Latest KFF Health News Stories
News from the state legislatures comes from Massachusetts, Texas, Ohio, Wisconsin, Kansas, Florida, Tennessee, Georgia and Iowa.
The study’s findings will not change anyone’s “day-to-day life or medical practice any time soon,” said Heather Snyder, the Alzheimer’s Association’s senior director of medical and scientific operations. But they do give greater insight into what causes the disease. In other public health news, sleep, Ebola, trans fats, stress, child poverty, and health technology.
At least eight states, including some that experienced measles outbreaks this year, want to remove personal exemptions for the measles vaccine. And some states would remove the exemption for all vaccines. Currently 17 states permit personal and philosophical exemptions. Meanwhile, despite the outbreaks, hundreds of activists who oppose vaccination requirement turned out during a hearing for Oregon legislation that would tighten the state’s regulations.
The rule would prohibit taxpayer-funded family-planning clinics from making abortion referrals. Critics have said that the rule is targeted at Planned Parenthood in particular. Other news on abortion comes out of Tennessee, Georgia and Argentina.
The association wants Congress to boost subsidies, install a reinsurance program and resume reimbursements to insurers of cost-sharing reduction payments. In other health industry and insurer news: it appears unlikely that Congress will delay a health insurance tax next year and CVS taps a new chief information officer.
The current model is a statistical approach that gives more emphasis to certain measures over others in the star ratings based on a number of aspects, including variation in performance among hospitals for that measure or how much measures correlate to each other. CMS is asking for public comment on the model.
Bernie Sanders Calls On FDA To Allow Pharmacists To Sell Older, Lower-Cost Version Of $375,000 Drug
Until December, patients could get the drug for free through the FDA’s compassionate use program. Catalyst, the company that now sells the drug, has since triggered a firestorm of concern when it priced the medication at $375,000. In other pharmaceutical news: Maryland regroups after legal setback on legislation aimed at curbing price hikes; large majorities from both parties want Congress to focus on high costs; and more from the states.
Many of CanaRx’s buyers are city and county governments seeking to save money. “Such operations take advantage of unsuspecting Americans, by purporting to distribute safe and effective imported drugs, at least some of which are instead expired, mislabeled, subject to recalls or potentially counterfeit,” said FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb.
The legislation addresses a loophole in current law that enables some firearms to be transferred by licensed gun dealers before the required background checks have been completed. It’s a gap in safety measures that allowed a man to buy a gun and kill 9 people in a South Carolina church. It’s the second bill that passed the House in as many days to address background checks. In other news, conservatives see African-American advocates for gun rights as a way to gain new supporters.
Senate Republicans tried to kill the legislation in 2011, and Democrats and advocates are worried that this time they’ll succeed. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said he was “reviewing the legislation” and “we do not have any announcements at this time.”
HHS officials demand an apology from Rep. Ted Deutch (D-Fla.) for stating publicly that HHS staff sexually abused migrant children in agency custody. Deutch says he was referring to contractors as well as staff. “Our job is to conduct oversight,” Deutch said. “I’ve never seen a response like this, that simply refuses to come talk to members of Congress.”
Democratic leaders, including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, try to keep a leash on progressives to get the party to unite behind incremental changes to the existing health law. But after grabbing headlines and attention this week with their “Medicare for All” proposed legislation, the left wing of the party is not on board with being contained.
Time’s Up, a movement against sexual harassment, announced it is launching a health care branch with the goals of uniting health care workers against harassment and inequity, improving care for those who have been marginalized, supporting awareness within health care organizations, promoting higher workplace standards regarding inclusivity and diversity, and reaching equitable compensation levels. On the same day, NIH officials publicly apologized for past failures in addressing a culture of sexual harassment.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Opinion writers weigh in on these health care issues and others.
Editorial writers weigh in on efforts to improve quality of care and lower costs.
Media outlets report on news from New Jersey, Arizona, California, Texas, Missouri, Kansas, Wisconsin, Georgia, New York, Tennessee, Minnesota and Ohio.
News from state legislatures comes from New Hampshire, Iowa, Texas, Florida and Georgia.
Are Safe Consumption Sites Really Illegal? No Easy Answer, As Advocates In Mass. Hope To Open Center
Federal prosecutors in Massachusetts and elsewhere have said federal law prohibits such facilities that are allowed in 66 countries, including Canada. Other legal experts interpret the law differently. News on the epidemic looks at efforts under way in Ohio to save lives, as well.
This Stem Cell Treatment Was Billed As A Miracle Cure. Then People Started Getting Sick.
Companies are advertising the use of umbilical cord blood, saying the treatment is “as miraculous as the birth of a child itself” and “stimulates regenerative healing.” But the products are not approved by federal regulators and can be dangerous to patients. In other public health news: cancer drugs, genome mapping, flu shots, dialysis, tobacco, and more.
