Latest KFF Health News Stories
Obama: Opioid Epidemic A Public Health Problem, Not A Criminal Issue
The president spoke about the national crisis at a summit in Atlanta, announcing an array of new measures such as expanding drug treatment centers and increasing the use of drugs, like naloxone. However, he said that “this is still an area that’s grossly under-resourced.”
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
A selection of opinions from around the country.
Johns Hopkins To Get $125M For Immunotherapy Institute
Michael Bloomberg, who will be donating $50 million, said the immunotherapy treatment, which uses a patient’s own immune system to to attack cancer, has enormous potential. “This really may have the possibility for a unique Eureka moment,” he said. In other news, STAT follows one advocate’s battle against federal testicular cancer guidelines, and The Washington Post examines the lifestyle changes of a cancer survivor.
On The Front Line Of Opioid Crisis, One Emergency Department Experiments With Alternative Treatment
The New Jersey hospital is hoping its initiative to try other treatments before prescribing opioids will help in the epidemic that’s sweeping the country. In the first two months, 75 percent of the 300 patients that have gone through the program did not need opioids. In other news, nurses and hospitals are changing their approach when it comes to taking drug-dependent babies away from their mothers.
McCain Unveils Plan To Improve Veteran Health Care
The Arizona senator says the VA Choice Card — which allows some patients to obtain private care at the department’s expense — must be made universal and permanent.
Aggressive Battle To Defund Planned Parenthood Being Fought On State Level
Instead of trying to push defunding through on a national level, activists have taken their strategy to the states, and laws aimed at blocking money to the nation’s largest abortion provider and creating more restrictions on clinics are piling up across the country.
FBI Investigating Cyber Virus That Paralyzed Major Hospital Chain Medstar
The breach comes just weeks after similar cyberattacks on at least three other medical institutions in California and Kentucky, and The Washington Post looks at the reasons why hackers target health care providers.
As Medicare Stifles PSA Testing Penalties, It Signals Interest In Reviving The Issue Later
The Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services says in its statement that it will continue to solicit input “to determine whether a restructured, appropriate-use PSA measure should be developed.” Also, a look at new efforts by the agency to make sure beneficiaries in Medicare Advantage plans can keep their doctors.
Blood Test Could Clear Uncertainty That Envelops Concussion Diagnosis
Researchers have discovered that the levels of a certain biomarker changed with a traumatic head injury, which has always been tricky to diagnose because of, among other things, delayed symptoms.
Special Clinics Emerge To Help Children With Complex Medical Conditions
“Care for these kids is unbelievably time-consuming and labor-intensive, and there is no way in the current system there is enough financial incentive for providers to do this,” says Dr. Jay Berry, a physician and researcher in the Complex Care Service at Boston Children’s Hospital and assistant professor of pediatrics at Harvard Medical School. In other news, new studies find that preemies face struggles even after infancy.
A Troubled New York Hospital Seeks To Rebound
Elsewhere, the Federal Trade Commission will pause its challenge of a proposed West Virginia hospital merger while it examines a state law which would protect the arrangement from anti-trust issues, and a new study finds the number of out-of-hospital births in the U.S. is on the rise.
Outgoing Valeant CEO To Testify At Senate Drug Pricing Hearing
In other Valeant news, investors in Sprout — the female libido pill — are charging that the company, which bought the product, failed to properly commercialize it. Also, the federal government is seeking records from Novartis regarding physician “wining and dining” related to cardiovascular drugs and the first case of HIV infection in someone taking the preventive Truvada has been recorded.
Idaho Governor Rules Out Special Session Or Executive Action For Medicaid Expansion
Gov. Butch Otter says instead he will work with a legislative committee studying the issue. Also, news on expansion issues in New Hampshire and Virginia.
HHS Touts Drug Treatment, Mental Health Benefits Of Medicaid Expansion
A new report released by the Department of Health and Human Services says there are 2 million people with either a mental illness or a substance abuse disorder that could be helped in the 20 states that have not expanded Medicaid. Media outlets from Georgia, North Carolina, Texas, Florida, Tennessee, Louisiana, Idaho and Utah also offer coverage of report.
Obama To Announce Plan To Combat Opioid Epidemic
The proposed rule would double the number of patients to whom physicians can prescribe buprenorphine, a medication used to help addicted people reduce or quit their use of heroin or painkillers.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Viewpoints: Obamacare As An Election Issue; The Health Industry As Job Creator?
A selection of opinions from around the country.
News outlets report on health issues in Illinois, Delaware, Oklahoma, Ohio, California, Wisconsin, Florida and Connecticut.
Kansas Lawmakers Adjourn Without Vote On Medicaid Funding Bill To Help Nursing Homes
The legislature may take up the bill when it returns for a veto session. At the same time, state officials announced a plan to help the nursing homes by improving the processing of Medicaid applications for the facilities’ residents.
