Latest KFF Health News Stories
Standing Desks Are Trendy, But Do They Really Help You Lose Weight? Not So Much.
Researchers found that standing as opposed to sitting burns a whopping 54 extra calories for a six-hour day. However, studies do show that people who have standing desks tend to move more during the day, which wasn’t accounted for in the study.
Life-Saving Cancer Treatments Can Also Cause Heart Failure For Women, Heart Association Warns
The American Heart Association is not advising against seeking cancer treatments, but wants doctors to be aware and take steps to prepare for those possible side effects.
Flu’s Severity Forces Emergency Rooms, Urgent Care Centers To Expand Treatment Areas
Because the number of patients has skyrocketed across the U.S., hospitals are revamping procedures: setting up second emergency rooms, postponing elective surgeries and turning away visitors. Meanwhile, Georgia reports its first pediatric fatality from this season’s flu.
21 Million Painkillers For A Town Of 3,200: What Was Going On?
The House Energy and Commerce Committee in part of an investigation into drug companies’ role in the opioid epidemic noted that between 2006 and 2016, drug distributors shipped large quantities of hydrocodone and oxycodone to two pharmacies in tiny Williamson, West Virginia.
“Little things add up,” said Susie Dade, the author of a new report looking at unnecessary medical care. “It’s easy for a single doctor and patient to say, ‘Why not do this test? What difference does it make?’”
Medicare Directories Have Lots Of Errors, But Where The Blame Should Fall Isn’t Quite Clear Cut
Data accuracy depends on both doctors and health plans, an AHIP official said. Medicare Advantage plans depend on doctors to submit accurate and up-to-date information. Will a new review help?
Molina Sues N.M. After Being Dropped From Medicaid Managed Care Program
Molina, which provides managed care to about 225,000 Medicaid recipients in the state, was one of two companies currently in the program to be cut out of the new contract. Also in the news, Democrats in New Mexico are pushing a plan to allow uninsured people to buy Medicaid coverage, Oregon may soon face new questions about funding its Medicaid expansion and Ohio Medicaid officials fund programs to end infant mortality in Cuyahoga County.
After 16 Years Of War, VA Struggling To Provide Veterans With Adequate Mental Health Services
The Department of Veterans Affairs’ problems with red tape and staff burnout, among other issues, have impeded about half of the veterans who need mental health services from getting support, a report finds.
Paying For Medical Care With Bitcoins? Clinics Are Open To The Idea But Not Getting Many Takers
There are pros and cons to the method of payment, but so far most people aren’t even trying to use them.
Compared To China, Tech Billionaires’ New Health Initiative Is Actually Behind The Curve
Amazon, Berkshire Hathaway and JPMorgan are entering the health care field with a new project geared toward lowering overall costs for their employees. The initiative has been called game-changing, but in China big tech companies have been doing this for years.
Trump Again Skimps On Details Even As He Calls High Drug Prices One Of His ‘Greatest Priorities’
In his State of the Union address, President Donald Trump again brought up high drug costs, but offered no concrete steps forward. “If he had said, ‘In this year, I am going to initiate the negotiation of prescription drug prices under Medicare Part D,’ that would be a specific move, and I bet you he would have gotten a lot of claps from our side,” said Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-Ill.).
Some Republicans Coming Around On Legislation To Stabilize Health Law Marketplace
“That reflects the political reality that we are not going to be doing some large, sweeping health-care bill in the next year,” said Rep. Ryan Costello (R-Pa.). Meanwhile, congressional Democrats have written to Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Administrator Seema Verma urging them to act on Idaho’s plan to let insurers offer coverage below the standards set by the health law.
CDC Chief’s Stock Drama Was An Ethical Blemish New HHS Head Alex Azar Wasn’t Going To Tolerate
Brenda Fitzgerald offered her letter of resignation as the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention after news came out that she had bought tobacco stocks while serving as one of the nation’s top public health officials. Ethicists were confounded by the decision. It’s unclear whether new Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar demanded her resignation, but in recent weeks he’s specifically told associates that he’d take a hard line on any ethical problems in the department.
First Edition: February 1, 2018
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
CDC Chief Resigns Following Reports She Traded In Tobacco Stocks While Running Agency
“After advising Secretary Azar of both the status of the financial interests and the scope of her recusal, Dr. Fitzgerald tendered, and the Secretary accepted, her resignation,” the Department of Health and Human Services said in a statement.
Viewpoints: Lessons From This Year’s Flu: Much More Funding Is Needed; ‘Anti-Vax’ Theories Are False
Opinion writers express views on remedies to curb future flu epidemics and other health issues:
Different Takes: Will Amazon’s Venture Be A Breakthrough In Lowering Healthcare Costs?
Editorial pages feature writings on the new initiative between Amazon, JP Morgan and Berkshire Hathaway Inc.
Perspectives: Despite Its Inefficiencies, FDA’s Voucher Program For Drugs Should Be Called A Success
Read recent commentaries about drug-cost issues.
Pharma’s Finger Pointing Game, Congress’ Inaction Among Reasons Drug Prices Haven’t Been Curbed
News outlets report on stories related to pharmaceutical pricing.
Media outlets report on news from Ohio, Minnesota, California, Missouri, Georgia, Virginia, Texas, Oregon, Louisiana, Wyoming and Wisconsin.
