Latest KFF Health News Stories
Once Seen As Enabling Drug Use, Bronx Needle Exchange Now Embraced As Public Health Strategy
As the opioid epidemic explodes across the country, officials are more and more turning to programs such as St. Ann’s Corner of Harm Reduction, which distributes clean syringes, paraphernalia, condoms and naloxone. And those within the medical field are starting to imbue students and doctors with a better understanding of how to treat pain.
Pharmaceutical Company Warner Chilcott To Pay $125M In Health Care Fraud Case
Meanwhile, news outlets report on prescription medication losses, thefts in Ohio.
Medical Marijuana Activists See Big Pharma Threat Lurking Behind Epilepsy Drug
If Epidiolex is approved by the FDA, doctors would be able to prescribe the cannabis-based drug and insurance would cover it. But activists say that is when the pharmaceutical industry would take over, and patients would lose the ability to use marijuana to treat their symptoms as they see fit. In other news, Pennsylvania has legalized a medical marijuana program, becoming the 24th state to do so.
Immunotherapy Drug Doubles Long-Term Survival Rate For Melanoma Patients
Opdivo is a checkpoint inhibitor, which releases the break on the immune system allowing a patient’s body to fight the cancer. Research released on Sunday shows that patients who received the drug had a 34 percent survival rate 5 years out. A similar immunotherapy drug, Keytruda, was part of Jimmy Carter’s successful treatment for advanced melanoma.
Trying To Save Medicare: CMS Innovation Center Experiments With New Practices
The Associated Press examines the group of doctors, lawyers, health policy experts and career federal employees charged with coming up with ways to save money and improve care in Medicare. Meanwhile, news outlets report on other Medicare developments including bundled payments, hospice use and fraud.
Ark. Governor Hopes To Save Medicaid Expansion With Veto Strategy
As the state Senate balks at funding the expanded program, Gov. Asa Hutchinson is betting that he can use the line item veto to keep it running. Also, news outlets examine Medicaid expansion news in Ohio and New Hampshire.
Analysis: Health Law Has Halted Decades-Long Expansion Of The Gap Between Haves And Have-Nots
The New York Times offers analysis of coverage gains under the Affordable Care Act. In other news, UnitedHealth has announced it will be pulling out of the Michigan exchange, an announcement that comes on the heels of its decision to withdraw from Georgia and Arkansas.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Viewpoints: Forcing Competition Among Insurers; CMS And The ‘Most’ Attractive ACO Model
A selection of opinions from around the country.
Perspectives About The Congressional Response To Zika; Thoughts On The Virus’s Risks
Editorial writers take in-depth looks at the current state of knowledge about the Zika virus as well as the congressional reaction to it.
Research Roundup: Medicare’s Star Ratings; ACO Performance, Texas Medicaid
Each week, KHN compiles a selection of recently released health policy studies and briefs.
News outlets report on health issues in Florida, Ohio, Georgia, Michigan, Missouri, Minnesota, California, North Carolina and Colorado.
West Virginia Medical Centers Agree To Settle Antitrust Lawsuit
In related news, federal antitrust regulators are taking a hard look at the cost impact a proposed Chicago-area merger between two hospitals could have on consumers.
Ohio, Mass. Officials To Offer Changes In Medicaid Programs
Ohio will soon release details of a plan to require some Medicaid enrollees to make payments toward the cost of their insurance, and Massachusetts is finishing up a draft of an overhaul that will change how doctors and hospitals are paid.
Doctors, Breaking With AMA, Form Group To Support Legalization Of Marijuana
Doctors for Cannabis Regulation says the prohibition and criminalization of marijuana use does more harm to the public than good. In other news, researchers wonder if parasites can actually help treat diseases.
The Opioid Crisis: For People Who Don’t Understand, She’s ‘Just Another Statistic’
The mother of a woman who died of a heroin overdose spoke out about her daughter’s struggle in hopes of reaching just one other family who was going through what she had. She ended up touching thousands.
Lawyers: Jury Exceeded Its Authority In Indictment Of Man Behind Planned Parenthood Videos
David Daleiden’s attorneys have filed court documents to try to get the indictment dismissed. They also argue that the district attorney on the case colluded with Planned Parenthood.
Couple Sues Sperm Bank Saying It Misrepresented Donor Touted As Healthy PhD Student
The couple thought they were getting sperm from a musically gifted, well-educated donor, but later found out he was actually a man who suffered from schizophrenia and narcissistic personality disorder, had no university degrees and had been charged with residential burglary.
Nearly Half Of Patient-Doctor Interactions Missing From Electronic Records: Study
A new report tries to quantify the problem of inaccurate health records and finds that incompatible electronic record software can miss checkups, emergency room stays and hospital admissions. In other information technology news, a doctor creates an online tool to help patients with end-of-life wishes, while an artist uses murals to channel her anger with the digital health system.
Surgeons’ Group Says Doctors Should Inform Patients When They Double Book
In its first guidelines for managing simultaneous operations, the American College of Surgeons says “the patient needs to be informed” that the doctor will be in more than one operating room. News outlets also look at variety of other developments that affect patients.
