Latest KFF Health News Stories
Longer Looks: Puerto Rico’s Health Care; Cancer Drugs In Africa & Undermining Obamacare
Each week, KHN’s Shefali Luthra finds interesting reads from around the Web.
Viewpoints: Trump’s Order Won’t Improve Health Care; Why Is Congress Delaying CHIP Funds
A selection of opinions on health care from around the country.
Media outlets report on news from Minnesota, Michigan, Tennessee, California, Massachusetts, Ohio, Georgia and Oregon.
After Deal With Loyola, Tenet Has Its Foot Out The Door In Chicago
Loyola Medicine will buy MacNeal Hospital, and Tenet is looking to sell its other three hospitals in the city, as well.
Hot New Cancer Treatment Comes With Sometimes Toxic Side Effects, And Scientists Want To Know Why
The therapy uses patients’ own immune system to help fight the disease, but it can lead to dangerous complications. In other public health news: cervical cancer, the evolution of cells, stroke risks, high blood pressure, vaccines and more.
How Hurricanes Hammer Already Struggling Mental Health Systems
Officials say the long-term psychological injuries after a hurricane outpace more immediate issues and swamp the health care system long after emergency workers go home and shelters shut down. Meanwhile, health care providers are flocking to Puerto Rico to offer their help, and a study finds that evacuating residents from a nursing home before a storm actually increases the chances of death or injury.
The Opioid Epidemic’s Deadly Grip On The Bronx
Perhaps nowhere in New York City has the trajectory of opioid addiction been as complex as in the Bronx, which lost more residents to drug overdoses last year than any other New York City borough.
To Bring Down Big Pharma, This BioHacker Wants To Teach Patients To Make Own Medications
Michael Laufer’s latest plan involves developing a desktop lab and a recipe book meant to equip patients to cook up a range of medicines, including a homemade version of the expensive hepatitis C drug Sovaldi, on their kitchen counters. In other news: an old FDA program is responsible for higher drug prices and lawmakers want more oversight over the 340B program, which allows hospitals to purchase drugs at a discounted rate.
Medicare Advantage Plans’ Star Ratings Shows Little Change In Quality Over Past Year
Although the number of these plans earning four stars or better have fallen slightly, more beneficiaries are signing up for the higher performing plans.
New York Facing Dire Consequences If Congress Doesn’t Act On CHIP, State Official Warns
The state would have to address a nearly $1 billion shortfall if Congress doesn’t renew funding for the popular program.
Liberal Groups See Political Advantage In Rollback Of Contraception Mandate
“As millions of women watch this administration take away fundamental health care like birth control, they’re also paying attention to all those members of Congress who are not standing up to fight for them,” says Erica Sackin, political communications director for the Planned Parenthood Action Fund.
Iowa Residents Wait To Hear If State’s Unique Plan For Insurance Markets Will Be Approved
The state is seeking a federal waiver to set up its own insurance marketplace, which officials said could offer better prices to consumers. But the change would also mean that customers could not get federal subsidies to help them defray costs. Also, news outlets report on marketplace news in Tennessee and California.
Trump To Sign Executive Order Today To Further Chip Away At Health Law
The order is supposed to ease rules on small businesses banding together to buy health insurance and lift limits on the sale of short-term insurance.
First Edition: October 12, 2017
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
A selection of opinions on health care from around the country.
Perspectives: Expensive Cancer Drugs May Finally Be In For A Little Competition
Read recent commentaries about drug-cost issues.
Author Of New Drug Transparency Law Hopes Rest Of Country Will Follow In California’s Footsteps
News outlets report on stories related to pharmaceutical pricing.
Media outlets report on news from Illinois, New Hampshire, Oregon, California, Louisiana, Ohio, Wisconsin and Georgia.
Missouri Abortion Restrictions Challenged In Court By Planned Parenthood And ACLU
The groups argue that the requirements of the new state law are medically unnecessary and limit access to safe and legal reproductive services. Meanwhile, another American Civil Liberties Union lawsuit centers around a legal dispute over whether unaccompanied immigrant minors have the right to an abortion in the U.S.
Federal Officials Approve W.Va.’s Plan To Expand Medicaid Coverage For Drug Treatment
West Virginia officials say Medicaid will begin paying for about a 30-day stay at a residential drug treatment center, as well as methadone treatment and the overdose reversal drug naloxone.
