Latest KFF Health News Stories
Marijuana Initiative Officially On Ballot In California
The initiative would allow adults ages 21 and older to possess, transport and use up to an ounce of cannabis for recreational purposes and would allow individuals to grow as many as six plants. In other news, a judge in Illinois rules that the state must add PTSD to the list of diseases eligible for medical marijuana treatment, arrest rates for young Latinos and African-Americans has risen in Colorado despite marijuana being legal for adults and a group of doctors in Maryland want to study its benefits further.
Advocates Slam Governor’s Plan To Overhaul Kentucky’s Medicaid Expansion
About 150 people came out to complain at the first hearing on Gov. Matt Bevin’s proposal to scale back Kentucky’s Medicaid expansion, which helped drop the state’s uninsured rate to 7.5 percent from 20 percent. Bevin, a Republican who took office in December, says the state can’t afford the costs. Another Southern state, Georgia, is also wrestling with the issue of expansion.
Doctors Who Use Electronic Health Records More Frustrated And At Risk Of Burnout
Doctors responding to a survey say that digitization helps with office efficiency but not necessarily patient care. In other health IT news, a hacker has put 9.3 million patient records for sale on the dark web. And McKesson plans to reorganize its technology business.
N.H. Governor Candidate Faces Political Predicament Over Planned Parenthood Contract
Chris Sununu, one of five members of New Hampshire’s Executive Council, leads the Republican field in the race to succeed Gov. Maggie Hassan. “A vote for the contract will rightfully anger pro-life voters,” says Republican consultant Jim Merrill. “However, a vote against the contract gives Democrats a powerful and visible tool.”
Task Force: Not Enough Evidence To Recommend Yearly Pelvic Exams For Women
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force’s conclusion applies only to women who are not pregnant and who do not have pelvic symptoms, such as pain or unusual bleeding.
Lead Testing Violations Reported At Over 5,300 Water Systems That Serve 18M People
An EPA analysis finds that 5,363 systems did not properly monitor or treat water for lead and copper last year. In other news impacting public health, KQED covers the “European bias” in clinical trials. Other news outlets report on the risks of bullying, the health of widowers and how labels are affecting caloric intake.
‘There’s Not Going To Be Any Pity Party’: Pat Summitt’s Journey With Dementia
Famed college basketball coach Pat Summitt died Tuesday, five years after being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s-type dementia. She used that time to shed light on the disease.
Zika Vaccine Success In Mice Offers Tantalizing Prospect Of Complete Protection
Two experimental vaccines show promise in early studies, and researchers are cautious but optimistic. In a different study, scientists find that the virus has a prolonged effect in pregnant women. Also, Zika isn’t the only virus mosquitoes carry, and the combination of environmental factors and reproductive health care cuts is creating a perfect storm for women in the South.
Biden To Roll Out ‘Down-Payment’ Cancer Initiatives At Moonshot Summit
The new efforts to be announced at the daylong summit can be seen as the beginning of the new discussion around cancer, and represent “down payments on actions that we can achieve this year,” says Greg Simon, the executive director of Biden’s cancer effort.
Telemedicine May Offer Cheaper Options For Some Health Care
Routine online consultations are generally less expensive than an office visit, according to The Wall Street Journal. Also, NerdWallet provides some consumer advice about using medical records to help figure out billing problems.
Speculation Over Anthem-Cigna Deal Mounts
But company officials say no talks are underway to end the proposed merger. In other insurance industry news, Blue Shield of California is facing new scrutiny about whether it adequately paid back policy holders for its excessive administrative spending in 2014. Meanwhile, in Ohio, nearly 22,000 people face a deadline to find a new health plan or face being uninsured for most of July.
FDA OKs Gilead’s Lower-Priced Drug To Treat All Strains Of Hep C
Epclusa costs $74,760 for a 12-week course of treatment.
Official Tells Hill Panel Medicare May Revise Controversial Drug Payment Proposal
The Senate Finance Committee grilled Dr. Patrick H. Conway, a deputy administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, over an administration plan to change how Medicare pays for drugs administered in doctors’ offices.
Dark Cloud Over Abortion Providers’ High Court Victory: Damage Might Already Be Done
The Texas law, which took effect in 2013, shuttered many of the state’s clinics, and the road to rebuilding won’t be easy. Meanwhile, other states react to the ruling.
Supreme Court Rejects Mississippi, Wisconsin Attempts To Revive Abortion Restrictions
The orders follow a ruling Monday which struck down the admitting privileges law for abortion clinics in Texas.
Democrats Block Zika Bill; Tension Mounts As Lawmakers Trade Barbs Ahead Of Recess
The Republicans are accusing Democrats of being “sore losers,” while the Democrats are saying that including poison pills in the legislation is a “cynical ploy.” Meanwhile, the vote against the funding leaves very little time for the two sides to work out their differences before summer recess.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Viewpoints: GOP Health Plan Light On Care; Teaching Doctors; Vaccine Prices
A selection of opinions on health care from around the country.
Views On Justices’ Decision On Abortion: ‘Major Victory’; ‘Misogyny In Action’
News outlets provided a variety of views about the Supreme Court’s ruling that struck down key provisions in a Texas abortion law.
Outlets report on health news from Illinois, Minnesota, Massachusetts, California, Maryland, Wyoming and Texas.
