Latest KFF Health News Stories
Experts are frustrated that men aren’t encouraged to undergo genetic testing for BRCA mutations despite their proven link to prostate cancer. In other public health news: a lung disease that is killing dentists, premature babies, cholesterol drugs, heart health, MRIs and claustrophobia, concussions and more.
West Virginia’s Slight Decrease In Overdoses Last Year Has Officials Cautiously Optimistic
West Virginia is taking more steps to curb the crisis with new laws to limit initial painkiller prescriptions, require that both deadly and non-fatal overdoses be reported by emergency responders and hospitals, and equip all emergency responders with opioid antidotes.
Once Hospital Groups Roared Over Medicaid Changes. Now They Sit Mostly Silent On Sidelines.
Hospitals are mostly raising objections to the practical impediments to adding work requirements to the health program, instead of opposing changes to the program in general. Medicaid news comes out of Virginia, Connecticut and Ohio, as well.
The House is expected to vote on the legislation this week. Both the Senate and the president have backed the right-to-try movement in the past. Also on Capitol Hill, the Senate is turning its focus on the contentious debate over the 340B drug discount program, the pharmaceutical industry is trying to get lawmakers to undo a deal that would force drugmakers to pick up more of the tab for prescription spending in the Medicare doughnut hole, and Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) wants more donations transparency.
Some experts worry that all the recent acquisitions will negatively affect actual care for patients. Meanwhile, the recent Cigna-Express Scripts deal is expected to draw a lengthy antitrust review.
After Turbulent Health Law Fight, Administration Turns Attention To Consumer-Friendly Improvements
Officials are focusing on small improvements like better medical records and cost comparison websites. “They are taking a page out of smart policymaking 101 and hitting on themes that everybody cares about,” said Kavita Patel, a health policy expert. Meanwhile, CQ looks at the administration’s proposal to increase discretionary spending at the Health and Human Services Department.
White House Focuses On Arming Teachers With Plan That Falls Far Short Of President’s Rhetoric
The proposals did not include President Donald Trump’s repeated call to raise the age for buying certain firearms from 18 to 21, an idea that has been opposed by the NRA. The blueprint, however, does contain Trump’s support for two gun-related bills being considered by Congress.
Partisan Bickering Threatens Health Law Talks As Political Ramifications Prowl In The Shadows
Lawmakers are trying to stabilize the health law marketplaces but partisan demands may bring the whole thing down during a politically charged election year. Meanwhile, a liberal group is making the argument that Congress funding the cost-sharing subsidies would actually “do more harm than good.”
Desperate, Struggling Idaho Residents Say Some Insurance Is Better Than None
Many people in Idaho have been priced out of the insurance marketplace. So for them, getting even the “junk” plans that don’t meet the health law requirements would be a step up from not being covered at all. Although the Trump administration informed the state it would penalize insurers for selling the coverage, Idaho’s Gov. Butch Otter says he views the rejection more as an invitation to figure out ways to make the state’s marketplace work.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Opinion writers focus on these health topics and others.
Research Roundup: Firearm Deaths; Premiums; And Sudden Unexpected Infant Death
Each week, KHN compiles a selection of recently released health policy studies and briefs.
Media outlets report on news from New Jersey, California, Wisconsin, Florida, Mississippi, Minnesota, Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, Arizona, Texas and Massachusetts.
Movement To Team Up Cops, Therapists In Emergency Response Teams Gaining Traction
Police departments are starting to embrace the idea of bringing an expert along to situations that involve a mental health crisis. In other public health news: malaria, the flu vaccine, lung disease in dentists, cellphones, genetic testing, clinical trials and more.
Paying for rehab for a family member affected by the opioid crisis is bankrupting families and loved ones, especially when the person has to go through multiple rounds.
‘Pharma Bro’ Martin Shkreli’s Fate On The Line As Judge Gets Ready To Hand Down Fraud Sentence
Prosecutors are asking for Martin Shkreli, who became the face of exorbitant drug costs, to get 15 years behind bars.
Amazon Has Been Slowly Poaching Employees With Drug Pricing Expertise In A Sign Of Things To Come
Experts say the level of inefficiency in the country’s current drug pipeline creates an enormous opportunity for Amazon, which has built a business empire on using technology to take time and cost out of unnecessarily clunky shopping experiences.
In Ever-Evolving Health Industry Landscape, Companies Realizing They Can’t Go It Alone Anymore
Cigna’s announcement that it will buy Express Scripts is just the latest in a flurry of mergers and acquisitions that has companies in the health care industry partnering up to survive. The proposed plan will face a antitrust merger review, though, which has brought down other deals.
President Doesn’t Seem To Have His Mind Made Up About Violent Media’s Link To Gun Violence
President Donald Trump hosted a “lively” conversation on the topic, but he reportedly seemed more on a fact-finding mission than anything else. Advocates weren’t hopeful any productive action would come from the listening session. Meanwhile, in Florida gun legislation is sitting on Gov. Rick Scott’s desk but he hasn’t indicated whether he plans to sign it.
Republicans’ Abortion Measures Are Deal Breakers For Democrats, Setting Up Spending Bill Battle
The government’s current funding expires on March 23, and Republicans are pushing provisions related to women’s reproductive health that Democrats say they won’t give in on. Meanwhile, one lawmaker wants to include a proposal to fight high drug prices in the final spending bill.
