Weekly Edition: August 24, 2018
Rehabilitation Plus Rehab? Jails Dispense Drugs To Treat Inmates’ Addictions
By Anna Gorman and Heidi de Marco
Rather than go cold turkey, inmates increasingly have the option to take medication to help beat addiction to opioids and other substances. But some warn these substitute drugs serve as another crutch — and a costly one at that.
Babies Dependent On Opioids Need Touch, Not Tech
By Alex Smith, KCUR
One doctor in Kansas works to make sure every hospital in the state can provide the soft start, ideally with their mothers, that babies with neonatal abstinence syndrome need.
Podcast: KHN’s ‘What The Health?’ Opioids, EpiPens And Health Funding
In this episode of KHN’s “What the Health?” Julie Rovner of Kaiser Health News, Alice Ollstein of Talking Points Memo, Margot Sanger-Katz of The New York Times and Joanne Kenen of Politico discuss Senate action on health funding and opioid legislation, the state of the individual insurance market and consternation over expiration dates on EpiPens, the self-injected allergy remedy. Also, could an otter with asthma signal a potential public health crisis?
Biorhythms And Birth Control: FDA Stirs Debate By Approving ‘Natural’ App
By Michelle Andrews
Critics worry about the message federal officials are sending by approving a new birth control option, which uses a mobile phone app for women to track their body temperature and menstrual cycle to avoid pregnancy. But the more choices the better, some reproductive health experts say.
Battle Lines Drawn As Abortion-Rights Activists Leave Their Mark Outside Clinics
By Ana B. Ibarra
Armed with poster board and catchy advertising slogans, abortion-rights activists in California and elsewhere are taking to sidewalks, buses and mobile phone apps to fight a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling in favor of crisis pregnancy centers.
The Man Who Sold America On Vitamin D — And Profited In The Process
By Liz Szabo
The doctor most responsible for turning the sunshine supplement into a billion-dollar juggernaut has received hundreds of thousands of dollars from the vitamin D industry, according to government records and interviews.
Medicaid Covers Foster Kids, But Daunting Health Needs Still Slip Through The Cracks
By Phil Galewitz
Nearly all children in the foster care system are covered by Medicaid. Yet, foster parents still struggle to meet the extraordinary health needs of their children. To solve this, some states are experimenting with a coordinated approach to care — with mixed results.
A Black Eye For Blue Shield: Consumers Lash Out Over Coverage Lapses
By Chad Terhune
California’s third-largest insurer faces anger from customers in the individual market who unexpectedly lost their insurance despite paying premiums faithfully. In its recently filed lawsuit, the company blamed a contractor for “egregious” billing problems.
Religious Conservatives’ Ties To Trump Officials Pay Off In AIDS Policies, Funding
By Marisa Taylor
Shepherd Smith, a strong supporter of abstinence-only sex education for AIDS, has been close to the new director of the CDC for decades. This connection is just one example of the "new in crowd" surrounding the Trump administration, where politics and religion mix.
Tuition-Free Med School Touches Off Multimillion-Dollar Debate
By Julie Rovner
NYU’s promise to help keep medical students debt-free generates joy on campus. But critics question whether it is the best way to recruit a more diverse student pool or get young doctors to commit to primary care.
A Late-Life Surprise: Taking Care Of Frail, Aging Parents
By Judith Graham
More and more older adults, age 60 and older, care for their elderly parents and face physical, emotional and financial stress.
Readers And Tweeters Revisit Surgery Centers, Think Twice About Single-Payer
Kaiser Health News gives readers a chance to comment on a recent batch of stories.