Latest KFF Health News Stories
Mass. Leaders Join Forces To Prevent Ballot Initiative On Hospital Prices
News outlets also report on other hospital developments in Massachusetts, Colorado, Florida and Texas.
At Trial For Ala. House Speaker, Medicaid Officials Say They Opposed Bill Aiding His Client
The officials said they were never consulted about the measure, which would have set criteria for a pharmacy benefit manager for the Medicaid program.
Doctor Pushes For Trauma-Associated Sleep Disorder Diagnosis To Be Accepted
Col. Vincent Mysliwiec proposes a set of conditions that present in veterans when they’re sleeping be recognized as its own diagnosis.
Clerical Errors And Confusion: No One Realized When Ga.’s 20-Week Abortion Ban Went Into Effect
Fulton County Superior Court Judge Kimberly M. Esmond Adams dismissed a lawsuit that was blocking the ban, but doctors and clinics didn’t seem to know that happened. In other news, women are speaking out about their abortions to try to combat any stigma around the procedure.
Valeant Rejects Takeover Approach
The beleaguered pharmaceutical company rejected a joint takeover bid this spring by Takada and private-equity firm TPG.
Blue Shield Of California For First Time Releases Compensation Data Of Top 10 Paid Officials
CEO Paul Markovich made $3.5 million last year – a 40 percent increase since he took the top job in 2013. And in Texas, an Arlington health care provider and Aetna forge a partnership.
Senators Optimistic About Bipartisan Mental Health Bill Deal
Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., has indicated that he is willing to put the bill from Sens. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., and Bill Cassidy, R-La., on the floor if enough support exists so that debate time will be limited. In other news from Capitol Hill, Vice President Joe Biden hints that Republican lawmakers may support his cancer funding request, while a Democratic congressman calls out Red Cross struggles.
Ohio Health Insurance Co-Op Becomes 13th To Close
InHealth Mutual was one of 23 co-ops set up by the federal health law to offer more options for consumers, but many of them have run into financial problems. Also in health law news, a new insurer is looking to Colorado, Massachusetts leaders to get federal officials to reconsider a hospital funding issue and an insurer’s decision to discontinue bronze plans in Virginia raises some concerns.
Report Prompted By Sandy Hook Offers Police Best Practices To Deal With Psychological Fallout
The U.S. Justice Department is recommending police departments put mental health programs in place to help their officers cope with trauma, including the aftermath of mass shootings.
Expert Warns ‘Never Fall Behind’ When Trying To Control Zika Mosquitoes
Health officials in states across the country are trying to get ahead of the Zika threat.
CDC Head: The Window Is Closing On Opportunity To Effectively Fight Zika
On the same day Congress left town without approving money to fight the outbreak, Dr. Tom Frieden, the head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, warned that time is running out. He knows how to change the course of an epidemic, he says, but he can’t because his hands are tied on funding. Key House Republicans say, however, that more money will be coming and the government’s efforts have not been hamstrung.
FDA Approves First-Of-Its-Kind Implant To Treat Opioid Addiction
Proponents say the method of using implants instead of pills could help patients avoid dangerous relapses that can occur if they miss a medication dose.
Discovery Of Superbug In U.S. Could Signal ‘End Of The Road’ For Antibiotics
Defense Department researchers have determined that a Pennsylvania woman carried a strain of E. coli resistant to the antibiotic colistin, a discovery that could lead to a “nightmare” situation where infections are untreatable.
NOTE TO READERS: KHN’s First Edition will not be published May 30. Look for it again in your inbox May 31. Here’s today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Viewpoints: A ‘Value Framework’ For Medical Care Is A Bad Idea; What Is The Gov’t Doing About Zika?
A selection of opinions on health care from around the country.
Longer Looks: Opioid Withdrawal; Autism and Epilepsy; and Battling Superbugs
Each week, KHN’s Shefali Luthra finds interesting reads from around the Web.
Outlets report on health news from Florida, New York, Massachusetts, Missouri, Wisconsin, Tennessee, Illinois, Michigan and California.
The measure approving limited use of the drug now goes to Gov. John Kasich. Polls show nearly 90 percent of Ohioans support medical marijuana.
Closing Arguments Held In Illinois Hospital-Merger Antitrust Case
In other news, an alliance of Georgia hospital systems is in talks with a large physician organization while Connecticut officials give the temporary OK to a hospital purchase.
Alaska Temporarily Delays Medicaid Payments To Doctors, Hospitals
State officials say claims will still be paid according to the timetable mandated by the federal government and the delays will be brief as they grapple with a shortfall at the end of the fiscal year.
