Latest KFF Health News Stories
Muhammad Ali And Parkinson’s: ‘He Can Speak To People With His Heart’
Muhammad Ali, who died on Friday, was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 1984, a disease that eventually took away his motor skills and his ability to speak clearly. The boxer has been instrumental in raising awareness of the condition.
Mentally Ill Have Disproportionately High Number Of Fatal Encounters With Police
People with severe untreated mental illness are 16 times more likely to be killed in a police encounter.
Deployment Of Crispr Gene Editing May Unlock Vast Potential To Target Viruses
Many viruses don’t contain DNA. Instead, their genetic information is encoded in RNA, which they use to hijack the genes of their hosts. If scientists can use gene editing to target that RNA instead, they could make advances in such areas as HIV and poliovirus. In other news, families that have a child with a rare genetic condition often struggle with isolation when coping with the diagnosis.
A Hot New Trend In Oncology: Blood Tests Over Invasive Biopsies
Researchers report that these “liquid tests” — which are less painful and risky — have proven to have results that agree with a tumor biopsy. In other news, a study shows that women who take an estrogen-suppressing drug for double the time lower their risk of their cancer returning; scientists say immunotherapy is untested in patients with autoimmune diseases; and a Minnesota cancer research center celebrates its expansion.
Less Than 1 Percent Of Blood Test Results Voided Or Corrected, Theranos Says
The company’s announcement, however, has left even more confusion in its wake.
Cancer Researchers Weigh Benefit Of Three-Drug Combinations With Resulting Higher Costs
Combination regimens hold promise for patients but could heighten tensions over the escalating expense of cancer drugs. Meanwhile, Marketplace reports on a company that is cutting deals with pharmaceutical companies to try to rein those costs.
After Turmoil, Valeant Is Under Pressure To Show Return To Normalcy With Earnings
The drugmaker will report first quarter earnings Tuesday, and analysts will be looking to see how the company plans to resume generating profit and growth without the controversial moves it used to increase prices in the past. Other drug company news comes from Pfizer’s chief executive and Martin Shkreli, the former head of Retrophin and Turing, who faces an additional charge.
Switch To Electronic Health Records Not Yielding Financial Benefits For Some Providers
Economists are divided on how the rise in technology will impact industries like health care. Meanwhile, Mazor Robotics and Medtronic strike a deal for the development of robotic-based spine systems.
Conflict Brewing In Alaska Over Whether House GOP Can Continue Medicaid Expansion Fight
Republican legislators lost their effort to derail the governor’s order to expand Medicaid in a case that went to the state Supreme Court. The House wants to appeal but hasn’t secured consent from the Senate. Meanwhile in Wyoming, a poll by researchers at the University of Wyoming finds residents support Medicaid expansion if it will help the state budget.
Clinton Facing Pressure From Sanders To Support Calif. Initiative On Drug Prices
The ballot measure would give California health agencies the ability to negotiate with pharmaceutical companies to lower drug costs for 5 million people who are on Medicaid plans and those enrolled in the HIV/AIDS drug assistance program. Also, a look at how experts are parsing Clinton’s proposal to extend Medicare to people 55 and older.
A FEMA-Like Fund Exists To Fight Zika — But Congress Has Left That Piggy Bank Empty
The fund to help deal with public health disasters was created by Congress in 1983 with an initial appropriation of $30 million. But Congress only put money into it again twice: in 1987 and again in 1993, in response to the outbreak of hantavirus. Today the fund balance is $57,000. Meanwhile, both the surgeon general and Sen. March Rubio, R-Fla, warn about the lack of Zika prevention funding.
Obama: ‘Dismantling The VA System Would Be A Mistake’
The president says a move to privatize the veterans’ health care system would undercut the progress his administration has made in modernizing the department and bringing veterans timely care. Meanwhile, the VA proposes a rule change to allow veterans to apply for medical services to change their sex.
‘We Had To Define It, Before It Defined Us’: States Go All-In Against Opioid Epidemic
Cities and states across the country are realizing they can’t arrest their way out of the drug problem.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
A selection of opinions on health care from around the country.
Outlets report on health news from New York, Connecticut, Arizona, Hawaii, Tennessee, Missouri, Pennsylvania, Alabama, Minnesota and Massachusetts.
California Doctors Grappling With Ethical Burden Of Aid-In-Dying Law
The legislation goes into effect June 9, but the measure is voluntary and not all doctors are willing to participate in ending a patient’s life. How it plays could set the trend for the rest of the country.
Group: The People Who Could Fix NIH Are Being Used As Scapegoats For Its Safety Problems
An advisory group of patients and officials is asking the National Institutes of Health director to rethink his decision to demote top leaders at the hospital, saying the blame for its problem has been misplaced. In other news, officials say a California hospital broke the law by not reporting an outbreak caused by dirty scopes.
Research Roundup: Conflicts Of Interest; Drug Resistant Bacteria; Medicaid For Prisoners
Each week, KHN compiles a selection of recently released health policy studies and briefs.
Abortion Clinic Owners Challenge Location, Procedure Bans
Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley last month signed into law a ban on abortion clinics within 2,000 feet of public K-8 schools. He also approved a ban of a second-trimester abortion procedure known as dilation & evacuation. Elsewhere, abortion advocates and opponents debated in front of the Louisiana governor’s mansion and a clinic in Virginia remains under suspension.
