Latest KFF Health News Stories
It’s Becoming Harder To Treat Gonorrhea With Antibiotics As Bacteria Evolves
Today’s other public health stories cover cancer death rates in rural areas, dementia, tobacco use in movies, mental health of the homeless and traveler stress.
N.Y. Hospital Offers To Treat British Baby At Center Of Life-Support Battle In Europe
New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center says it would admit Charlie Gard, an 11-month-old infant with a rare and fatal genetic disease, if allowed by law and if he can be transferred safely. European courts ruled that the baby could be removed from life support against the wishes of his parents.
Amount Of Opioids Prescribed In U.S. Is Falling, But That’s Where The Good News Ends
Scientists say there are still “too many people getting medicine at too high a level and for too long.”
Opana ER Maker To Withdraw Controversial Opioid Following Rare FDA Request
Pharmaceutical company Endo will voluntarily pull the painkiller, which is about twice as powerful as OxyContin, based on Food and Drug Administration concerns that the drug was too easy to abuse. Other news on the opioid public health crisis comes out of North Carolina, Tennessee and Pennsylvania.
Medicare Beneficiaries In Observation Care May Face Surprise Hospital, Nursing Home Bills
A Modesto Bee article examines the costs for one woman. Also, KHN reports on problems with a Medicare program designed to help poorly performing nursing homes.
Generic Drug Trade Group: Md. Price Gouging Law Is Unconstitutional, Will Harm Patients
The Association for Accessible Medicines is suing the state, saying the legislation grants Maryland power to regulate sales outside its borders.
Limited Supply Of Cancer Drug May Force Doctors To Have To Choose Who To Save
The therapy known as CAR-T can’t be stockpiled. “God, it’s awful,’’ said Carl June from the University of Pennsylvania. “I can’t tell you how bad.’’ In other pharmaceutical news, rare-disease drugmakers speak out against the Republican health care bill, a study finds that risks for drugs are not prominent and accessible on smartphones, and a conservative group pushes for House Energy and Commerce Chairman Greg Walden’s support on right-to-try legislation.
Georgia’s Public Health Commissioner Tapped To Replace Frieden As CDC Director
Dr. Brenda Fitzgerald may prove to be a controversial pick. In 2014 during the West African Ebola crisis, Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal stated that water destroys Ebola viruses and attributed the false notion to Fitzgerald.
Tired Of Waiting For State Payments, Aetna Plans To Quit Illinois Medicaid Managed Care Program
The insurer says the state owes it nearly $700 million but it hopes an accommodation can be reached.
Blue Cross And Blue Shield Of Georgia Seeks Stiff Premium Increases For 2018
The premium hikes for the company’s policies will range from more than 25 percent to 55.7 percent. Blue Cross is the only insurer in 96 of Georgia’s 159 counties.
In Shadow Of Health Law Hubbub, States Quietly Move To Reshape Medicaid On Their Own
The steps states are taking to change the program could affect millions of people. In other news, the Los Angeles Times offers a detailed look at how much counties that went for Trump rely on Medicaid and CHIP.
For A Party That Hates Obamacare, Republicans’ Current Bill Looks A Whole Lot Like It
Republicans are finding out they need to keep a lot of the provisions from the Affordable Care Act. Meanwhile, some senators say they may be weeks away from a vote.
An Unlikely Duo: How Trump And Paul Are Teaming Up And Undermining GOP Leadership
Former rivals, President Donald Trump and Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), are presenting a somewhat unified front on health care efforts that don’t always align with the stance of Republican leaders on Capitol Hill.
Cruz’s New Diplomatic Demeanor In Health Care Negotiations Welcomed By Colleagues
Sen. Ted Cruz’s name used to be synonymous with firebrand tactics to disrupt the health law. Now his fellow Republican senators are more likely to describe him as a constructive compromiser. That doesn’t mean he’s not facing heat with his constituents, though.
Small Town Hall In Kansas Reflects Troubled Mood Of Country Over GOP’s Health Plan
On Thursday night, Sen. Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) did what many Republicans have avoided this recess: face head on his constituents’ tough questions on health care. The concerns he heard are ones that echo across the country, and demonstrate how hard it will be to get the legislation passed.
McConnell Concedes Bill Might Not Pass, But Reaffirms Need To Shore Up Individual Markets
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell says he will have a new bill ready for the returning lawmakers, but that if they can’t reach an agreement “no action is not an alternative” that’s acceptable.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Viewpoints: The Health Law’s Job Toll; Medicaid’s Influence On GOP; Cruz’s High-Risk Plan
A selection of opinions on the health care debate from around the country.
Longer Looks: Psychology Of Cyberbullying; Forest Bathing; The Byrd Rule
Each week, KHN’s Shefali Luthra finds interesting reads from around the Web.
Media outlets report on news from Wisconsin, Oregon, West Virginia, Illinois, Connecticut, Louisiana, Texas, Minnesota, New Hampshire and Maryland.
