Latest KFF Health News Stories
Lawmakers In Ohio, Nebraska, Iowa Consider Bills Affecting Children’s Health Issues
Ohio Republicans dismiss Gov. John Kasich’s call to raise the income requirements for families in a state program for medically fragile children, while legislators in Nebraska come in for criticism on plans to cut some state contracts with agencies helping foster families, and Iowa lawmakers weigh changes in the income tax forms that children’s advocates say could lead to more uninsured kids. Other legislative news from Colorado, Texas, Minnesota, Florida and Maryland.
Epidemic Of Dying Rural Hospitals Shattering Communities’ Health Security
Nearly 80 have closed since 2010, and many more are considered fragile.
Law Protecting People Who Call For Emergency Help In Overdose Situations Is Saving Lives
In Georgia, the legislature passed a bill that offers amnesty to “good Samaritans” who call for help, because many hesitate to do so fearing they’ll get in trouble as well. Media outlets also report on the opioid crisis out of California, West Virginia, Michigan and Florida.
One patient with abnormally high levels of a blood-clotting protein may help those who have been diagnosed with hemophilia B. In other public health news: prostate cancer screenings, running, gun control, alcohol abuse, asbestos, and back pain.
Small Army Of Health Professionals Try To Rebuild Trust With Minorities Over Clinical Trials
Minorities have been long-underrepresented in clinical trials. Drugmakers, health care researchers and community organizers nationwide are working to change that trend.
N.C. Medicaid Expansion Bill Seeks To Lend A Hand To ‘Working Adults’
The plan, advanced by four Republicans, faces a tough road in the legislature. Also in Medicaid news, troopers arrest protesters in the Tennessee governor’s office, Connecticut offers long-acting contraceptive options to enrollees after they give birth and enrollees in Oklahoma raise concerns about cutbacks.
VA Embracing Transparency, Welcoming Public Scrutiny With Launch Of New Website
The site will offer looks at the Department of Veterans Affairs process and will show if veterans are satisfied with wait times at clinics, a problem that has been plaguing the agency for years.
Pa. Lawmaker, Early Trump Supporter Expected To Be Tapped For White House Drug Czar
Rep. Tom Marino (R-Pa.) is known for taking hardline positions on marijuana users, recently saying he’d like to put nonviolent drug offenders in some sort of “hospital-slash-prison.”
On Recess, Republicans Face Antagonistic Home Crowds Over Health Bill
Rep. Joe Wilson, the South Carolina Republican who gained a measure of infamy after shouting “you lie” at President Barack Obama during a joint session of Congress in 2009, got the same treatment when he answered questions about health care. Other lawmakers were subjected to criticism, too.
Freedom Caucus Head Hints At Progress On GOP Health Plan Strategy
Rep. Mark Meadows (R-N.C.) said there were “two options” on the table and he expected to hear back from House Speaker Paul Ryan about them. In other news, Republicans are left with the question of what they should do next.
Conflicting Reports On Future Of Subsidies Create Further Uncertainty For Insurers
The White House is delivering mixed messages to the media and appears to be divided on whether to continue funding the cost-sharing insurance subsidies.
Trump Promises ‘Phenomenal Tax Reform,’ But Says He Wants ‘To Do Health Care First’
President Donald Trump is not giving up on getting a Republican health care plan through Congress.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
A collection of public health opinions from around the country.
Different Takes On Health System Issues: A ‘DNR’ For The AHCA; How Are We Doing On Patient Safety?
Opinion writers across the country take hard looks at various aspects of the health care system, from what’s happening with the congressional repeal-and-replace debate and state health insurance markets to confidence levels in health data sharing, cost and quality issues and a range of other topics.
Outlets report on news from Ohio, California, Arizona, Oregon and Pennsylvania.
Democrats, Patients Advocates In Nevada Renew Efforts To Ban Surprise Medical Bills
“Patients don’t have an ability to negotiate,” said one supporter of the bill at a legislative hearing. In other news, lawmakers in Kansas expect new lottery revenues to help pay for more mental health facilities, and a Texas bill would criminalize cyberbullying.
Mass. House Weighs A Budget Without Governor’s Proposal To Help Fund Medicaid
As the number of workers moving onto the Medicaid rolls grows, Gov. Charlie Baker says he would like to have an assessment on employers who don’t offer health benefits to employees. Also, proposed cuts in Medicaid payments to health providers in Oklahoma could affect services available to enrollees, and some Republican leaders in North Carolina discount the chances of a Medicaid expansion proposal getting through the legislature.
Study Undercuts Popular Belief That Rise In Thyroid Cancer Rates Is Due To Unnecessary Diagnoses
Researchers speculate that rising thyroid cancer cases could be related to increasing obesity rates and declining smoking rates, since smoking is protective against developing thyroid cancer. In other public health news: breast cancer, vitamin D, dreams, child death rates, Parkinson’s, competitive eating and more.
Medication-Assisted Treatment Works For Opioid Addiction — But Nearly 80% Of Users Aren’t Getting It
Experts say the shortfall is caused by a dire lack of coordination in the system, a lack of a standardized method of care for the growing crisis and confusion about what treatment even is and how long it should last. Media outlets report on the crisis out of Missouri, Maryland, Oregon, New Hampshire, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Pennsylvania and Texas.
