Latest KFF Health News Stories
Media outlets report on news from New York, Colorado, Texas, New Hampshire, Florida, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri and California.
New York Tries To Curb Soaring Maternal Mortality Rates With Doulas
Studies have shown that the birth coaches can help increase birth outcomes and reduce birth complications for the mother and the baby. “Maternal mortality should not be a fear anyone in New York should have to face in the 21st century,” said Gov. Andrew Cuomo.
Bystanders Can Save Lives In Mass Shooting Events—Especially If They’re Trained On Basic Strategies
A lot of the training focuses on making potential bystanders feel comfortable enough with knowing how to stop the bleeding to actually act if the situation were ever to arise.
A study has found that relying on data about doctor-diagnosed arthritis alone may miss almost half of cases in a younger population who may see doctors less often or ignore occasional joint symptoms. In other news on aging: thinning bones, the benefits of volunteering and Alzheimer’s.
How Scientists Decide When A Vaccine’s Risks Outweigh The Number Of People It Will Help
While the debate is theoretical, scientists can weigh possible risks versus the lives they know the vaccine will save. But a recent example of a controversial drug is throwing the issue into the global spotlight in a very real way. In other public health news: clinical trials and ethics; decoding a baby’s DNA; home health care workers and infection rates; a new type of self-harm in teenagers; and more.
School officials say even children that young are dealing with the fallout from the epidemic. One student in a Ohio school brought a heroin needle her father used into class because she didn’t want a younger sibling to step on it. “This is here. This is real,” said Joy Edgell, a principal of Belpre Elementary School.
Hospitals That Have Always Been Hesitant To Go Global Start Looking Beyond Their Home Turf
The investment required to globalize has been daunting to the hospital industry. But facing anemic growth and other troubles, some hospitals are looking abroad. Meanwhile, Anthem is being taken to court over its new policies that restrict outpatient imaging and emergency department reimbursement.
PhRMA Spent Big On Lobbying In Record-Breaking First Quarter
The drug industry trade group focused its spending on issues such as generics, the “doughnut hole,” and trade.
Under the existing Obama-era rule, health insurers cannot place arbitrary limits or restrictions on health services that help a person transition from one gender to another. The Trump administration says a judge ruled part of that rule is unlawful.
VA Nominee Working Hard Behind Scenes To Quell Senators’ Skepticism Before Hearing
While Dr. Ronny Jackson is well liked by many, there are lawmakers who question his lack of managerial experience. “He’s got a great bedside manner you feel comfortable with,” says Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio). “But it doesn’t mean he will be a good leader of the VA.”
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Viewpoints: Lessons Learned About New Cures For Cancer; Finally, Some Positive Signs For Gun Safety
Editorial pages focus on these and other health topics.
Research Roundup: Prescribing Opioids To High-Risk Patients, PrEP Use Among Black Individuals
Each week, KHN compiles a selection of recently released health policy studies and briefs.
Media outlets report on news from Florida, New York, California, Wisconsin, Louisiana, Minnesota, Maryland, Georgia and Massachusetts.
The bill, which passed the state Assembly, now moves to the Senate. Despite no evidence that the therapy works, some religious groups have said such a law would violate their constitutional rights.
Investigators Recommending Abundance Of Caution With Lettuce After E. Coli Outbreak Spreads
Fifty-three related E. coli infections have been reported in 16 states, according to the CDC. Officials are now telling consumers not to eat store-bought, chopped romaine lettuce.
Michigan Senate Votes To Add Work Requirements To State’s Medicaid Program
The bill would require able-bodied adults who receive Medicaid health care coverage to either work at least 29 hours a week or be enrolled in a job training or education program. The legislation now moves to the House for consideration. Media outlets report on Medicaid news out of Tennessee, Massachusetts and California, as well.
Many physicians are being trained at hospitals that have been cited for deficiencies by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
Declining Opioid Prescription Rates Show That Drumbeat Of Alarm Over Crisis Is Producing Results
But some advocates are now worried that patients with chronic pain are being undertreated. Meanwhile, NIH wants to conduct research on fentanyl, but the nationwide law-enforcement crackdown on opioid abuse means scientists are having a hard time getting permission to get samples of the illegal products they need to study. And the Senate Finance Committee held a hearing on improving Medicaid, Medicare and other programs that cope with the effects of substance abuse.
Growth Of Prescription Drugs Spending Slowing, But That Won’t Necessarily Be Reflected For Consumers
“We’re not suggesting that nobody is seeing higher costs,” said Murray Aitken, of the IQVIA Institute for Human Data Science, which released the numbers. “We’re just saying that when we roll everything up, the amount received by manufacturers rose by only 0.6 percent in 2017.”
