Latest KFF Health News Stories
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Viewpoints: Using Medicaid Dollars To Fight Poverty; Zika And The Summer Olympics
A selection of opinions on health care from around the country.
U.S. Has Highest Price For Cancer Drugs, But Treatment Is More Affordable Than In Poorer Countries
Although the costs of the drugs are sky high in America, when calculating based on percentage of wealth and cost of living they’re more affordable than for other countries such as India and China.
Outlets report on health news from Puerto Rico, Tennessee, Michigan, Texas, Oregon, North Carolina, Ohio, Wisconsin and California.
Maryland Panel To Consider Hospital Rates For Next Fiscal Year
In other news, a California regional hospital has filed for bankruptcy.
Delaware To Gradually Expand Hepatitis C Drug Treatments To All Medicaid Patients
The state promised by 2018 to cover the expensive drugs for all Medicaid patients, rather than just those who were the sickest. Also, a federal judge is considering whether to block Kansas from cutting off Medicaid funding to Planned Parenthood.
How Tying Gun Restrictions To Mental Health Has Failed
A new study suggests that regulators’ attempt to predict which people are likely to use a gun to cause harm needs fine-tuning.
Task Force Reaffirms Syphilis Recommendations Amid Resurgence
In other public health news, the head of the FDA is making a push to get volunteers to turn over their health records for the president’s precision medicine initiative, experts say up to 80 percent of eating disorder cases in men can go undiagnosed, scientists suggest primary care doctors start screening for skin cancer, one-third of adults in the U.S. report that they have fair or poor dental health and advocates come out in support of sugary drink warnings.
Govs. From Hard-Hit New England Address Opioid Epidemic: ‘There Is Not An Issue More Pressing’
The region’s six governors urge an international conference of physicians to reduce their opioid prescribing. Meanwhile, the FDA warns of overdose risks from a diarrhea drug with opiate-like effects, insurers bet on data to help them fight the epidemic, and the head of the DEA says synthetic designer drugs — especially opioids — pose an unprecedented threat to the country.
Researchers Predict As Few As 15 Zika Cases At Olympics
The studies, however, did not attempt to assess the risk of even a single Olympics traveller carrying the virus back to a vulnerable home country. Meanwhile, media outlets in the states report on the virus.
Microsoft Mines Search Queries To Find Warning Signs To Cancer
The researchers focused on searches that indicated someone had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. From there, they worked backward, looking for earlier queries that could have shown that the user was experiencing symptoms before the diagnosis.
Struggle To Find Best Antidepressant Could Be Helped By New Blood Test
The test may be able to predict if a patient will respond to the most commonly prescribed medications. In other pharmaceutical news, the Food and Drug Administration eliminates some paperwork doctors must file to access experimental drugs for patients with incurable diseases.
AHIP Announces ‘Major Restructuring’ During Precarious Time For Insurance Industry
It is health insurance lobby’s first significant overhaul since 2003. Media outlets also report on insurer news from Minnesota and Ohio.
Ellmers Ousted In Primary Following Rift With Social Conservatives Over Abortion
“Actions have consequences,” said Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of the Susan B. Anthony List.
Federal Reserve Study Finds Link Between Health Law And Lower Consumer Debt Load
The researchers found that in states that expanded Medicaid, counties that had a particularly high uninsured rate before the federal health law had their per capita collection balance fall, while states that did not expand the program for low income residents had the collection balance continue to grow. Also in health law news, Republicans controlling the Senate are not again trying to defund the health law, and a look at benchmark plans in the online marketplaces finds they lack mandated mental health coverage.
Senate Panel Approves $261M In Funding For Opioid Crisis
The 93 percent increase is still shy of the $600 million Democrats proposed earlier this year.
Bill Overhauling Regulation Of Toxic Chemicals Sent To Obama’s Desk
The measure will affect everyday products ranging from laundry detergent to car seats and furniture.
Senators Demand Drugmakers Account For Skyrocketing Price Of Life-Saving Overdose Antidote
News outlets report on the pharmaceutical drug industry.
Editorial and opinion writers offer their take on drug-cost issues.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
