Latest KFF Health News Stories
Dozens Hospitalized As Wave Of Overdoses Sweeps Through Central, South Georgia
The substance, which people bought thinking it was Percocet, has not been identified, but officials said the street drug is “extremely potent and has required massive doses of naloxone to counteract its effects.’’ Media outlets report on the crisis out of Florida, Connecticut and California as well.
Importation, Generics Expected To Be Topics Of House Hearing On Drug Prices
The House Energy and Commerce Committee is marking up a bill to renew the Food and Drug Administration’s authority to collect fees from the prescription drug and the medical device industries. In other news, next week the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee will also hold a hearing on drug costs.
Forbes investigates an annual golf event hosted at the Trump National Golf Club in Westchester County, N.Y., to raise money for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis.
NIH Director, An Obama Holdover, Will Continue In Role, White House Announces
Francis Collins enjoys widespread support from moderate Republicans despite being appointed during the previous administration.
Republicans’ Proposal To Cap Medicaid Spending Could Jeopardize States’ Managed Care Plans
Medicaid experts say the effort to hold down Medicaid costs may put at risk the private plans that provide coverage to low-income residents in many states. News outlets also report on Medicaid news in New York, Colorado, Illinois and Kansas.
Anthem Pulls Out Of Ohio Exchange Providing ACA Critics With More Ammunition
The move will leave about 10,000 Ohioans who get their insurance from the individual insurance market created by Obamacare without an insurance carrier.
House’s Health Care Bill Cleared To Move To The Senate
The Senate Budget Committee confirms that the legislation has no “fatal flaws” that would force the House to adjust the measure and hold another vote.
After Talks, Some Republicans Remain Glum
Republicans met on Tuesday to discuss plans to push forward with repeal and replace, but deep party divides over issues such as Medicaid may derail ambitious goals for voting on legislation before the Fourth of July. One Republican senator noted: “The Areas We Have Consensus On? Let’s See, Obamacare [stinks].”
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
A selection of opinions on health care from around the country.
Media outlets report on health-related news from Delaware, Minnesota, Washington, Massachusetts, California, Virginia, Florida, Iowa, Ohio, North Carolina and Connecticut.
In other state hospital news, council members are pushing to increase funding for Nashville General Hospital in Mayor Megan Barry’s budget, Tampa General has a new CEO and New Hampshire’s Crotched Mountain Specialty Hospital will close its doors by the end of the summer, among other developments.
Innovators In Neurotech Field Dream Of Perfect Marriage Between Humans’ Brains, Computers
A fully functional brain-computer interface, in theory, turns a person into a programmable, debuggable machine—just like a computer.
Blame For Salmonella Outbreaks Placed On Backyard Chickens
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, eight separate salmonella outbreaks lave been inked to contact with pet poultry in the United States.
Want To Know The Symptoms Of ‘Cyberchondria’? Well, Googling It Will Only Make It Worse
Searching for medical conditions online has become a problem in and of itself. Stat offers a look at the most commonly Googled diseases. In other public health news: health inequality, diabetes, arthritis drugs, pets as probiotics, breast cancer and more.
Opioid Crisis Pushes Pain Patients ‘To The Brink,’ Causes Doctors To Rethink Pain Management
Media outlets also report on developments in state lawsuits against drugmakers as well as how drug use and changing laws regarding marijuana are causing workplace complications.
Zika Epidemic Declared Over In Puerto Rico, But We ‘Cannot Let Our Guard Down,’ Officials Warn
The island has been the part of the United States hardest hit by the mosquito-borne virus
Supreme Court Rules 8-0 That Faith-Based Hospitals Are Exempt From Federal Pension Law
Employees of three church-affiliated hospital systems had challenged the long-standing interpretation of such organizations as being exempt from the Employee Retirement Income Security Act.
VA To Ditch Antiquated Electronic-Records System For One Used By Defense Department
Secretary David Shulkin says the change will let the agencies’ systems work together seamlessly.
Advocates For People With Disabilities Fear GOP Medicaid Plans Could Cut Their ‘Lifeline’
Eric Jacobson, executive director of the Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities, a state advocacy group, says, “Medicaid is the lifeline for people with disabilities.” The bulk of spending on the federal-state health care program goes to cover care for seniors, people with disabilities and children. Meanwhile, in Michigan, officials and health care providers try to raise support for the Medicaid expansion in the state. And Sen. Susan Collins, a key Republican in the upcoming health care debate, voices some support for expanding Medicaid in Maine.
