Weekly Edition: September 20, 2019

Which Was Worse: The Bachelor Party Hangover Or The Hangover From The ER Bill?

Markian Hawryluk

One groom’s bachelor party hangover illustrates how emergency room bills have become major headaches for many Americans.

Air Ambulances Woo Rural Consumers With Memberships That May Leave Them Hanging

Sarah Jane Tribble

State regulators and even one medevac company have raised doubts about prepaid subscriptions and promised benefits offered by air ambulance companies.

Longtime Crusader Against OxyContin Begins To See The Fruits Of Her Struggle

Mark Kreidler

Barbara Van Rooyan lost her son to the drug 15 years ago and has fought ceaselessly since then to hold Purdue Pharma accountable for its role in the opioid crisis.

Doctors And Nurses With Addictions Often Denied A Crucial Recovery Option

Emma Yasinski

Programs for health care professionals addicted to opioids generally bar a proven recovery method: the use of drugs like buprenorphine and methadone to relieve cravings.

Purveyors Of Black-Market Pharmaceuticals Target Immigrants

John M. Glionna

Illegal medications, sold in immigrant communities around the United States, can cause serious harm to consumers, authorities say. Law enforcement officers are cracking down, but some think more must be done.

Camouflaged Vaping Devices Are Hoodwinking Parents And Schools

Anna Maria Barry-Jester

The vaping hoodie. The vaping watch. The vaping phone case. Each ready to deliver a puff of nicotine (or marijuana) anywhere, anytime. The vaping market is crowded with sleek, camouflaged devices that have teachers and parents struggling to monitor illicit usage of a product that has surged in popularity among high schoolers.

At-Home Rape Kits Now Off The Market

Victoria Knight

State attorneys general took legal action to stop the sale of rape kits that would be useless as evidence in court.

Obesity Stigma And Yo-Yo Dieting, Not BMI, Are Behind Chronic Health Conditions, Dietitian Claims

Julie Appleby

With nearly 72% of U.S. adults considered overweight or obese, the pressing question is: Is it possible to be overweight and healthy at the same time? The science falls short.

Invasive Mosquitoes Plunge Deeper Into California

Harriet Blair Rowan

Invasive mosquito species capable of carrying dangerous viruses such as Zika, dengue and yellow fever have been detected in 16 California counties. There’s no evidence the mosquitoes have transmitted these diseases within the state, but health officials urge residents to take steps to slow their spread.

KHN’s ‘What The Health?’: Tennessee Seeks Medicaid Changes

Tennessee wants to convert its Medicaid program to a block grant. But is its plan legal? Meanwhile, Congress continues to struggle with legislation to rein in prescription drug prices and surprise medical bills. This week, Anna Edney of Bloomberg News, Jennifer Haberkorn of the Los Angeles Times and Kimberly Leonard of the Washington Examiner join KHN’s Julie Rovner to discuss these issues and more. Rovner also interviews Dr. Marty Makary, author of the new book “The Price We Pay” about why health care costs so much.

Voices: How Should California Address The Needs Of Its Aging Population?

Anna Almendrala and Ana B. Ibarra

By 2030, an estimated 1 in 5 Californians will be 65 or older, and the state is creating a “master plan” to address their needs. Lawmakers, advocates, local officials and others gathered in Sacramento on Monday to tackle issues of greatest concern, such as long-term care and housing for low-income seniors.

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