Latest KFF Health News Stories
Lack Of Access To Care In Rural Areas Particularly Hard For Veterans
There are veterans who are making hours-long car trips just to get chemotherapy treatment. Pilot programs, such as offering van rides to those who don’t have transportation, are being instituted across the country, but funding for them can be tight to nonexistent. Meanwhile, President Donald Trump praises a new telehealth program to try to address that problem.
Feds Back Down Over Rule Requiring Accreditors To Release Reports On Hospital Errors, Mix-Ups
The decision did not go over well with supporters of the rule. ““The public deserves full transparency on how the health care industry performs. Instead, transparency has been sacrificed to accommodate special interests that lobby to avoid disclosing embarrassing information about health care quality,” said Leah Binder, president and CEO of The Leapfrog Group.
Despite Turmoil Over ACA, Employer-Provided Health Care Not Budging Any Time Soon
“I think a company — any size company — would be incredibly afraid to just cancel its insurance policy and say the hell with it,” says business owner Walt Rowen.
Massachusetts Officials Take Control Of Health Insurance Co-Op Formed By ACA
Minuteman Health Inc., which served customers in Massachusetts and New Hampshire, was one of the small customer-owned insurance companies established by the federal health law. News outlets also look at other Obamacare insurance issues elsewhere.
Aetna Smashes Second-Quarter Expectations With 52 Percent Profit Jump
Aetna added Medicare customers and grew the health plans it provides for large employers. A pullback from the Affordable Care Act’s health insurance exchanges also helped its business improve compared to last year’s quarter.
Emails Reveal Behind-The-Scenes Drama Of FDA’s Drug Approval Process
Last year, a fierce battle emerged over Sarepta’s new muscular dystrophy drug, in which FDA official Janet Woodcock approved the treatment — overruling the recommendations of a review team and an advisory committee. Newly released emails show what happened next.
Senate Passes ‘Right-To-Try’ Legislation, But Critics Say Bill Is ‘Inherently Deceptive’
The legislation says terminally ill patients can ask drug companies for experimental treatments, but companies often are reluctant to provide unapproved products for a variety of reasons. And the FDA has a system to handle requests for such drugs.
Bill Renewing FDA’s Authorization To Charge Drug And Device Makers User Fees Passes Senate
The fees account for about $1.4 billion of the FDA’s approximately $5 billion annual budget and help pay for agency reviews that get the products to the marketplace.
GOP Senators Going Home A Fractious Party With No Path Forward On Health Care
Many had hoped they would be leaving for recess with repeal under their belts. Meanwhile, Senate Finance Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch announces that his committee will start holding health care hearings when lawmakers return in September.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Viewpoints: Genetic Editing Needs Careful Review; Falling Sperm Counts; Mental Health Costs
A selection of opinions on health care from around the country.
The Talk About Abortion: Should It Be A Defining Issue For Democrats?
The announcement this week that Democrats will help fund House candidates who are opposed to abortion has prompted some debate among op-ed writers.
Perspectives On Health Debate: Is Stabilizing The Market A Bailout?; Compromise And Sabotage
Opinion writers offer divergent views of the current moves on the health law.
Outlets report on news from Maine, California, Florida, Rhode Island, Maryland, Kansas, New Hampshire, Texas and Pennsylvania.
Each week, KHN’s Shefali Luthra finds interesting reads from around the Web.
Every day in the U.S., two to three women die from pregnancy, yet many of them either haven’t been told about common risks and dangers to watch out for or have their concerns written off as hormones or anxiety. ProPublica and NPR teamed up to get words of advice from the mothers who nearly died from childbirth. In other public health news: Antibiotics, the male pill, gender identity, gum disease, allergies and light therapy.
Prosecutors To Be Deployed To Cities Ravaged By Opioid Epidemic To Crack Down On Fraud, Scams
Attorney General Jeff Sessions said the prosecutors will try to root out pill mills and track down doctors and other health care providers who illegally prescribe or distribute narcotics such as fentanyl and other powerful painkillers. Meanwhile, a review of studies shows that most patients have leftover painkillers after a surgery, which may be contributing to the abuse and misuse of the drugs.
Major Gene Editing Breakthrough Raises Concerns About Ethics Of ‘Designer Babies’
For the first time, scientists have edited genes in embryos to fix a disease-causing mutation. The milestone raises hopes for being able to correct serious problems, but also raises tricky ethical questions about modifying human DNA for the purpose of obtaining desired traits for a child.
Medical Malpractice Bill Shows Lobbyists’ New Power In Republican-Controlled Washington
The House recently passed a medical malpractice bill that was nearly identical to one crafted by lobbyists for doctors and their insurers.
Abortion Opponents Don’t See Health Bill Defeat As Knock-Out Blow For Their Cause
“I think what is important to note is that the pro-life elements were not the cause of failure for the bill,” said Mallory Quigley, spokeswoman for the antiabortion Susan B. Anthony List. “This was an area of unity for Republicans. So I do think that there are going to be more wins in the future.” Meanwhile, progressive groups want the Democratic Party to reject any pro-life candidates for 2018.
