Latest KFF Health News Stories
Backlash Swells Over Indiana Abortion Ban
The legislation, signed by Gov. Mike Pence last month, bans abortions sought because of genetic abnormalities, race or gender. Activists have been flooding his office with calls and plan a more formal rally for this weekend. Elsewhere, media outlets report on abortion news from Louisiana, Florida and Oregon.
MedStar Health Denies Report That Flagged Security Flaw Contributed To Hack
The Associated Press reported that the company was warned as early as 2007 about a system weakness. But MedStar says that was not the cause of the recent cyberattack on its system. In other health IT news, hospital software that is supposed to help identify dangerous drug interactions isn’t working as well as it should, a report finds.
Johnson & Johnson Invests $50M In Tesaro, Licenses Prostate Cancer Treatment
In other pharmaceutical news, researchers have found that a drug for a rare genetic disease may be able to help treat heart disease.
Cost Of Insulin Triples, Driven By More Expensive Synthetic Product
Analog insulin, a man-made version, is faster-acting than human insulin, and considered more convenient to use, but it is also putting a higher price tag on care for diabetics.
Venerated Medical Journal’s Luster Diminished After Series Of Feuds
Critics are wondering if The New England Journal of Medicine is slipping in both reputation and relevancy.
Venture Capital Firms, Former UnitedHealthcare CEO Set Up New Insurance Company
The startup is planning to compete in the health law’s insurance marketplaces and eventually Medicare Advantage. Also, officials have announced increases in premiums for federal workers’ long-term care insurance.
Inept And Abusive Nurses Licensed To Practice In N.Y. Due To Weak Vetting
ProPublica reviews disciplinary records, arrest reports and court filings to find disturbing examples. In other medical personnel news, low pay is driving Texas nurses away, advocates say. In Nebraska, the governor signs new whistleblower protections for nurses. And health workers’ ability to unionize is under review in a D.C. circuit court.
In Shouting Tirade, Woman Lambastes Fla. Governor Over Failure To Expand Medicaid
The encounter occurred at a Starbucks in Gainesville and was captured by a local television station.
Kasich’s Plan For Revamping Medicaid Could Force Tens Of Thousands Of People To Drop Coverage
The proposal, which must get federal approval, would require working-age, nondisabled adults on Medicaid to make monthly payments into a health-savings account. News outlets also report on Medicaid expansion developments in Louisiana, South Dakota and Arkansas.
Allergan CEO: New Inversion Rules ‘Capricious,’ ‘Un-American’
The Obama administration announced the new regulations aimed at companies shedding their U.S. corporate citizenship for lower taxes on Monday, derailing a proposed $152 billion deal between Pfizer and Allergan.
White House Warns More Money Needed On Zika: ‘We Should Not Play With Fire Here’
The Obama administration ended a stalemate with Congress by transferring about $510 million in leftover Ebola funds and $79 million from other accounts to Zika efforts. But officials say it won’t be enough.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Viewpoints: Treating Politics Like Medicine; Parsing Donald Trump’s Drug-Import Policy
A selection of opinions from around the country.
News outlets report on health issues in Colorado, California, Illinois, Georgia, Florida, Texas, Idaho and Ohio.
Hospitals, Health Systems Announce Sales, New Joint Ventures
Louisville-based Kindred Healthcare announced it will sell 12 long-term acute care hospitals, while LHC Group, a Louisiana company, announced a joint venture with two of Northern Arizona Healthcare’s home health agencies and a hospice. Changes are also afoot in Minnesota and Ohio.
N.Y. Attorney General Probes Sale Of Manhattan Nursing Home
The nonprofit health center for AIDS patients has been sold to a luxury condominium developer.
Florida Settles Lawsuit And Agrees To Improve Medicaid Services For Children
Under terms of the agreement, the state will raise its reimbursements to doctors in an effort to get more providers to see Medicaid patients and will set benchmarks for preventive and dental treatment. The settlement ends an 11-year class action lawsuit.
Increasing Number Of HIV Patients Over Age Of 50 Is Shifting Concerns About Care
People who are older when the disease is diagnosed tend to be sicker. Also in public health developments, news reports today focus on electroconvulsive therapy for depression and regulations for restaurant calorie counts.
Calif. Legislator Proposes Allowing Supervised Facilities For Drug Users
The proposal, similar to ordinances being considered in a number of cities, is aimed at helping cut down the number of overdoses.
Calif. Agents Search Home Of Man Behind Planned Parenthood Videos
David Daleiden says the investigators took all of his video footage and other personal information. State Attorney General Kamala Harris could not comment on an ongoing investigation, but had previously announced that she would look into whether Daleiden broke any laws with his sting operation, which has also led to an indictment in Texas. Meanwhile, the National Abortion Federation has attributed a surge in violence and threats directed at abortion clinics to the videos.
