
Launched in 2013, the project has recruited more than 300 children ages 3-12 from 45 states, with the goal of tracking their development over 20 years. In other public health news: melanoma, brain damage, bathroom hand dryers, ovarian cancer, air pollution, “cool caps,” and more.
Nearly 60 percent of the 38,658 gun deaths in the U.S. in 2016 were people taking their own lives, and advocates say “red flag” laws, which allow officials to seize weapons from people who may be a threat to themselves or others, can play a role in combating that trend.
Adults Should Limit Alcoholic Drinks To One A Day, Study Finds
While heavier drinkers were less likely to have a heart attack, the increased risk of a stroke and other heart problems outweighed that benefit.
Cost To Collect Unpaid Health Premiums In Minnesota Would Cost More Than What Would Be Recovered
While Minnesota Department of Human Services wants to close its books on the matter, some Republicans in the GOP-controlled Legislature are pushing legislation that could force DHS to collect payments it’s owed by July 1.
An analysis finds that the new medications, which could carry a $8,500 price tag, are not cost effective. In other pharmaceutical news, a gene therapy trial for Duchenne muscular dystrophy has begun, and an online pharmacy is fined for importing counterfeit cancer drugs.
Emotionally Fraught Debate Over Religious Objections To Abortions Heats Up
The Trump administration’s new division shields workers who object to abortion, assisted suicide, or other procedures they say violate their conscience or deeply held religious beliefs is sparking a legal, ethical and political battle over providing health care.
The case combines lawsuits from hundreds of cities, states and counties against the drug industry and its role in the opioid epidemic.
Drug Distributors Summoned To Testify In Front Of Congress About Their Role In Opioid Epidemic
The hearing, scheduled for May 8, is being likened to when tobacco executives were called in front of Congress in the 1990s. Representatives from McKesson, Cardinal Health, AmerisourceBergen, Miami-Luken and H.D. Smith Wholesale Drug Company will testify. Meanwhile, lawmakers continue to work toward a bipartisan package to get to the floor by May.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Editorial pages focus on these and other health topics.
Each week, KHN’s Shefali Luthra finds interesting reads from around the Web.
Media outlets report on news from Texas, Colorado, Georgia, Arizona, Ohio, Maryland, Tennessee, Missouri, Illinois and New York.
“Rampage” is the latest movie to feature CRISPR as a plot device. Stat takes a look at what it gets right and wrong. In other public health news: exercise, OB-GYNs, heart valves and memory loss.
Risk For Zika Through Sexual Transmission May Last For Shorter Time Than Originally Thought
A new study finds that the risk appears to dissipate after one month. But experts say they’re not willing to change guidelines just quite yet.
Self-Described Night Owls Had Higher Chance Of Dying By End Of Study Than Early Birds
It’s unclear exactly why night owls are more likely to die than the early risers in this time period, and the study didn’t offer explanations. “We think the problem is really when the night owl tries to live in a morning-lark world,” said lead author Kristen Knutson.
ACLU Sues Kentucky Over Ban On Common Abortion Method Used After 11 Weeks
The dilation and evacuation procedure was used in 537 of 3,312 abortions done in Kentucky in 2016. For women in their second trimester who are covered by the ban, the result is severe — “extinguished access” to abortion in Kentucky, the suit said.
Cities Feeling Financial Squeeze Of Naloxone As They Try To Rein In High Overdose Rates
“Every week, we count the doses we have left and make hard decisions about who will receive the medication and who will have to go without,” said Baltimore Health Commissioner Dr. Leana Wen. In other news on the crisis: more Americans are seeing the epidemic as a significant issue; lawmakers want to pass legislation to curb crisis soon; a look at the effects of stopping long-term use; and more.
