Latest KFF Health News Stories
‘It’s Heartbreaking’: As Zika Babies Age, Devastating Health Effects Become More Clear
Fifteen of the 19 children, who ranged from 19 months to 2 years of age, had not met the developmental milestones — like being able to sit up by themselves — that a healthy 6-month-old would meet.
World’s Biggest Generic Drugmaker To Slash 14,000 Jobs, Close Some Facilities
Teva Pharmaceuticals has been hit hard by declining generics prices.
Calif. Lawmaker Proposes Medicaid Cover Undocumented Immigrants
The state has already eliminated legal residency requirements for Medicaid coverage for people under 19. But Assemblyman Phil Ting, who heads the Assembly’s budget committee, wants to extend that to all ages. News outlets also report on Medicaid developments in Louisiana, Montana and Connecticut.
Telemedicine Could Be Impacted By FCC Repeal Of Net Neutrality Rules
Patients seeking to connect with health providers from home could find it hard to get the internet service that they need, some telemedicine advocates fear. Also, the Department of Veterans Affairs has put its new contract for an electronic health record on hold.
CHIP Funding Morass: How Did Something Everyone Seems To Agree On Get To This Point?
The Children’s Health Insurance Program has always enjoyed widespread bipartisan support, but Congress has dawdled over renewing its funding for the past three months as states slowly run out of money.
The Ripples Of GOP’s Tax Bill Would Be Felt Across Health Industry
From the repeal of the individual mandate to triggered Medicare cuts, PBS takes a look at how the tax bill would impact health care. But, with two ailing Republican senators and another one coming out against the legislation, the certainty of its passage is not a given.
Experts Starting To Question If Struggling Bipartisan Health Bill Would Even Be Good For Consumers
Because of a weird quirk, the effects of the Trump administration stopping subsidies to insurers have been tempered enough that if the bipartisan bill passed it actually might do more harm than good for consumers. Some still say, though, that there are benefits to passing the legislation, which is losing support on Capitol Hill anyway.
Abbreviated Enrollment Period Ends Today For Federal Exchanges, Some States
Although the pace of this year’s sign-up outstripped last year, the shorter time period means there will likely be fewer total enrollees. Outlets also report on enrollment news out California, Colorado, New Hampshire, Florida, Massachusetts and Texas.
First Edition: December 15, 2017
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Viewpoints: Handicapping The Health Law’s Future; ‘Tis The Season… For The Flu’
A selection of opinions on health care from news outlets around the country.
Longer Looks: The Future Of Pharma; Jimmy Kimmel On CHIP; And Presidential Health
Each week, KHN’s Shefali Luthra finds interesting reads from around the Web.
Media outlets report on news from Washington, D.C., Florida, Connecticut, California, Indiana, Tennessee, New Hampshire, Minnesota, Georgia, Maryland and Pennsylvania.
Ohio Governor Likely To Sign Bill Banning Down Syndrome Abortions Following Passage In Legislature
A similar measure in Indiana has been blocked by a federal judge, who ruled the state has no authority to limit a woman’s reasons for ending a pregnancy. Outlets report on abortion news from Pennsylvania and Arkansas, as well.
Could Success Of Personalized Medicine Lend Itself To Precision Public Health Care?
The idea would be to pinpoint populations with genetic vulnerabilities and try to prevent health issues such as cancer and obesity that way. Although roadblocks remain, some advocates are hopeful. In other public health news: the flu, irregular heart rhythms, Parkinson’s disease, ADHD, and more.
Teenagers’ Smoking, Drug Abuse And Drinking At Lowest Levels Seen In Decades
A notable exception to this trend is marijuana use: the proportion of teens who said they had tried it has remained steady over the last decade.
Mother’s Close Proximity To Fracking Sites Linked To Risk For Having Underweight Baby
The study found negative health consequences up to a two-mile radius around the hydraulic fracturing site. The method for extracting natural gas from the ground relies on chemical-laced water.
“Often people leave the emergency room, right back onto the street to find their next fix,” said Marylou Sudders, the Massachusetts secretary for Health and Human Services. States have been working to bridge this gap between hospitalization and getting a patient into a program, but Massachusetts has pitched a more aggressive approach.
Biden Comforts McCain’s Daughter Over Her Father’s Brain Cancer Diagnosis
Sen. John McCain’s cancer is the same type that affected former Vice President Joe Biden’s son. The Arizona Republican has been hospitalized at Walter Reed Medical Centers for side effects of his disease treatment.
Nominee For EPA Chemical Safety Position Bows Out After Criticism Over Ties To Industry
Michael Dourson’s consultant group produced research for chemical companies that consistently showed little or no human health risks from their products. Critics were worried that if he was confirmed, he would be in the position to oversee the review of chemicals produced by companies he once represented.
Maine Officials Wrestle Over Options For Funding Medicaid Expansion
The referendum authorizing the state to move ahead on expanding the program for low-income residents did not include a provision for funding. News outlets also report on Medicaid developments in Montana, Louisiana, Mississippi and the District of Columbia.
