Latest KFF Health News Stories
Financial Ties That Bind: Studies Often Fall Short On Conflict-Of-Interest Disclosures
A new study in JAMA Surgery finds that a large sample of published medical research failed to disclose details on the financial relationships between medical device makers and physicians. Changes in the disclosure process could close this loop.
Podcast: KHN’s ‘What The Health?’ Let’s Talk Politics
In this episode of KHN’s “What the Health?” Julie Rovner of Kaiser Health News, Anna Edney of Bloomberg News, Alice Ollstein of Talking Points Memo and Rebecca Adams of CQ Roll Call talk about health care’s emergence as a possible voting issue in the coming midterm elections. Plus, Rovner interviews KHN’s Emmarie Huetteman about July’s “Bill of the Month”: a transgender woman’s “bait-and-switch” $92,000 surgical bill.
¿Llegó el momento de la colonoscopía? Asegúrate que el instrumental esté esterilizado
Las infecciones por duodenoscopios contaminados pueden ser fatales. Qué hacer para ayudar a garantizar que el instrumental médico esté esterilizado.
Time For That Colonoscopy? Probe Your Doc First On How The Scopes Are Cleaned
Millions of Americans undergo procedures each year requiring medical scopes, but there’s growing concern about the risk of infection from dirty devices. Be prepared to ask questions — and bail if you’re not satisfied with the answers.
Sprained Your Ankle? The Cost Of A Brace Could Sprain Your Wallet.
Your health insurance might not cover items such as wheelchairs, walkers, crutches and braces, or you may have to deal with a supplier that has a contract with your insurer.
Study: Nearly Three-Quarters Of Commonly Used Medical Scopes Tainted By Bacteria
The ‘scary’ findings show a discouraging lack of progress in cleaning the devices, despite more vigorous efforts in the wake of deadly superbug outbreaks, experts say.
Judge Orders New Olympus Trial Over Superbug Death
The Seattle jurist finds that Olympus Corp. failed to properly disclose evidence that it knew of concerns about cleaning problems with its redesigned medical scopes years before they hit the market and were linked to dozens of deaths. The company maintains the devices were not defective and intends to appeal.
Heart Device Failure: Medicare Spent $1.5B Over 10 Years To Replace Defective Implants
The inspector general at Health and Human Services says defective pacemakers or defibrillators had to be replaced from 2005 through 2014, costing Medicare $1.5 billion.
To Wage War On Superbugs, FDA Clears Way For Scope With A Disposable Piece
Agency says a removable cap will lower the risk of antibiotic resistant infections but some experts see it as a modest step in curbing the sort of deadly outbreaks that occurred a few years ago.
Quiz: How Well Are You Paying Attention?
To strengthen your core knowledge of health care policy, it helps to be a regular reader of Kaiser Health News. Here’s a pop quiz to gauge what you have learned.
Scope Maker Olympus Hit With $6.6 Million Verdict In Superbug Outbreak Case
In the first case of its kind in the U.S., the company was ordered to pay damages to the hospital where a patient died of an infection linked to a contaminated scope. But jurors also found the hospital negligent, and it was ordered to pay the patients’ family $1 million.
DNA Links Deadly Germs, Tainted Heart Surgery Devices To German Factory
LivaNova plant in Germany is the likely source behind outbreak that has sickened more than 100 people since 2013.
Widow Unleashes Court Fight Against Scope Maker Olympus Over Superbug Outbreak
The Seattle case, the first to reach trial in the U.S., offers possible glimpse into fate of some two dozen lawsuits against manufacturing giant Olympus, accused of failing to address scope contamination linked to numerous deaths. The company faults poor hospital cleaning practices.
Dispositivos que salvan vidas en los Estados Unidos se fabrican en México
Casi todos los estadounidenses con marcapasos -y personas en todo el mundo- caminan portando partes fabricadas en Tijuana, México, en donde se ha creado una industria que podría estar en riesgo si la administración Trump cambia el juego del comercio global.
Also Made In Mexico: Lifesaving Devices
The medical supply industry makes a particularly revelatory case study of the difficulties of untangling global trade.
Renewed Cleaning Efforts For Scopes Not Enough To Vanquish Bacteria
A new study, though small, finds extensive damage to commonly used medical scopes that could trap dangerous bacteria. That raises concerns about the potential for more outbreaks.
Cheaper Over-The-Counter Hearing Aids Could Be On The Way
The FDA and other agencies are loosening restrictions on hearing aid sales and opening the door to less expensive, over-the-counter products.
Grilled About Deadly Superbug Outbreaks, Execs At Scope Maker Olympus Take Fifth
Lawyers who deposed top company officials in a civil case say they declined to answer questions about their failure to warn American hospitals of infection risks. Industry giant Olympus also is the subject of a criminal probe.
The Throwaway Scope: A Way To Ditch Superbugs?
Small manufacturers are betting that disposable medical scopes will slash the risk of infection during procedures. Some doctors are skeptical of the cheaper models.
Deadly Infections Linked To Heart Surgery Device Highlight Holes In FDA Monitoring
The federal agency took 14 months to warn the public about the potential for infections. Officials say they acted as fast as they could.
