Latest KFF Health News Stories
St. Louis Establishes Drug Monitoring Program
The program creates a database where pharmacies and other drug providers report prescriptions on a daily basis. In other news, a woman pleads guilty to fraud charges over dislocating her shoulder to obtain painkillers, and KHN explains the best way to get rid of unused prescription drugs.
Arizona Measles Outbreak: Health Officials Predict Uptick In Cases
There have been 11 confirmed so far, but officials say, “there has been significant [potential] exposure at public places.”
N.J. Counties Due $37 Million From State Because Of Medicaid Overpayments, Congressman Says
Rep. Bill Pascrell says federal officials have informed the state about the overpayments, which came during the recent recession. Gov. Chris Christie’s administration plans to appeal. Outlets also report on concerns about rising Medicaid costs for hepatitis C treatments and other developments in North Carolina and Ohio.
No Smoking Gun In Rare Rise In Americans’ Death Rate, Researchers Say
CDC’s report shows the an increase in U.S. deaths for the first time in a decade. Although scientists say it could be a fluke, they say they are surprised by the trend. “We are not accustomed to seeing death rates increase on a national scale,” said Andrew Fenelon, a researcher at the CDC.
Conspiracy Theories, Myths And Rumors: How Misinformation Can Sabotage Fight Against Zika
Researchers worry that misinformation — or as one scientist calls it, “the lifeblood of epidemics” — about the virus, especially as it is amplified via social media, can undermine efforts to curb an outbreak. Meanwhile, a woman from Honduras has given birth to the first baby in the continental U.S. to have Zika-linked birth defects.
How To Pay For Long-Term Care? Most Americans Surveyed Not Confident They Can
Confusion over what Medicare covers and beliefs that such services will not be needed have led many to forgo setting aside money for long-term care, an Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll finds.
Portman Promises To ‘Turn The Tide’ Of Opioid Epidemic In First TV Campaign Ads
The Ohio senator is in a tough reelection fight against former Gov. Ted Strickland and is focusing on touting his work fighting the crisis that has hit his state particularly hard.
185,000-Strong Nurses Union Digs In Behind Sanders
The nurses want the party to embrace a single-payer, government-run health plan that Sen. Bernie Sanders touts.
La. Begins Medicaid Expansion Enrollment With Federal Approval Of Novel Sign-Up Initiative
Louisiana becomes the 31st state to expand its Medicaid program under the federal health law. HHS officials have given approval to Louisiana’s plan to use eligibility for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or food stamps, to more quickly find and enroll people.
House Republicans Voice Frustration Over HHS’ Response To Health Law Subpoenas
Ways and Means Committee members say they have received only one heavily redacted page in response to their subpoenas over an initiative known as the Basic Health Program. In other news, the California Assembly has taken the next step toward allowing those living in the country illegally to buy health insurance from the state’s exchange, and insurers in North Carolina are proposing big rate increases for 2017.
UnitedHealth To Leave California’s Obamacare Exchange
Although it’s a key market, the decision will affect less than one-tenth of a percent of consumers on the exchange, a Covered California official says. UnitedHealth will also pull out of the Illinois exchange.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Viewpoints: Rising Premiums; Paying More After Mergers; VA Nurses
A selection of opinions on health care from around the country.
Outlets report on health news from Connecticut, Maine, Arizona, Minnesota, California, Texas, Ohio and Florida.
Federal Judge Orders Medicaid To Pay For Hepatitis C Drugs In Wash. Ahead Of Trial
The drugs can run nearly $100,000 for the full treatment, and Washington — as well as other states — have held off covering them until patients are quite sick. Washington officials say covering all cases of hepatitis C could triple the state’s Medicaid pharmacy bill.
Organ Transplants Between HIV-Positive Patients Now Legal In California
Gov. Jerry Brown signed the measure lifting a ban on the procedure after state legislators fast-tracked legislation. The rush was prompted in part by the case of a man with HIV who needed to receive part of his HIV-positive husband’s liver before the surgery becomes too dangerous.
California Looks For Aid-In-Dying Lessons From Experiences Of Oregon, Washington
As the June 9 start of California’s controversial law approaches, state officials can look to annual reports by public health departments in Oregon and Washington, where similar measures are already in effect.
When Responding To Negative Yelp Reviews, Some Doctors Reveal Patients’ Private Medical Information
ProPublica has been granted access to Yelp’s trove of public reviews and finds that some providers may be violating the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act when they refute negative reviews.
Death Threats And Subpoenas: How Congress’ Fetal Research Probe Turned A Tiny Company Upside Down
StemExpress is a small biomedical company based in California, and its work with fetal tissue has catapulted it into the national spotlight. Meanwhile, the special congressional panel is drawing criticism from Democrats, who say Republican lawmakers are abusing their authority and putting lives at risk.
Critics Slam Gilead For Halting Development Of Less-Toxic HIV Treatment
They say the company made the decision so that it could continue to reap patent-protected profits from its earlier version. Gilead denies the claims.
