Latest KFF Health News Stories
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.
Republican Governors Starting To Take Matters Into Own Hands Over Medicaid
They have been working with the current administration to use waivers to customize the program far beyond what the Obama administration intended.
Californians Shaken By News Of Anthem’s Withdraw From Most Counties In State
“My wife and I came up with a new Covered California slogan,” quipped Santa Cruz County resident Chris Olsen. “Covered California: Nothing you can count on.” Meanwhile, Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) says she doesn’t understand the decision and is “deeply concerned” by it.
Citing Deep Losses, Molina Pulls Out Of ACA Marketplaces In Utah, Wisconsin
The insurer also plans to increase 2018 premiums for its remaining plans under the Affordable Care Act by 55 percent and to cut 1,500 jobs.
Gov. LePage Accuses Maine Senators Of Being ‘Out Of Touch’ After Voting Against GOP Health Bill
Maine Republican Gov. Paul LePage wrote an op-ed chastising Republican Susan Collins and independent Angus King for their vote. But the senators defend themselves, saying they met with thousands of people to discuss improving the health care system, and concluded that the GOP proposals would’ve eliminated insurance for millions, raised premiums, hurt rural hospitals and shifted costs to states. Other lawmakers also face tough questions at home about the health care legislation.
The Courts May Have Just Checked Trump’s Ability To Sabotage Obamacare
In a ruling that states can sue the administration if insurer subsidies are cut off, the courts may have taken away a powerful negotiating tool President Donald Trump has been using during the health care debates. “We’re not going to wait to find out what Donald Trump wants to do,” says California Attorney General Xavier Becerra, who is helping steer the states’ involvement. “My team is ready to defend these subsidies in court.”
Getting Insurance Subsidy Bill Passed Will Be Herculean Task, But ‘Stranger Things Have Happened’
Senate HELP Chairman Lamar Alexander and ranking Democrat Patty Murray have a history of shepherding through seemingly impossible bipartisan bills, but the odds are against them when it comes to the first attempt at fixing the Affordable Care Act since repeal efforts failed. Meanwhile, both Democratic and Republican governors chime in urging the administration to pay the subsidies.
