Latest KFF Health News Stories
Big Tobacco Raking In The Dough Despite Fewer Smokers, More Regulation
Cigarette makers have found they can more than make up for falling volumes with higher prices.
Thousands Take To The Streets Around The Country To Press For Support For Science
In addition to a major demonstration in Washington, D.C., marchers turned out in hundreds of other U.S. cities and abroad too.
Sexual Abuse Of Those In Nursing Homes Going Unreported, Undocumented
Sexual abuse is nationwide problem facing those living at longterm-care and assisted-living facilities, but too often it’s overlooked.
Suspended VA Official Says She’s Being Punished For Blowing Whistle On Clinic’s Practices
Dr. Barbara Temeck wrote prescriptions for a private patient, but her lawyer says his review of VA records shows that Temeck is facing a severe suspension that has not been imposed in even extreme cases of VA prescription misuse.
States Take Steps To Preemptively Protect Women’s Health Care From Federal Cuts
Some are introducing legislation to guarantee funding for Planned Parenthood while others move to plug any potential gaps from a possible repeal of the Affordable Care Act.
Marathon Withdraws From PhRMA Amid Lobbying Group’s Review Of Membership Criteria
The drugmaker announced it was discontinuing its membership after it completed its sale of its Duchenne muscular dystrophy drug earlier that day. Meanwhile, the pharmaceutical industry’s lobbying spending has skyrocketed.
Surgeon General, An Obama-Holdover, Asked To Resign
Rear Adm. Sylvia Trent-Adams, a nurse and Vivek Murthy’s deputy, will take the position of acting surgeon general.
Concerned Over Federal Uncertainty, States Move To Bolster Own Marketplaces
Idaho, Oklahoma and Minnesota have passed measures to relieve some of the burden of covering individuals under the Affordable Care Act from their insurers. Meanwhile, Access Health’s CEO says he’s worried more companies will leave the marketplaces, and consumers in Arizona struggle with skyrocketing rates.
Ryan Downplays Expectations For Health Care Vote As Lawmakers Come Back From Recess
Both the spending battle and the health care fight await lawmakers returning to Capitol Hill this week.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Viewpoints: A Plea For Medical Research Funding; The Politics Of Planned Parenthool
A selection of opinions on health care from around the country.
Different Takes On The GOP’s Latest Health Plan; A Status Report On The ACA
Opinion writers review “the 2.0 version” of the American Health Care Act, examine what’s happening so far with the Affordable Care Act and take a look at the current state of the individual insurance market.
Research Roundup: Unnecessary Care; Medicaid And Marijuana; Workplace Wellness Programs
Each week, KHN compiles a selection of recently released health policy studies and briefs.
Media outlets report on news from California, Minnesota, Ohio, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Missouri, Texas and Florida.
Two Democratic Lawmakers Work To Bring Universal Health Care To California
In Hawaii, lobbyists push back against part of a bill that would cover fertility treatments for some LGBT couples. Meanwhile, California, Arizona and Colorado legislatures consider other measures that would impact the health or safety of residents.
Report Provides Blueprint Of How Memory Can Be Improved When It’s Lagging
A new study looks at the effects of electrical stimulation on the brain, and how those pulses can improve and impair memory.
Drug Companies Turned ‘Blind Eye’ To Opioids Flooding Community, Cherokee Nation’s Suit Claims
“Today, we are facing another challenge, a plague that has been set upon the Cherokee people by these corporations,” said Todd Hembree, attorney general for the Cherokees. “Their main goal is profit, and this scourge has cost lives and the Cherokee Nation millions.”
Despite Notable Silence From White House, Anti-Vaccine Advocates Keep Hopes High
The CDC continues to promote immunizations just as it did under the Obama administration, but vaccine skeptics still feel emboldened by having the new president in the White House. In other public health news: a diet soda link to dementia risk; anxiety in students; a rare tick-borne disease; dietary supplements; and Henrietta Lacks’ cells.
HHS, Lawmakers Weigh Work Requirement For Medicaid, But Many Enrollees Already Have A Job
Republican legislation to replace the health law could include the provision and Secretary of Health and Human Services Tom Price has told states he is open to them adding work requirements to their programs. Also in the news: funding for the CHIP program is on the line this year, Florida lawmakers are wrestling with funding for hospitals that have large numbers of uninsured or Medicaid patients and Tufts Health Plan will manage a Medicaid program in Rhode Island.
Fear Of Deportation May Be Affecting Immigrants’ Willingness To Seek Out Health Care
Physicians report that they’re seeing an uptick in immigrant patients canceling appointments and not coming in for follow-ups.
