Latest KFF Health News Stories
The Next Battlefield On The War Against Opioids: Veterinarians’ Offices
Some states are requiring vets to check the prescription histories of pets’ owners, but there are those who say they’re not qualified to be in that position. Meanwhile, a psychiatrist found a disturbing pattern of teenage suicide in areas affected by the opioid crisis.
The Eclipse Was An Expensive Two Minutes For Hospitals, Even Though Nothing Really Happened
For events like the solar eclipse, hospitals are faced with a Catch-22: if they’re not prepared and they get an influx of patients they get blamed, if they do prepare and nothing happens they’re stuck with the bill.
Chicago-Area Presence Health To Become Part Of Amita
If the deal goes through, Amita will have the most hospitals of any hospital system in Illinois.
Life Of Idaho Couple With Job Problems And No Insurance: ‘I Just Want Stability’
The Idaho Statesman profiles a well-educated couple facing the effects of diabetes and poor job prospects who are caught in the Medicaid gap. Meanwhile, Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) says he has a health care plan that would let people buy into states’ Medicaid plans. In New England, Maine Republicans are raising concerns about a referendum to expand Medicaid, and a New Hampshire official said federal officials were not responsive to the state’s questions about expansion.
Trump Doesn’t Name Names, But Takes Jab At McCain For Health Care Vote
President Donald Trump spoke to supporters in Sen. John McCain’s home state of Arizona on Tuesday night.
Thousands Likely To Drop Coverage If Feds Don’t Approve Stopgap Plan, Iowa Officials Say
Iowa Commissioner Doug Ommen filed a formal proposal Monday that aims to help Iowans who buy their own health insurance instead of obtaining it from an employer or government program, such as Medicare.
Kasich, Hickenlooper ‘Getting Very Close’ To Unveiling Bipartisan Health Plan
Republican Gov. John Kasich of Ohio and Democratic Gov. John Hickenlooper of Colorado are focusing on stabilizing the marketplace, but are also looking into other idea that could have bipartisan support.
Senate Hearings To Shore Up Marketplaces Set For When Lawmakers Return From Recess
The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee will hear from state insurance commissioners and governors in the beginning of September.
First Edition: August 23, 2017
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Viewpoints: Living Free But Addicted To Opioids; The Challenges Women In Medicine Face
A selection of opinions on public health issues from around the country.
Opinion writers offer their takes on a variety of health policy topics, from the continuing analysis of where the Affordable Care Act stands to issues related to Medicare for all and single-payer health systems.
Media outlets report on news from New York, California, Minnesota, New Hampshire, Illinois, Texas, Iowa and Maryland.
Texas To Cut Funds To Anti-Abortion Group That Failed To Meet Service Goals
The group originally projected it would serve nearly 18,000 women, but it as fallen well short of that.
Hedge Fund Scoops Up Tenet Healthcare Shares
The disclosure by Camber Capital Management drove up Tenet’s stock price.
Rural Areas Often Overlooked For VA Nursing Home Funding, And The Agency Wants To Change That
The Department of Veterans Affairs now sets its priority list by looking at demographics and the need for beds, making it difficult for some rural areas to compete, but officials say they want to make it easier for them to get funding.
There’s No Cure For Alzheimer’s But Those Who Are At High Risk Search For One Anyway
With the rise of genetic testing comes the looming knowledge that you may be at risk for a disease that has yet to be conquered by doctors. In other public health news: a possible cure for hair loss, the importance of breakfast, infections in babies, colon cancer, allergies and more.
Administration Pumps Brakes On Study About Public Health Risks Of Coal Mining
“Mountaintop removal mining has been shown to cause lung cancer, heart disease and other medical problems,” said Rep. Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.) “Stopping this study is a ploy to stop science in its tracks and keep the public in the dark about health risks as a favor to the mining industry, pure and simple.”
‘It’s Only Getting Worse’: Hospitals Flooded With Opioid Patients As Crisis Rages On
There’s been a 64 percent increase in inpatient stays, while emergency room visits related to opioids have doubled since 2005. Meanwhile, Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price praises China’s help in cracking down on opioids. And experts say hospices aren’t doing enough to monitor family members’ potential abuse of patients’ drugs.
Did You Damage Your Eyes Looking At The Eclipse? Probably Not
But if you did, the damage takes one to two days to kick in.
Johnson & Johnson Ordered To Pay $417M In Case Linking Talcum Powder, Ovarian Cancer
Eva Echeverria, 63, of East Los Angeles, is one of thousands of women who sued the consumer products giant, claiming Johnson’s baby powder caused their disease.
