Weekly Edition August 2, 2019
Must-Reads Of The Week From Brianna Labuskes
Brianna Labuskes
Newsletter editor Brianna Labuskes wades through hundreds of health care policy stories each week, so you don’t have to.
Biden-Harris Debate Rematch Highlights Health Plan Differences
Emmarie Huetteman
The Wednesday night event marked the second night in a row for Democratic presidential hopefuls to stake claims on how to fix the health care system.
In A Messy Democratic Presidential Debate, Facts About ‘Medicare For All’ Get Tossed About
Emmarie Huetteman
Candidates used their varying views on how to achieve universal coverage — whether through Medicare for All or more incremental steps — as a means to differentiate themselves from the field.
‘If You Like Your Plan, You Can Keep It.’ Biden’s Invokes Obama’s Troubled Claim.
Jon Greenberg, PolitiFact
The health policy landscape is very different than it was when Barack Obama made this pledge as part of his pitch for the Affordable Care Act. But the words still might be risky for Democratic presidential primary hopeful Joe Biden.
Democrats Favor Building On ACA Over ‘Medicare For All’
Emmarie Huetteman
Asked to choose between building on the Affordable Care Act and replacing it with a national Medicare for All plan, 55% of Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents said they would expand the existing law, according to a Kaiser Family Foundation poll released Tuesday.
KHN’s ‘What The Health?’: Deciphering The Democrats’ Health Debate
Health care was a major topic at the Democratic presidential candidate debates in Detroit on Tuesday and Wednesday, but the focus on plan minutiae may have left viewers more confused than edified. Alice Ollstein of Politico, Kimberly Leonard of the Washington Examiner and Caitlin Owens of Axios join KHN’s Julie Rovner to discuss the points made by the candidates plus a series of Trump administration health initiatives on drug prices and hospital shopping.
Trump Administration ‘Open For Business’ On Drug Imports From Canada
Phil Galewitz
HHS secretary announces a preliminary plan Wednesday to allow Americans to import certain lower-cost drugs from Canada. Manufacturers were quick to criticize the plan, saying it does not guarantee the safety of drugs coming into the country.
California Bill Would Fight Deals That Delay Generic Drugs
Ana B. Ibarra
As California Attorney General Xavier Becerra cracks down on pharmaceutical companies he said paid competitors to delay generic versions of their drugs, he’s also pushing for legislation that would give his department tools to catch more of them. It’s the first of its kind in the nation.
Trump Administration Moves To Make Health Care Costs More Transparent
Julie Appleby
The proposed rules would require hospitals to provide far more detail about the actual prices they charge insurers for patients’ care.
Infusion Treatments — Needed or Not — Can Deplete Patients’ Wallets
Shefali Luthra
When it comes to physician-administered infusion drugs, doctors sometimes have a financial reason for their choice and patients often aren’t aware of cheaper options.
Inspector Paints A Rosy Picture Of Migrant Detention Centers — In Contrast To Audits
Sarah Varney
A KHN review of dozens of inspection reports filed over the past year by the Nakamoto Group reveals disturbing patterns about the company’s audits, including a general willingness to accept accounts of the facilities that the company is paid to scrutinize, and to discount detainees’ complaints.
In The Battle Of The Fitness Trackers, The Most Steps Might Not Win
Bruce Horovitz
Fitness trackers took off about a decade ago, and it’s not unusual for devoted walkers to log several miles a day. But is such a feat necessary?
New Protocol For HIV Prevention Drug Reduces The Number Of Pills Required
David Tuller
Health officials and AIDS advocates in San Francisco have endorsed a new regimen for PrEP medication: to be taken only immediately before and after sex, thus reducing cost and potential side effects. The standard regimen is one pill a day for an open-ended period.
If You Smoke Pot, Your Anesthesiologist Needs To Know
Kate Ruder
Colorado is on the front lines in dealing with how marijuana use affects surgery. Lessons learned on operating tables and in recovery rooms have prompted calls for more research on marijuana nationwide.
This Indiana Clinic Has Patient-Care Stats Worth Bragging About
Dan Weissmann
A small health center in Goshen, Ind., near the border with Michigan, puts “listening to patients’ stories” first. “The rest is housekeeping.”
The Talk Seniors Need To Have With Doctors Before Surgery
Judith Graham
Surgeons are rethinking the old notions of "informed consent." With older patients especially, a push is on to talk candidly about what a surgery will do, its risks and how it will affect their quality of life.
Genetic-Testing Scam Targets Seniors And Rips Off Medicare
Melissa Bailey
Capitalizing on the growing popularity of genetic testing — and fears of terminal illness — scammers are persuading seniors to hand over cheek swabs with their DNA, not knowing it may lead to identity theft and Medicare fraud.
Doctor Alexa Will See You Now: Is Amazon Primed To Come To Your Rescue?
Janet Rae-Dupree
Amazon, along with a host of other technology companies, is working on ways to use its smart speaker devices to bring a range of health care services into your home.
Creator Of Brain Exam That Trump Aced Demands New Training For Testers
JoNel Aleccia
Geriatricians are outraged over a new requirement to pay for training in order to administer the MoCA test, a widely used tool to screen for cognitive problems. The test’s creator said he was worried about accuracy and liability.