Latest KFF Health News Stories
For Fourth Straight Year, U.S. Prices On Prescription Drugs Go Up More Than 8%
In 2016, the cost of medications rose 8.8 percent. Brand-name medications went up 12.9 percent while generics only increased 0.3 percent. In other pharmaceutical news, Mylan takes issue with a Food and Drug Administration decision not to approve its generic version of GlaxoSmithKline’s Advair.
Lawmakers Strike Deal On Bill That Would Make It Easier For VA To Fire Employees
The agreement on the accountability revision smooths the way for passage of the stalled legislation. Meanwhile, Republicans blast a procedural move by Democrats that postponed a hearing on veterans health care.
A Look At Who’s Joining Chris Christie On Trump’s Opioid Commission
And in other news on the crisis, Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price traveled to New Hampshire for a listening session with the governor and other stakeholders and the Food and Drug Administration released guidelines touting the benefits of chiropractic care and acupuncture.
Dr. Elinore McCance-Katz, Trump’s pick to lead the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, is a proponent of shifting away from education-based approaches to aggressive treatment.
Controversy Over Comey Firing Could Cost GOP Support For Trump’s Agenda In Senate
There’s little wiggle room in the Senate, and hesitancy to support President Donald Trump’s priorities could cause problems for any potential health care deal.
Aetna Pulling Out Of All ACA Marketplaces Amid Uncertainty, Financial Losses
While the company’s decision only affects two states, the move has political ramifications in an environment where everyone is tensed for a potential “death spiral.”
Brutal Town Hall For Moderate Who Helped Resuscitate GOP Plan Captures Snapshot Of Voters’ Wrath
Rep. Tom MacArthur (R-N.J.) worked with conservatives to revive the stalled health care negotiations, and helped get the legislation through the House. But his voters, and others turning up at Republican town halls across the country, are not necessarily cheering the efforts.
CBO Assessment Of Republicans’ Health Plan Expected Week Of May 22
The Congressional Budget Office score is needed for the Senate to truly move forward on its own version because of the method it’s using to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act.
Alliances Cropping Up In Senate, Where Almost Every Vote Holds The Power To Destroy A Deal
Leadership can only lose two Republican votes to pass a health care plan through the upper chamber, giving each senator a great deal of bargaining power.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Viewpoints: The Link Between Despair And The Opioid Crisis; Big Tobacco And E-Cigarettes
A selection of public health opinions from around the country.
News outlets’ editorial sections highlight policy issues in play as the debate over the GOP health plan continues.
Editorial writers take on the optics involved as Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) taps a group of Republican senators to craft a repeal-and-replace package, and handicap the reasons behind some representatives’ votes in the House, if they will be held accountable and what could happen next.
Perspectives: When Drug Prices Are High Patients Take Fewer, Leading To More Expensive Care
Read recent commentaries about drug-cost issues.
Money-Back Guarantees Protecting Patients From Buying A Lemon When It Comes To Pricey Drugs
News outlets report on stories related to pharmaceutical pricing.
Media outlets report on news from Washington, D.C., Georgia, Arizona, Colorado, New Jersey, Florida, Ohio, Massachusetts, Louisiana and Wisconsin.
Maryland Governor Selects Obamacare Critic To Lead State’s Health Care Commission
Robert E. Moffit is a senior fellow at the Heritage Foundation who advocates for full repeal of the Affordable Care Act. He has been on the Maryland panel commission since 2015.
Week Of Anti-Abortion Movement Wins Buoys Supporters, Mobilizes Opponents
The Associated Press tallies the new momentum for foes of abortion on the federal and state level. Meanwhile, news outlets report on related developments out of Kansas, Texas, Delaware and Iowa.
Harms Of Thyroid Cancer Screenings Outweigh Benefits, Task Force Says
Despite an industry-backed push for more people to be screened for thyroid cancer, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force has added the option to its don’t-do-it category. In other public health news: pain relievers and heart risks, statins, syphilis, mental health care for children, and smoking.
House Panel To Investigate Role DEA And Drug Distributors Have Played In Opioid Flood
The House Energy and Commerce Committee wants answers from the Drug Enforcement Administration about its efforts to combat the epidemic and from the nation’s three largest drug distribution companies about shipping practices. Other news stories focus on steps the Trump administration is taking to tackle the drug crisis.
