Latest KFF Health News Stories
Cities Feeling Financial Squeeze Of Naloxone As They Try To Rein In High Overdose Rates
“Every week, we count the doses we have left and make hard decisions about who will receive the medication and who will have to go without,” said Baltimore Health Commissioner Dr. Leana Wen. In other news on the crisis: more Americans are seeing the epidemic as a significant issue; lawmakers want to pass legislation to curb crisis soon; a look at the effects of stopping long-term use; and more.
Another Jury Finds Fault With Johnson & Johnson Over Baby Powder Product
This time, Johnson & Johnson was ordered to pay $80 million in damages on charges the company hid that its products were tainted by asbestos.
‘Bad Blood’: New Book Reveals Secrets, Lies And Absurdities At Theranos
Stat offers the juciest — and strangest — tidbits from reporter John Carreyrou’s new book on the once-promising blood-testing startup.
Virginia Lawmakers Mull Tightening Work Requirements As They Negotiate Medicaid Expansion
The state lawmakers returned to Richmond for a special session to iron out problems with the budget, which had been stymied by what to do with the state’s Medicaid program.
A new paper finds that some drugs approved under a special law to bring “breakthrough” treatments to market faster are not actually significant scientific advances. In other pharmaceutical news: Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) lashes out at drugmakers for using tax windfalls to help shareholders; insurers are starting to pass rebates directly on to consumers; and the SEC and the FDA both launch investigations into two different clinical trials.
Lawmakers Grill NIH Director Over Institute’s Cozy Relationship With Alcohol Industry
NIH Director Francis Collins assured the lawmakers he was “aggressively” investigating the ethical concerns over scientists’ reported attempts to woo the industry into funding a study that touts the benefits of moderate drinking.
The Health Law Has Had Some Topsy-Turvy Months. Here’s A Look At Where Things Stand.
The health law has gone through many changes in the past year or so; Modern Healthcare offers a look at the current state of affairs.
As Ryan Announces Retirement, A Look Back At How He’s Steered Health Policy While In Congress
House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) is leaving behind a mixed legacy on health care, and giving up on some of his dreams to reform entitlement programs like Medicare.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Editorial pages focus on these and other health topics.
Read recent commentaries about drug-cost issues.
Generics Companies Who Make Bread-And-Butter Pills Instead Of Fancy Blockbusters Face A Crisis
News outlets report on stories related to pharmaceutical pricing.
Media outlets report on news from California, D.C., Arizona, Utah, Minnesota, Alabama, Rhode Island, Virginia, Louisiana, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, Wisconsin, Maryland, Florida, Tennessee, Delaware, Missouri and Connecticut.
Lessons Learned From Treating Victims Of Boston Marathon Bombing Have Led To Key Medical Advances
“The collective experience in the aftermath of the Boston Marathon bombing was a very positive one in the medical community because there was a lot of crosstalk between military and civilian surgeons,” said Dr. Benjamin Potter, chief of orthopedics at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Maryland. In other public health news: cancer, HIV, embryos, vaccinations, and aging.
Life Expectancy Varies Greatly Among States, But Is Worse In Deprived Areas
Recent improvements could be lost to substance abuse, suicides, obesity and diabetes — conditions that are already driving increases in premature deaths in nearly half the states, according to the study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
The study found that a single severe brain injury increased the risk of later dementia by 35 percent, a mild brain injury increased the risk by 17 percent, and each additional brain injury added to the danger.
The measure that would put the state in charge of setting prices on certain health services is backed by labor unions and patient advocates. But providers are expected to come out strongly against it. Media outlets report on more hospital news out of Texas, Missouri and Massachusetts, as well.
Even With New GOP Support, Virginia Lawmakers See Long Road Ahead To Medicaid Expansion
The lawmakers are returning to work today to kick off a special session devoted to working out the budget. Earlier negotiations were derailed by a stalemate over what to do with the state’s Medicaid program.
The national spotlight has been shined on the issue due to several recent high-profile cases. Brigitte Amiri, an attorney with the ACLU, is at the heart of it all.
AMA Has ‘Grave Concerns’ Over What Doctors See As Arbitrary Limits On Opioids
“Pain is a complex, biopsychosocial phenomenon, and individuals experience pain in different ways,” said Dr. Patrice Harris, the chairwoman of the association’s opioid task force. “The AMA believes that decisions around dosages needs to be left between the patient and the physician.” News on the crisis comes out of New Hampshire and Pennsylvania as well.
