Latest KFF Health News Stories
Anthem Accuses Cigna Of Doing Everything In Its Power To Sabotage $49B Merger
Now that the deal has fallen apart, Cigna is seeking more than $16 billion in damages and termination fees, while Anthem claims it’s owed $20 billion in damages because of Cigna’s intransigence in turning over information to push the merger forward.
A witness who was a manager at an Insys call center described a high-pressure atmosphere where workers were encouraged to seek reimbursements from insurers even when the patient they were helping didn’t actually have cancer. As the trial enters its fifth week, prosecutors are continuing to try to paint the picture of a company concerned only with the bottom line no matter who gets hurt in the process. In other news on the national drug epidemic: chronic pain, babies with syphilis, states that are hard hit by the crisis, and more.
The Washington Post Fact Checker does a deep dive on the context surrounding the Congressional Budget Office’s projections on how getting rid of the individual mandate would affect the marketplace.
Congress Has Moral Obligation To Step In To Protect 9/11 Fund, Jon Stewart And Other Advocates Say
Lawmakers introduced legislation Monday that would guarantee that first responders sickened by the attacks, as well as their survivors, receive their full benefit from the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund. The bill would also make funding permanent. “This is a sea-to-shining-sea moment, a sea-to-shining sea promise, a sea-to-shining-sea obligation,” said Sen. Cory Gardner (R-Colo.). The victims’ fund should “not be extended for a moment but for a lifetime,” he added.
Oklahoma Moves Forward Measure That Would Automatically Ban Abortions In State If Roe Is Overturned
Similar bills already have passed in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Dakota and South Dakota. In other news on abortion: a judge rules that Planned Parenthood cannot resume abortions at a clinic in Missouri and legislation banning abortion at 18 weeks passes through Arkansas’ House.
The new rules announced last week would bar taxpayer-funded family planning clinics from making abortion referrals, and prohibit clinics that receive federal money from sharing office space with abortion providers. Washington state Attorney General Bob Ferguson said the changes will exacerbate the already serious problem of women — especially low-income rural women — not being having access to the health care they need. Meanwhile, PBS looks at how both sides of the abortion debate are reacting to the rules.
The topic of abortions later in the term, as well as infants who survive the procedure, have rejuvenated the abortion debate in recent weeks. But critics say that Republicans are being disingenuous forcing votes such as the one that failed in the Senate on Monday targeting doctors who perform the procedure. “This bill is not about protecting infants, as Republicans have claimed — because that is not up for debate and it is already the law,” said Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.). “This bill is government interference in women’s health care, in families’ lives, and in medicine on steroids.”
Scott Lloyd, who led the HHS refugee office last year as it took custody of thousands of migrant kids separated from their families, until now has been shielded from public scrutiny by the agency and close allies in the White House. Democrats have sought his testimony for months, and on Tuesday he’ll finally face their questions.
GE Chief Executive Larry Culp has kept the company on track for a spinoff of its entire health-care business, which includes life-sciences operations as well as a sizable business making MRI machines and other equipment, in an initial public offering later this year.
The Senate Finance Committee is hauling pharmaceutical executives to testify today in a hearing likened to the Big Tobacco and Big Banks reckonings of years past. The drug companies are expected to blame pharmacy benefits managers and the rebate system that they say rewards companies for jacking up list prices and then offering deep discounts.
First Edition: February 26, 2019
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Editorial pages focus on these health topics and others.
Media outlets report on news from California, Texas, South Carolina, Washington, Arizona, New York, Ohio, Illinois, Iowa, Georgia and Maryland.
Colorado ranks lowest among the states for vaccinations. State Rep. Kyle Mullica wants to change that. News on measles outbreaks comes out of Oregon, Japan and South Carolina, as well.
The FDA, which has been cracking down on fraudulent health claims in recent months, offers a website that tracks the more pervasive scams. In other public health news, neonatal care, suicide, social media and rage, parenting, blood transfusions, and more.
Five Victims Given Excessive Doses Of Opioids May Have Had Chance To Improve, Hospital Reports
The Columbus-area Mount Carmel Health System now faces at least 19 related wrongful-death lawsuits alleging patients were negligently or intentionally given too much pain medication. News on the epidemic looks at treatments for recovery; states getting tougher on sellers; mobile opioid response teams and safe consumption sites, as well.
States, Federal Officials And Other Experts Attempt To Map Out Strategies To Address Veteran Suicide
In 2016, the most recent year for which the VA has reported data, veterans were committing suicide at a rate of 30.1 deaths per 100,000 vets, compared to an overall national rate of 17.5 suicides per 100,000 people. Experts and veterans groups came together to discuss what can be done about the ever-worsening problem.
Wyoming’s Efforts To Add Work Requirements To Medicaid Program Take Step Forward
Although it appeared doomed to fail moments before the vote, the bill to add work requirements to Wyoming’s Medicaid program passed a vote in the state’s House. The legislation has to go through two more votes before it heads to the governor. Medicaid news comes out of Michigan, as well.
Apps Have Been Sharing Sensitive Health Data With Facebook Unbeknownst To Their Users
The Wall Street Journal’s investigation revealed that apps tracking information as sensitive as when a user is ovulating are sending that information back to Facebook unbeknownst to the people using them. Following the revelations, some apps cut off the transmissions and Facebook itself contacted some large advertisers and developers to tell them it prohibits partners from sending Facebook any sensitive information about users.
House Democrats’ Quick Action On Gun Control Highlights Sharp Tone Shift From Years Past
House Democrats are poised to pass gun control legislation this week dealing with background checks. Although the measures are likely to be blocked by the Republican-controlled Senate, the fact that they’ve moved so fast through the lower chamber seems to be a sign of the changing times. News on gun control legislation comes out of Georgia, as well.
