Latest KFF Health News Stories
Post-Sandy Hook Behavior Provides Unique Data On Link Between Gun Sales, Accidental Deaths
Researchers have always struggled with the correlation between deaths and the presence of guns in homes. But the 2012 tragedy — and the rush of sales that followed — allowed them an insight into the ramifications of more Americans owning guns.
Two Catholic Health Systems Reach Agreement On Merger
Dignity Health, headquartered in San Francisco, and Catholic Health Initiatives, based in Denver, have signed a merger agreement. The combined system will have 139 hospitals around the country.
Planned Parenthood’s Fetal Tissue Practices To Be Probed By Justice Department
The issue of the organization’s fetal tissue practices was thrust into the spotlight in 2015 when undercover videos purporting to show Planned Parenthood officials discussing procurement of “intact” and partial fetuses in exchange for compensation for expenses.
Senators Ask Leadership To Reverse Trump’s Decision To Slash Funding For Drug Discount Program
The group of lawmakers looking to save the 340B program is made up of both Democrats and Republicans. In other pharmaceutical news: an analysis shows that many drugmakers are behind on required post-marketing studies; the Supreme Court shows interest in taking up the product liability issue; Sage announces positive results from its depression drug trial; and more.
Some Senators Starting To Get Antsy Over Inaction On CHIP Funding
Lawmakers are starting to prod leadership about the lack of movement over money for the popular program.
AARP Presses Congress To Exempt Medicare From Cuts To Pay For Tax Bill
The tax bill is expected to add $1 trillion to the deficit and that will trigger a mechanism that makes automatic cuts in federal spending. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimates that would take a $25 billion bite out of the Medicare budget.
Hospitals, Nursing Homes In Mad Dash To Borrow Tax-Free Funds While They Still Can
The borrowing spree is happening as Congress debates whether to do away with long-held tax exemptions on these types of bonds beginning Jan. 1. Meanwhile, lawmakers are mulling what to do about the health law’s insurance tax.
Insurers Could Be On The Hook For CSR Funds They’ve Already Spent On Low-Income Enrollees
The companies may have to return any surplus they used to cover cost-sharing reduction costs since the Trump administration cut off the payments in October.
McConnell Promised Collins Health Bills Would Pass, But No One Else Seems Eager To Uphold That Deal
Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) threw her support behind the Republican tax bill on the agreement that the Senate would take up the bipartisan health legislation that is aimed at stabilizing the marketplace. But even though she extracted the promise from Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, the rest of the GOP leadership isn’t ready with uphold the bargain.
First Edition: December 8, 2017
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Viewpoints: Medicare At Age 50? It’s Something To Think About; Surviving Or Enduring GOP Tax Plan
A selection of opinions on health care from around the country.
Longer Looks: Emergency Room Monopolies; Gun Violence; And The Senate Tax Bill
Each week, KHN’s Shefali Luthra finds interesting reads from around the Web.
Media outlets report on news from Massachusetts, Florida, Missouri, New York, Ohio, Texas, Tennessee, Washington, Colorado and California.
One Week After State Program’s Launch, Md. Dispensaries Are Running Out Of Pot
Meanwhile, in Ohio, the state’s medical marijuana program moves forward despite missteps.
N.H.’s Exeter Hospital Endorses Suicide-Prevention Model
In other news regarding hospitals, an Ohio hospital system reports on its community investment; in Florida, a Senate panel approves legislation that would allow surgery centers to treat patients overnight; and an Arizona hospital clashes with an Irish hospital over its name.
Boston U. Biolab To Join Fight Against World’s Deadliest Microbes
On Wednesday, after more than a decade of debate, the university’s high-security lab cleared the final step necessary to begin researching infectious agents with the designation of being Biosafety Level 4 pathogens.
Groundbreaking Gene Therapy Drastically Reduces Bleeding Episodes In Hemophilia B Patients
A hemophilia expert called the results “striking” and just another example of a gene therapy renaissance that has brought patients with rare inherited diseases closer to potential cures. In other public health news: exercise and fat; skin cancer; a ketogenic diet; the flu; and more.
Surgeon General Knows The Painful Toll Opioid Addiction Takes On Families All Too Well
Dr. Jerome Adams’ brother has struggled with addiction for many years, and that has given the surgeon general a unique perspective on the best way to combat the raging opioid epidemic.
Study Upends Widely Held Assumptions About Safety Of Modern Birth Control Pill
A wide-ranging study finds that women who use birth control pills or other contraceptive devices that release hormones, despite being designed to be safer than older versions, show a small increase in breast cancer risk.
Advocates: VA’s Decision To Slash Homeless Program ‘Pulls Rug Out’ From Under Vulnerable Vets
The money will instead go to Veterans Administration hospitals that can use it more broadly as long as they show they are dealing with homelessness in some way.
