Latest KFF Health News Stories
Viewpoints: ‘Hazy’ Reasons For Medical Firms’ Merger; A Patient Safety ‘Crossroads’
A selection of opinions on health care from around the country.
Perspectives On Drug Prices: HHS’ Admirable Attempt At Curbing High Costs
A selection of opinions on drug costs from around the country.
‘I Wish Drugs Would Fall Out Of The Sky Free. Don’t We All.’
Is a blues musician the reason drug prices are so high? News outlets examine the man behind the hated pricing model, and other news from the pharmaceutical drug industry.
Drug Studies Reveal Contradictory Pricing Models
Several recent studies examine the market for prescription drugs and why prices seem to keep moving up.
News outlets report on health issues in Missouri, Georgia, New York, Ohio, Texas, Illinois, D.C., New Jersey and Washington.
Alabama Medicaid Funding Bill Dies In Senate Committee Dispute
The bill, which would have allocated money received because of the 2010 Gulf oil spill, failed to pass a Senate committee after a rift over how to fund roads. Outlets also report on Medicaid news in Maryland, Idaho, Arkansas and Arizona.
As Gene Manipulation Booms, Scientists Wonder, ‘How Far Should We Go?’
The ability to edit genes enmeshes scientists in an ethical debate about what it means to be a person and how the practice could change humanity as we know it.
Advocates See Mixed Impact Of Prince’s Death On Addiction Epidemic Fight
In other opioid news, Purdue Pharma opposes a news outlet’s effort to unseal documents related to how it makes OxyContin and a survey finds that Americans support more action to fight the drug abuse crisis.
CDC: Doctors Too Frequently Prescribing Medication Over Therapy For Kids With ADHD
Three out of four children diagnosed with ADHD are put on medications even though research has found behavioral therapy to be effective. But health insurance coverage of the treatment can vary, and therapists can be hard to find in some areas.
After Abandoning Allergan Deal, Pfizer Optimistic For Strong Year Ahead
The drug maker reported strong first quarter profits of $3.02 billion. In other news, CVS Health also had a good first quarter, with an 18.9-percent revenue boost, while pharmaceutical companies take the top spots on a global ranking of large-cap stocks.
Study Deals Blow To Theory That Health Cost Transparency Would Curb Spending
When consumers were given a health services shopping tool that makes price comparison easier, only 10 percent even logged into it, and there was no evidence that they used the information to save money.
About 6,000 patients who use the Obstetrix Medical Group aren’t sure if their insurer, UnitedHealth, will cover their medical bills. Meanwhile, WellCare reports profits higher than forecasted. And media outlets report other regional insurance news from Illinois and Oregon.
Aide To S.D. Gov. Says Federal Policy Changes Could Make It Easier To Expand Medicaid
State officials are checking whether changes in federal policy for covering Native Americans’ Medicaid costs could free up funding for Medicaid expansion. Also in the news, Louisiana’s governor says his plan to expand Medicaid will help hospitals, and Arkansas political leaders applaud the legislative effort there to keep the state’s program.
Watchdog Finds IRS Calculated Health Law Credits Correctly On 93 Percent Of Returns
In other news, employers say in a poll that they will turn to contract workers more frequently because of the Affordable Care Act, both sides of the aisle in Minnesota’s legislature know that the state’s exchange needs fixing, and insurers say smokers are dodging surcharges.
Researchers Call For Better Tracking Of Medical Errors As They Climb To No. 3 Cause Of Deaths
Only heart disease and cancer take more lives than medical errors in America, and the exact toll is unknown because the coding system used by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to record death certificate data doesn’t capture things like communication breakdowns, diagnostic errors and poor judgment that cost lives, says a new study in the journal BMJ.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Viewpoints: Health Costs Can Be Contained By States; Tech Media Partially To Blame For Theranos Mess
A selection of opinions on health care from around the country.
News outlets report on health issues in Washington, New Hampshire, Maine, Vermont, California, Florida, Ohio and North Carolina.
Kansas Lawmakers Pass ‘Mega-Bill’ Focused On Medical Professional Licensing
The bill ran into a late roadblock because of an anti-abortion provision added to the midwives section while the bill was in conference committee. The legislature also added protections to a bill allowing “step therapy” for Medicaid drugs.
Obama Tells Iowa Woman That Her Medicaid Concerns ‘Will Remain On My Mind’
The president’s letter was a response to the woman’s concern that Iowa’s move to privately managed Medicaid will disrupt services for her daughter. News outlets also report on the Iowa governor’s latest statements about that transition and developments in Michigan, Alaska and Florida.
