Weekly Edition March 15, 2019
Must-Reads Of The Week From Brianna Labuskes
By Brianna Labuskes
Newsletter editor Brianna Labuskes wades through hundreds of health articles from the week so you don’t have to.
‘Medieval’ Diseases Flare As Unsanitary Living Conditions Proliferate
By Anna Gorman and Heidi de Marco
Outbreaks of infectious diseases such as typhus and hepatitis A are resurging in California and around the country, particularly among homeless populations. Public health officials warn that such diseases could spread broadly.
Why Measles Hits So Hard Within N.Y. Orthodox Jewish Community
By Michelle Andrews
More than 275 people — mostly in Orthodox Jewish communities — have been infected since the disease began spreading in October. That’s about half of the confirmed cases in 11 states that were reported nationwide by the federal officials since January 2018.
Trump’s Budget Offers $291M To Fight HIV In U.S. But Trims Overseas Efforts
By Carmen Heredia Rodriguez
The budget would increase funding for efforts like the state-centered initiatives run by the Centers for Disease Control and the Ryan White Program, which offers services and treatment to patients. But it would also dramatically cut funding for global HIV efforts.
Nursing Home Fines Drop As Trump Administration Heeds Industry Complaints
By Jordan Rau
Inspectors are citing nursing facilities for violating health and safety more often than during the Obama administration. But the average fine is nearly a third lower than it was before President Donald Trump took office.
How To Zero In On Your Final, Forever Home While Skirting Disaster
By Janice Lloyd
Confronting changing health care needs, fixed incomes and problems created by climate change can be overwhelming when trying to pinpoint that dream location, but taking time and doing research makes it a dream come true, say these seniors.
Understanding Loneliness In Older Adults — And Tailoring A Solution
By Judith Graham
New research shows that older adults want close relationships with the people they care about and meaningful social roles.
Broker Websites Expand Health Plan Shopping Options While Glossing Over Details
By Julie Appleby
These direct-enrollment broker websites are “under-policed” and can steer consumers toward plans that may not be the best option for them, a new report concludes.
New Health Plans Expose The Insured To More Risk
By Julie Appleby
Well-known insurers are offering plans with lower premiums. But they could leave patients on the hook for unexpected costs.
Students With Disabilities Call College Admissions Cheating ‘Big Slap In The Face’
By Barbara Feder Ostrov and Ana B. Ibarra
Parents of students with legitimate learning disabilities worry that a backlash against providing special accommodations in college admissions testing could make it harder for them to succeed.
Judge Vows To Rule On Medicaid Work Requirements By End Of March
By Phil Galewitz
A federal district judge appeared skeptical of the arguments by the Justice Department and Arkansas and Kentucky that their programs should mandate that some enrollees work.
‘Medicare-For-All’ Gets Buzzy In Unexpected Locales
By Shefali Luthra
At recent “barnstorming” meetings in South Carolina and West Virginia, activists felt momentum behind their “Medicare-for-all” cause even as they ready for a major political fight.
How Much Difference Will Eli Lilly’s Half-Price Insulin Make?
By Bram Sable-Smith
Eli Lilly released a half-price generic version of its own short-acting insulin. At $137.35 per vial, the generic insulin is priced at about the same level as Humalog was in 2012.
Military Doctors In Crosshairs Of A Budget Battle
By Jordan Rau
Details of the reductions have not yet been announced, but in 2017 Congress ordered mandated changes to make the military health system more efficient.
Podcast: KHN’s ‘What The Health?’ The Karma Of Cutting Medicare
Stephanie Armour of The Wall Street Journal, Alice Ollstein of Politico and Rebecca Adams of CQ Roll Call join KHN’s Julie Rovner to discuss the suggested cuts to health programs in President Donald Trump’s budget proposal, the latest on lawsuits challenging work requirements for Medicaid enrollees and the FDA’s crackdown on e-cigarettes. Plus, for extra credit, the panelists recommend their favorite health policy stories of the week.