Pharma and Tech: Oct. 18, 2024
Helene and CVS Land Double Whammy for 25,000 Patients Who Survive on IV Nutrition
Arthur Allen
A Massachusetts woman ended up stranded in the hospital because CVS stopped providing the IV nutrition she needs to survive at home. Without it, she’d starve.
California Continues Progressive Policies, With Restraint, in Divisive Election Year
Don Thompson
This legislative cycle, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed bills affirming reproductive rights and mandating insurance coverage of in vitro fertilization, but the Democrat was reluctant to impose new regulations and frequently cited costs for vetoing bills.
Colorado’s Naloxone Fund Is Drying Up, Even as Opioid Settlement Money Rolls In
Claire Cleveland
Since Colorado created a pool of money to pay for naloxone in 2019, it has distributed more than half a million doses of the opioid reversal drug to hundreds of organizations throughout the state. Now, its main funding stream is drying up.
Yet Another Promise for Long-Term Care Coverage
As part of her presidential campaign, Vice President Kamala Harris has rolled out a plan for Medicare to provide in-home long-term care services. The proposal would fill a longtime need for families trying to simultaneously care for young children and older parents, but its enormous price tag makes it a promise unlikely to be fulfilled. Meanwhile, a growing number of Republican candidates up and down the ballot facing voter backlash over their support for abortion restrictions are trying to reinvent their positions. Shefali Luthra of The 19th, Jessie Hellmann of CQ Roll Call, and Joanne Kenen of Johns Hopkins University and Politico join KFF Health News’ Julie Rovner to discuss these stories and more. Also this week, excerpts from a KFF lunch with “Shark Tank” panelist and generic drug discounter Mark Cuban, who has been consulting with the Harris campaign about health care issues.
Employers Haven’t a Clue How Their Drug Benefits Are Managed
Arthur Allen
The Big Three pharmacy benefit managers say they return nearly all the rebates they get from drugmakers to the employers and insurers who hire them. But most employers seem to doubt that.
What’s New and What To Watch For in the Upcoming ACA Open Enrollment Period
Julie Appleby
This year’s start date in most states is Nov. 1, and consumers may encounter new scams as well as important rule changes.
Harris Correct That Trump Fell Short on Promise To Negotiate Medicare Drug Prices
Jacob Gardenswartz
The former president instead favored a temporary model that could’ve brought down prices of some prescription drugs, but it was blocked by the courts.
Setting the Record Straight on the FDA’s Authority Over Drug Ads
KFF Health News gives readers a chance to comment on a recent batch of stories.
How Minnesota Figures Into the Presidential Politics of Insulin Prices
Bram Sable-Smith
Minnesota led the way on insulin affordability, culminating in 2020 when Gov. Tim Walz signed a law going further to cut costs than other state laws. Now, former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris are vying for support from people with diabetes.
Congress Punts to a Looming Lame-Duck Session
Congress left Washington for the campaign trail this week, but not before approving a spending bill that expires shortly before Christmas. Lawmakers will be busy after the election working on not just the legislation needed to keep the government running, but also several health programs set to expire. Meanwhile, Republicans continue to downplay abortion as Democrats press it as a campaign issue. Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico, Lauren Weber of The Washington Post, and Joanne Kenen of Johns Hopkins University and Politico join KFF Health News chief Washington correspondent Julie Rovner to discuss these stories and more.
American Health Under Trump — Past, Present, and Future
Dreaming of a Trump victory, Republicans have a wish list of health policy changes — including loosening Affordable Care Act regulations to make cheaper coverage available and ending Medicare drug price negotiations. Meanwhile, after a publicly reported death stemming from a state abortion ban, Vice President Kamala Harris is emphasizing the consequences of Trump’s work to overturn Roe v. Wade. Tami Luhby of CNN, Shefali Luthra of The 19th, and Joanne Kenen of Politico and Johns Hopkins University join KFF Health News senior editor Emmarie Huetteman to discuss these stories and more.
More Mobile Clinics Are Bringing Long-Acting Birth Control to Rural Areas
Arielle Zionts
Small-town doctors may not offer IUDs and hormonal implants because the devices require training to administer and are expensive to stock.
Poppy Seed Brew Triggers Morphine Overdose, Drawing Attention of Lawmakers
David Hilzenrath and Lydia Zuraw
Poppy seeds contaminated with opioids can be used to make a deadly brew, a watchdog says.
California Hospitals Scramble on Earthquake Retrofits as State Limits Extensions
Annie Sciacca
California legislators for years have granted extensions on a 1994 law requiring hospitals to retrofit their buildings to withstand earthquakes. Gov. Gavin Newsom in September vetoed an extension for all hospitals but signed a bill granting relief to rural and “distressed” hospitals and some others.
Trump Leads, and His Party Follows, on Vaccine Skepticism
Darius Tahir
Former President Donald Trump has presided over a landslide shift in Republican views on vaccines, reflected in false claims by candidates in election primaries, puzzling conspiracies from prominent conservatives, and a surge in anti-vaccine policies in statehouses.
Here’s Why Getting a Covid Shot During Pregnancy Is Important
Jackie Fortiér
New data from the CDC shows covid vaccination during pregnancy is key to protecting vulnerable newborns from the virus.
More Restrooms Have Adult-Size Changing Tables To Help People With Disabilities
Tony Leys
Adults with disabilities and their caregivers are pressing governments and private businesses across the U.S. to help them avoid undignified public bathroom experiences.
FDA’s Promised Guidance on Pulse Oximeters Unlikely To End Decades of Racial Bias
Arthur Allen
For decades, the pulse oximeters used in hospitals, ambulances, and homes have underestimated the oxygen needs of darker-skinned patients. The FDA is preparing guidelines to fix that. But will the new rules go far enough?
Journalists Talk Obesity, Oximeters, and Severe Weather’s Impact on Public Health
KFF Health News and California Healthline staff made the rounds on national and local media in recent weeks to discuss topical stories. Here’s a collection of their appearances.