Latest KFF Health News Stories
More Consumers Rolling Dice And Going With Bare Bones Plans As Substitute For ACA Coverage
Most people who are going with the fixed indemnity plans — which aren’t considered true insurance under the health law — are healthy and willing to bet they won’t be hit with high medical bills anytime soon. Meanwhile, Democrats on Capitol Hill have introduced a public option plan that, though it has almost no chance of passing at the moment, reinforces the party’s push toward more universal coverage.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
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Read recent commentaries about drug-cost issues.
News outlets report on stories related to pharmaceutical pricing.
Media outlets report on news from North Carolina, Indiana, Arizona, Mississippi, Colorado, California, Ohio, Kansas, Massachusetts, Georgia, New York, Missouri, Florida, Washington, New Hampshire, New Jersey and Louisiana.
The liquid formula, extracted from a compound in marijuana that doesn’t cause euphoric effects, would be the first government-approved drug derived from the cannabis plant in the U.S.
Scientists have already seen results in mice, and envision the technology as life-changing for couples who struggle with infertility. But the tech would raise a whole host of ethical conundrums. In other public health news: blood pressure, falling, nuts, face transplants, hypertension, and vaccines.
Mice In New York City Found To Be Carrying Dangerous Drug-Resistant Bacteria
“People focus a lot on rats, but they don’t think that much about mice, and I think that’s unfortunate,” said Dr. Ian Lipkin, the study’s senior author. But he stressed that the researchers haven’t actually linked mice to any large outbreaks of human disease.
Fight Over Dialysis Payments Draws In The Big Guns
Lawmakers in the California Senate health committee are set to vote Wednesday on a measure that would crack down on third-party premium assistance for dialysis patients. The bill has the backing of insurers and powerful labor groups.
Virginia House Sends Budget With Tightened Medicaid Work Requirements To Senate
It remains to be seen if the changes will be enough to appease the upper chamber, which blocked the budget during the regular session because it included Medicaid expansion plans for the state.
The Only Way To Fix Health Care Is To Break The Current Business Model, Advocates Say
Backers of direct primary care, which is an alternative payment model that operates with a flat membership fee, want Amazon’s Jeff Bezos to incorporate the strategy into his new health care venture with JP Morgan and Berkshire Hathaway.
UnitedHealth’s Evolution From Traditional Insurer Into Multifaceted Business Pays Off
The company on Tuesday reported a first-quarter profit of $2.84 billion, and its revenue rose 13 percent to $55.19 billion. In a health landscape where lines are becoming blurred between traditional roles, UnitedHealth sees success for taking the plunge into different waters.
VA Nominee Commits To Stance Against Privatization, A Top Democratic Senator Says
Sen. Jon Tester (D-Mont.) met with Dr. Ronny Jackson, President Donald Trump’s choice to lead the troubled Veterans Affairs Department, ahead of a confirmation hearing next week. Privatization has become a hot-button topic when it comes to veterans health care.
Opioid-Addiction Advocate Patrick Kennedy Stands To Reap Profits From Congress’ Newly Opened Wallet
Patrick Kennedy has met regularly with his former congressional colleagues to advocate for higher levels of spending to combat the opioid crisis. But he also has a financial stake in groups that will benefit from that increase in funding. Media outlets report on news on the epidemic out of West Virginia, Massachusetts, Colorado, Florida, Maryland and Wisconsin, as well.
Attorney General Jeff Sessions said the proposed regulation is intended to address the opioid epidemic, which he called “the deadliest drug crisis in American history.”
Bernie Sanders Wants To Impose Prison Sentences On Pharma Executives Who Play Role In Opioid Crisis
The proposed legislation from Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) would also prohibit companies from direct marketing of opioid products without adequate warning of their addictive properties and establish a reimbursement fund that would collect revenues from the penalties imposed.
New CDC Director Divests Stock, Resigns From Four Groups To Comply With Ethics Standards
“The job of CDC Director is very important to me,” CDC Director Robert Redfield said. He took over the spot following the departure of Brenda Fitzgerald, who left amid controversy over tobacco stocks.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Viewpoints: Taking On The Opioid Crisis; When Palliative Care Is The Best Option
Editorial pages focus on these and other health topics.
