Latest KFF Health News Stories
Perspectives: The Dream For Curing Cancer Now A Reality, But Costs Stand In The Way
Read recent commentaries about drug-cost issues.
News outlets report on stories related to pharmaceutical pricing.
Media outlets report on news from New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Virginia, California, Missouri, Louisiana, Minnesota, Florida, Michigan, Texas, Georgia and Virginia.
Ending HIV Transmissions In America Now Seen As An Attainable Goal Within The Span Of A Few Years
The tools exist, experts say, they just have to be put into action. In other public health news: racial disparities in health care quality, child abuse, appendicitis, shingles, c-sections, tuberculosis and more.
Because the sexually transmitted disease is treatable with penicillin, the CDC is recommending pregnant women get tested at their first prenatal appointment, possibly again in their third trimester and at the time of delivery. Untreated cases can result in stillbirths or the baby dying. News on the report comes out of Texas and Florida, also.
The Orlando Fire Department had been working for years ahead of the Pulse nightclub shooting toward an innovative approach where specialized teams of medics, guarded by police officers and wearing specially designed bulletproof vests, would pull out victims before a shooter is caught or killed. But the plan sputtered out.
The Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center has come under fire for its exclusive deal with an artificial intelligence company that board members had a financial stake in.
CMS Urged To Reverse Course Over Site-Neutral Payment Policy For Off-Campus Hospital Facilities
The 60 percent rate cut proposed in the rule could mean a nearly $760 million hit to hospitals in 2019.
Medicaid Expansion Has Had ‘Dramatic Impact’ On Uninsured Rates In Rural Areas For Some States
“We knew Medicaid expansion was having a big impact in rural parts of our state but this report — it really sort of outlines how dramatic that impact has been,” said Adam Fox, director of strategic engagement for the Colorado Consumer Health Initiative.
Preexisting Conditions And ‘Medicare For All’ Emerge As Key Health Care Attack Points In Midterms
The two issues are hot topics for both sides’ ads as the 2018 midterm elections near. Meanwhile, Utah Senate candidate Mitt Romney say he doesn’t think a full expansion of Medicaid in the state is viable, but supports partial efforts.
Currently the air ambulance rides fall into a “regulatory blindspot” that leaves patients unprotected for bills ranging up to nearly $100,000. But with Congress working to reauthorize funding for the Federal Aviation Administration, lawmakers have tucked some provisions into the legislation that experts say might be a step in the right direction.
Following the news that HHS would terminate a small contract with a California biosciences firm came a larger announcement that the agency is going to launch a comprehensive review of all government-funded research that uses fetal tissue. Biomedical scientists were alarmed that the audit could lead to restrictions, saying fetal tissue has been vital in testing vaccines, exploring Parkinson’s disease treatments and understanding the transmission of HIV.
Key Republican Senator Urges Colleagues To Take Kavanaugh Accusations Seriously As Hearing Nears
Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), who is eyed as a swing vote on the Supreme Court nomination of Judge Brett Kavanaugh, issued a warning that senators should not prejudge the allegations of Professor Christine Blasey Ford. Meanwhile, the battle heated up as President Donald Trump tried to discredit the second woman who spoke out against his nominee. And Republicans have obtained the services of outside counsel to aid in questioning Ford during Thursday’s hearing.
Negotiators for the House and Senate smoothed out the differences between their two versions on the massive opioid package that lawmakers are banking on as a winning talking point before the midterms. Not included in the final version of the agreement was pharma’s push to use the legislation to roll back a provision that puts them on the hook for covering more drug costs for Medicare beneficiaries. News on the crisis comes out of Minnesota, D.C., and New Jersey, as well.
First Edition: September 26, 2018
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Editorial pages focus on these health care topics and others.
Media outlets report on news from Ohio, South Carolina, Florida, Utah, D.C., Arkansas, Texas, Iowa, California, New Hampshire and Minnesota.
Former Facebook Content Moderator Files Lawsuit, Says Images She Witnessed Gave Her PTSD
Facebook employs more than 7,500 workers to monitor written posts and images. Director of communications Bernie Thomas says Facebook ensures “that every person reviewing Facebook content is offered psychological support and wellness resources.” However, the lawsuit claims workplace safety guidelines aren’t followed.
Rebranding as WW, the 55-year-old company is also creating new rewards programs and blending in popular cultural trends like mindfulness, connecting with others and moving more.
Sepsis can be a catastrophic, life-threatening condition, and patients in the study require critical care. But, in an effort to determine which method works best against sepsis, the patients are limited to one type of treatment. In other public health news, malaria, birth centers, Ebola, and recovery from paralysis.
