Latest KFF Health News Stories
Viewpoints: Boehner Applauds ‘Cures’ Bill; Insurance Mergers And Reform; The Cost Of Giving Birth
A selection of opinions on health care from around the country.
Combating The ‘Tide Of Cheaper, More Accessible Heroin’
Tom Frieden, director of the Centers For Disease Control And Prevention, talks to US News about what can be done to stop the epidemic of opioid addiction.
‘Sandwich Generation’ Worries About Its Own Long-Term Care, Poll Finds
Nearly 1 in 10 people over the age of 40 is taking care of both elderly parents and children, and many of them are concerned about how they will afford care when they get older.
How Did A Cable TV Reporter Get NFL Player’s Medical Records?
Federal and state regulators, along with officials at Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami, are investigating how an ESPN reporter got a copy of football player Jason Pierre-Paul’s medical chart showing he had had a finger amputated after a July 4th fireworks accident.
Health care stories are reported from Wisconsin, Illinois, Colorado, New York, Maryland, Nevada, Michigan, Minnesota and Kansas.
Research Roundup: Medicaid Churning; Addiction Coverage; Medicare Advantage Enrollment
Each week, KHN compiles a selection of recently released health policy studies and briefs.
Few Takers For Obamacare’s Small Business Exchanges
Fewer than 11,000 employers nationwide have enrolled their workers in coverage through the small business exchanges set up under the federal health law. Other stories look at the law’s coverage of nutrition and obesity counseling and how Novartis might bundle health-care services, along with its new heart-failure drug, to win over increasingly cost-conscious insurers.
Delayed Dental Care Leading To More ER Visits
The number of emergency room visits related to dental problems doubled from 1.1 million in 2000 to 2.2 million in 2012, according to an analysis from the American Dental Association. A different study suggests patients may be able to avoid complications from dental implants by speaking up about problems such as bleeding, pus and loose replacement ‘roots.’
Hillary Clinton Readies New Spending Proposals — Including For Alzheimer’s Research
Also, Ohio’s Republican Gov. John Kasich passes on some Medicaid expansion advice to other GOP leaders.
House Approval Of ‘Cures’ Bill Faces 11th-Hour Threat From Abortion Rider, Safety Concerns
Backers of the bill say it would speed federal approval of drugs and medical devices, but some worry it would lower scientific standards and jeopardize patient safety. Some Democrats are threatening to pull their support if it includes a rider restricting abortion funding.
FDA Tightens Warnings On Popular Painkillers Over Heart Attack, Stroke Risks
The drugs, known as NSAIDs — nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs — already carried a warning that they “may cause” increased risk of heart attack and stroke. But federal officials say that link is now confirmed.
FDA Delays Menu Calorie Count Requirements For A Year
The mandate is part of the federal health law. Restaurants, movie theaters and other affected retails outlets have asked for more time to make the changes.
Medicare To Change How It Pays Hospitals For Knee, Hip Replacements
Under the plan, hospitals will not bill individually for surgical and recovery services but will instead get a single payment for the procedure and follow-up care.
‘Hookup’ Culture Spurs Test Results For STDs To Keep Pace
Meanwhile, consumers using online “symptom checkers” could be exposing themselves to misdiagnosis.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Viewpoints: Effect Of Insurance Merger Mania Not Clear; Feds’ Fear Of Fat
A selection of opinions on health care from around the country.
Longer Looks: The Science Behind New Pixar Film; Buddhism Meets Neuroscience
Each week, KHN’s Alana Pockros finds interesting reads from around the Web.
A selection of health care stories from California, Michigan, Oregon, Rhode Island, Iowa, New York, Colorado and Maryland.
Popular Fitness Trackers Seem To Lose Their Luster Quickly
Although sales of the devices remain strong, many people lose enthusiasm for them once the novelty wears off. Other reports examine the advent of inexpensive new blood tests that require just a pin prick and problems with symptom checker apps on the internet.
Consumers Are Denied Price Information As They Pay Bigger Share Of Health Costs
Forty-five states fail to require that prices for hospitals and doctors be made public to give consumers the tools they need to comparison shop and pay their bills, finds a new report. And health care spending for kids, largely related to newborn hospitalizations, is outpacing that for adults.
