Latest KFF Health News Stories
Media outlets report on news from California, Colorado, Maryland, Illinois, Florida, Missouri, Wisconsin, New Hampshire and Ohio.
About 1,200 Nurses Strike At Major Boston-Area Hospital
The nurses union at Tufts Medical Center held a one-day strike over a contract dispute centered on the administrators’ plans to alter retirement benefits.
Study May Provide Road Map For Scientists Searching For Genes Linked To Autism
Researchers found that the way children search out social experiences is connected to genetics. In other public health news: prostate cancer, Zika, food safety and diets, deadly infections and more.
Money, Recognition And Dark Chocolate: How To Sell Doctors On Prescribing Powerful Painkillers
Two former sales reps pleaded guilty to violating the federal anti-kickback law in bribing doctors to prescribe Subsys. A look at the case shows how companies can get doctors to do their bidding.
‘Most Exciting Thing I’ve Seen In My Lifetime’: FDA Panel Approves Groundbreaking Cancer Treatment
Full approval from the agency is expected to follow.
Medicare Analysis To Be Released Today Could Trigger Obamacare’s Mandate To Cut Spending
Experts have warned that the report expected to be released today on the finances of Medicare could launch a process under the health law to make cuts. A panel expected to do that, called the Independent Payment Advisory Board, has not been named, however.
Despite Complaints About FDA’s Right-To-Try Approach, Watchdog Says It’s Mostly Doing A Good Job
The Government Accountability Office did say the agency could do better at providing clear and transparent information about potential side effects of the experimental drugs. In other pharmaceutical news: the House passed an Food and Drug Administration authorization bill, President Donald Trump considers scaling down a program that makes drugmakers give discounted products to hospitals, and a new method might help shave off development time for drugs.
New CDC Director’s Track Record On Public Health Initiatives Worries Some Advocates
Brenda Fitzgerald chose to partner with Coke in an effort to fight obesity, a move that raises some eyebrows. “We hope Dr. Fitzgerald, as head of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, avoids partnering with Coke on obesity for the same reason she would avoid partnering with the tobacco industry on lung cancer prevention,” said Jim O’Hara of the Center for Science in the Public Interest.
NIH Gets $1.1B Funding Increase From House Appropriators
The funding boost for the National Institutes of Health, which was advanced by a House subcommittee, is counter to the White House plan to slash medical research spending and is offset with reductions to family planning and refugee services.
Lawsuit Against California Claims Medicaid Provides ‘Unequal System Of Health Care’
Civil rights advocates file suit against California, alleging that care provided by Medi-Cal, the state’s health program for low-income people, is substandard and disproportionately hurts Latinos — by far the largest group of enrollees.
‘Horrified’ Senators Question IHS Official Over Reports Of Unsafe, Poor Care At Hospitals
Acting Indian Health Service Director Rear Adm. Michael Weahkee says he visited the hospitals in question and “saw a committed caring workforce that is working hard.”
Obamacare Markets Showing Signs Of Profitability
Although Republicans often point to signs suggesting the individual insurance markets are collapsing, recent analysis suggests they are stabilizing, Politico reports. Other news outlets look at insurance issues including some companies’ move to cover early chronic health problems to forestall bigger expenses later and efforts to keep beneficiaries out of emergency rooms.
Health Care To Be Top Discussion Point At Governors Meeting
The ongoing opioid crisis is also expected to be a topic at the National Governors Association’s three-day conference.
ACA Repeal Would Jeopardize Coverage For More Than 300,000 Native Americans, Alaska Natives
The uninsured rate among Native Americans would climb by 27.4 percent in Kansas and 36.2 percent in Missouri.
Trump Puts Pressure On McConnell: I’ll Be ‘Very Angry’ If The Bill Doesn’t Pass
The comments come as the majority leader is scrambling to garner support for his legislation.
Bipartisan Whispers Start Behind The Scenes As Republicans Publicly Push For A Vote
Discussions about what to do if the GOP’s proposed legislation fails are under way, prompting senators to quietly reach across the aisle.
Senator Says Revised Health Bill Will Keep Republicans’ Proposal To Reduce Medicaid Costs
Sen. Pat Toomey (R-Pa.), a proponent of the reductions, said he has been led to believe that the new draft bill will not change much on the question of Medicaid funding. If so, that could make it hard for some moderate senators to support the measure.
Insurance Lobby Sounds Alarm Over Cruz Amendment To Senate Health Bill
America’s Health Insurance Plans, an insurer trade group, warns that the conservative amendment to allow companies to sell skimpy plans would destabilize the market and harm coverage for people with pre-existing conditions.
Juxtaposition Of Slashing Services For Poor, Deep Tax Cuts For Wealthy Hard To Sell To Constituents
Republicans say the taxes are killing jobs and strangling economic growth, but paired with their plans for rolling back Medicaid, the cuts may become politically toxic to Republicans.
GOP Poised To Unveil New Plan In Hopes Of Securing 50 Votes And There’s No Margin For Error
Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) says he won’t vote for the legislation, and Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) has also voiced strong opposition to the measure. That means Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) needs the vote of every single one of the rest of the 50 Republicans to pass the bill. The revised draft will be out today.
