Latest KFF Health News Stories
Kentucky Could Become First State Without An Abortion Clinic, Depending On Trial
The fate of the clinic will be decided by a federal trial that kicked off on Wednesday.
After Puzzling Over Mumps Outbreaks, Scientists Recommend Extra Dose Of Vaccine
There have been cases recently where the vast majority of a population affected by an outbreak had received the two doses of vaccine, yet people still contracted the virus. In other public health news: a pen that detects cancer, overtreatment, mosquitoes, breast cancer, romantic attraction and more.
In Response To Epidemic, Senators Advance ‘Partial-Fill’ Approach To Opioid Prescriptions
Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) say the clause would let patients decide if they wanted less than the full prescription in their homes. In other news, the Food and Drug Administration issues a warning to a drugmaker for its marketing tactics, a task force releases recommendations on fighting the epidemic, a new study finds addiction medication has little impact on users, and more.
Evacuating A Hospital Isn’t An Easy Undertaking. Here’s How One Facility In Texas Managed It.
The New York Times takes a look at the intricate plan to remove patients from the Baptist Beaumont Hospital after Harvey hit. The lingering public health effects from the storm are also in the news.
Senate Panel Approves An Increase In Funding For NIH
The increase is part of the funding bill for the Departments of Health and Human Services, Education and Labor. House appropriators have a different plan. Also, senators today hold a hearing on the future of the Children’s Health Insurance Program.
Fallout From Rolling Back DACA Would Ripple Through Health Care Industry
Surveys of DACA beneficiaries reveal that about one-fifth of them work in the health care and educational sector, suggesting a potential loss of tens of thousands of workers from in-demand job categories like home health aide and nursing assistant.
Activists Try To Fill Gaps Left By Trump Gutting Health Law Outreach Budget
Organizations such as Protect Our Care and health care leaders like Andy Slavitt, former acting administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, are trying to keep the momentum going to get people to enroll in health care coverage for next year. Media outlets report on marketplace news out of Virginia, Kentucky, Colorado and Ohio, as well.
McCain Throws Support Behind Long-Shot Graham-Cassidy Bill, But Then Walks It Back
Sens. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and Bill Cassidy (R-La.) are trying to scrape up support for a last-ditch effort bill to repeal the Affordable Care Act.
Governors To Urge Senate That Reinsurance, Other Measures Needed For Marketplaces
The five governors who will testify before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee today are expected to press for a series of changes to give the marketplace more stability over the coming years.
Senators Kick Off Efforts To Find Elusive Compromise On Health Care At Cordial Hearing
“Democrats will have to agree to something — more flexibility for states — that some may be reluctant to support. And Republicans will have to agree to something, additional funding through the Affordable Care Act, that some may be reluctant to support. That is called a compromise,” Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee Chairman Lamar Alexander said. State insurance commissioners spoke at the session, urging Congress to continue funding subsidies for insurers.
First Edition: September 7, 2017
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Viewpoints: Hidden Prices; Opioids’ Impact On Economic Growth; The New War On Medicaid
A selection of opinions on health care from around the country.
Thoughts On Health Reform: Tough Road To Bipartisan Stabilization Plan; Need For Megadeal
Opinion writers examine prospects for congressional revisions to health care policy.
Perspectives: Americans Shouldn’t Have To Pick Between Affording Food Or Affording Medicine
Read recent commentaries about drug-cost issues.
Lawmaker: Trump Had Right Rhetoric On Drug Prices, But Pharma Still Has Last Word
News outlets report on stories related to pharmaceutical pricing.
Media outlets report on news from Utah, Kentucky, Massachusetts, New York, Georgia, Minnesota, Colorado, New Hampshire, Wisconsin, Ohio and Tennessee.
Help Wanted: Iowa Looking For New Medicaid Director, A Position That Faces Intense Scrutiny
The person that takes current director Mikki Stier’s position will have a lot to do because of Iowa’s controversial shift to private management of Medicaid. Meanwhile in Oregon, lawmakers hold a hearing on a tax that would close a hole in the state’s Medicaid budget.
Medical Exemption Rates Hint Parents May Have Found Workaround To California Vaccination Law
A California law, passed in 2015, eliminated personal-belief exemptions for school vaccinations, but a new report suggests that parents are finding doctors who are willing to sign off on medical exemptions instead.
Supercomputer Watson Was Going To Revolutionize Cancer Treatment. It Has Yet To Live Up To Hype.
Stat looks at the reasons why this lofty project faltered. In other public health news: HIV crime laws, CAR-T therapy, gene editing, pediatric blood-pressure guidelines, and Zika.
Rape And The Opioid Epidemic: How Sexual Assault Is Becoming ‘Normalized’ In A Crisis
Those who are victims of such an attack often don’t report it out of shame, distrust of police or fear they’ll be labeled a “cop caller” and have trouble buying heroin. In other news: the opioid epidemic view through an economic lens; states worry that a federal logjam is hampering efforts to fight the crisis; and more.
