Latest KFF Health News Stories
Gene Therapy Staves Off Fatal Brain Disease In What Was Thought Of As An Impossibility
The treatment had never really been tried on diseases such as ALD, a rare, fatal disorder. In other public health news: neanderthal DNA in humans, cancer and obesity, MRSA and sports, and traumatized children.
In Latest Setback, Painkiller-Maker Agrees To Pay $500K In Suit Over Marketing Tactics
Massachusetts brought the lawsuit on claims that the company “aggressively marketed its product and made illegal payments to providers to boost sales.”
How San Diego’s Hepatitis A Outbreak May Have Had Its Roots In A Baseball Game
Stat takes a look at how San Diego’s outbreak has been brewing for a while.
Fire departments traditionally have waited on the sidelines of shooting scenes until police declare it safe for medics to go in and treat victims, but in Las Vegas they took a different approach.
New Trial Ordered In Battle Over Cholesterol Drug In Win For Sanofi, Regeneron Over Amgen
A federal appeals court reverses a sales ban on Sanofi and Regeneron’s pricey cholesterol medicine Praluent. In other pharmaceutical industry news, the FDA considers looser safety protocols on compounded drugs.
The Food and Drug Administration says that it is monitoring potential shortages of key medications manufactured on the devastated island. Other health fallout facing Puerto Ricans include mental health concerns, a lack of insurance coverage and not enough clean and drinkable water.
Idaho And Utah Seniors Paying Highest Average Premiums For Medicare Drug Plans
The average premium for beneficiaries in that region is more than $10 higher than the national average. In other Medicare news, a new study finds that beneficiaries using Medicare Advantage plans typically have access to less than half of the doctors in their community, and a congressional advisory group urges the repeal of a key provision in the bipartisan law that is revamping Medicare payments to doctors.
After Missing Deadline For Children’s Insurance, Congress Now Mired In Funding Disputes
Lawmakers in both the Senate and House have bills to renew the Children’s Health Insurance Program, but Democrats and Republicans have very different ideas about how to fund that.
Ardent Abortion Opponent Tim Murphy To Step Down Amid Abortion Scandal
Originally Rep. Tim Murphy had said he was not going to seek reelection, but he faced increasing backlash from reporting that he asked a woman he was romantically involved with to terminate a pregnancy.
House Passes Budget Including Deep, But Non-Binding, Cuts To Medicaid
The purpose of the budget is to set the stage for Republicans’ tax overhaul plan.
Trump Continues To Chip Away At ACA Despite Congress’ Failure To Repeal Law
In a rare move, President Donald Trump weighed in on a decision concerning Iowa’s attempts to stabilize its marketplace, telling CMS to deny its request. Supporters of the Affordable Care Act see the president’s opposition even to changes sought by conservative states as part of a broader campaign to undermine the law. Meanwhile, a left-leaning study finds that at least 20 states blame the administration for the uncertainty in the marketplaces.
Administration To Allow Moral, Religious Exemptions To Birth Control Mandate
More than 55 million women have access to birth control without copayments because of the contraceptive coverage mandate in the Affordable Care Act.
First Edition: October 6, 2017
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Viewpoints: Puerto Rico’s Public Health Crisis; Make School Lunches Free; The Noble Fruit Fly
A selection of opinions on health care from around the country.
Thoughts On A Washington Agenda: CHIP Funding, Medicare’s Safety Net, Medicaid And The ACA
Writers around the country offer some insights into Washington’s efforts on health policy.
Media outlets report on news from Texas, Connecticut, Michigan, California, Arizona, Oregon, Massachusetts, Georgia, Illinois, New Hampshire and Ohio.
‘Tobacco Nation’: Deep South, Midwest States Lag Behind Rest Of U.S. In Cutting Smoking Rates
“It looks more like a part of the developing world than it looks like the United States of America,” Robin Koval, president of the Truth Initiative which released the report, says of the 12 states. In other public health news: blood pressure, a mysterious illness, domestic violence and rare genetic diseases.
In Effort To Slow Opioid Epidemic, Cigna Drops Coverage For OxyContin
Instead, the insurer will cover Xtampza ER, which it calls an “oxycodone equivalent with abuse deterrent properties.” In other news on the nation’s drug crisis: federal officials look to Buffalo’s opioid crisis intervention court as a potential model; a Texas county is the latest to sue drug companies for their alleged role in the epidemic; researchers turn to virtual reality for pain solutions; and more.
Being Taken To Level 1 Trauma Center Can Boost Survival Rate By Up To 30 Percent
Las Vegas only has one of these “gold standard” centers, but it’s not the only big city to have so few. Experts say that in situations such as Sunday’s mass shooting what matters most is not the number of high-level centers, but the degree of coordination across a region’s medical network.
Behind The Scenes: How The Tom Price Story Unfolded
Politico reporters describe what went into tracking former HHS Secretary Tom Price’s use of chartered jets. In other news, House Democrats want details on White House adviser Kellyanne Conway’s trips.
