Latest KFF Health News Stories
First Edition: February 13, 2019
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Opinion writers weigh in on these health topics and others.
Media outlets report on news from New York, Texas, Florida, Massachusetts, Wyoming, California, Arizona, Minnesota, Iowa, Maryland and Georgia.
With Promise Of Governor’s Support, Ohio Lawmakers Reintroduce Restrictive ‘Heartbeat’ Abortion Bill
The GOP-led Ohio Legislature passed such a bill twice but didn’t have enough votes to overcome vetoes in 2016 and 2018 by then-Gov. John Kasich, who said that the measure would lead the state into a costly court battle. New Republican Gov. Mike DeWine, however, is more friendly to the cause.
The rise in vaping was the single biggest jump in teen use of a tobacco product since the beginning of the survey in 1999, a new study finds.
“It’s important to have innovative approaches. But just because people are suicidal and in crisis doesn’t mean they don’t deserve rights,” said Dr. John Torous, the director of the digital psychiatry division at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. In other public health news: race and the medical community, colds, mental health, exercise, allergies, gene-editing and more.
How Unconscious Physician Biases About Race, Ethnicity And Pain Plays A Role In The Opioid Crisis
A new study reveals that residents of neighborhoods with the highest proportions of white people were more than twice as likely to be prescribed an opioid pain reliever than were residents of neighborhoods where whites were most scarce. “Medicine has a long, unsavory history of expecting people of color to tolerate larger levels of pain,” said Dr. Steven Woolf of Virginia Commonwealth University. In other news on the crisis: naloxone, wrongful death lawsuits, opioid-based medication and more.
Migrant Families Separated By U.S. Government File Claims For Millions In Damages
Eight separated families submitted claims to the departments of Homeland Security and Health and Human Services, saying that their children were traumatized by the experience. Stanton Jones, a lawyer for the families, said, “The government was harming children intentionally to try to advance what it viewed as a policy objective. It’s heinous and immoral, but it’s also a civil wrong for which the law provides a claim for relief.” In related news, 70 detainees condemn the conditions at a California detention center.
Pharma Companies Dramatically Slash List Price For Cholesterol Drug In Rare Move
Rival cholesterol drugs Praluent and Repatha struggled as insurance companies and benefit managers made it difficult for patients to get the treatment. Because they were so expensive, even for patients with a genetic disorder that causes super-high cholesterol, insurers rejected the drugs 63 percent of the time. Now, both of their list prices have been cut, a move that could possibly hint at a change in the drug pricing system on the horizon. In other pharmaceutical news, brain cancer drugs, fatty liver disease and vaccines.
The draft rules touch on a broad array of issues, including technology standards that are supposed to help unlock digital data stored in the electronic health records used by hospitals and doctors to track patients’ care. Meanwhile, a new paper touts the possibilities of artificial intelligence when diagnosing common conditions.
As Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) eyes the 2020 White House race, he’s scrambling to mitigate any damage that may have been done by his decision to accept campaign donations from pharmaceutical companies. As public outrage boils over about high drug prices, most presidential contenders, such as Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), are trying to get in front of the issue by offering plans they believe will demonstrate a hard stance against Big Pharma.
The author of the study said the findings show there’s no need to dramatically overhaul Medicare and Medicaid to control national spending on healthcare.
“I think we’re doing the long-term responsible thing,” said state Sen. Allen Christensen, the bill’s lead sponsor. But there was an outcry from critics who said the Legislature was ignoring the wishes of the voters. “This is a dark day for democracy in Utah,” said Andrew Roberts, a spokesman for the group Utah Decides. The lawmakers’ moves will likely act as an example to other red states for how they can avoid being pushed into an uncontrolled expansion.
The FDA announced that it sent 12 warning letters and five advisory letters to companies the agency says are selling products that contain unapproved drugs or making illegal claims for treating Alzheimer’s or other serious conditions. “I’m concerned that changes in the supplement market may have outpaced the evolution of our own policies and our capacity to manage emerging risks,” said FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb.
First Edition: February 12, 2019
Mark your calendar: Join our Facebook Live chat, “Helping People Age With Independence,” with KHN columnist Judith Graham on Tuesday, Feb. 12, at 12:30 p.m. Share your questions or experiences ahead of time, or ask questions on Facebook during the event.
Opinion writers weigh in on these health topics and others.
Opinion writers sound off on the issue of abortion.
Media outlets report on news from California, Arizona, Massachusetts, Florida, Missouri, Georgia, Minnesota, Ohio, Texas and Colorado.
News on the science of rest focuses on the health impact of sleeping 10 to 12 hours a night, the sleep needs of teens, snoring, changing patterns as adults age, and the risks of sleep aids.
Evidence Emerges That Promising Flu Killer Drug Doesn’t Work Well For Some Patients
A mutant viral strain can stop the anti-flu medication Xofluza from working. Other public health news reported over the weekend covers depression, mental health struggles, gene-edited babies, anti-aging research, medication dosages for kids, hospital toxic waste, multiple sclerosis and more.
