Latest KFF Health News Stories
Skin Cancer Survivors Better At Protecting Themselves From Sun Damage, But Some Still Getting Burnt
The results of the study speak to a truism in health: Changing behavior is really hard.
Women Infected With Zika 20 Times More Likely To Have A Baby With Birth Defects
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention look at a range of abnormalities associated with Zika, from microcephaly to vision problems and joints with limited range of motion, such as clubfoot.
Places Hit Hardest By Economic Woes More Likely To Be Ravaged By Opioid Epidemic
A new study finds a link between unemployment rates and abuse of prescription painkillers. Meanwhile, an advocacy group’s funding is called into question and more people are taking opioids.
Rural Hospitals Turning Away Women In Labor, Violating Federal Law
In several cases, women suffered serious complications after being denied treatment, or were misdiagnosed at facilities that lacked specialists in obstetrics.
Pharma May Dodge Spending Cuts In GOP Obamacare Repeal Plan
The leaked Republican plan to repeal and replace the health law doesn’t include other cost savings aimed at pharmaceutical companies either. Elsewhere, President Donald Trump says the Food and Drug Administration is slow to approve new drugs, but it is actually faster than ever. And, a drug distributor merges with a health care analytics firm.
Trump’s Pick To Head CMS Moves To Full Senate Floor
Seema Verma, a consultant who helped design Vice President Mike Pence’s Medicaid expansion in Indiana, is expected to be confirmed.
Pence Pledges To ‘Lift The Weight Of Obamacare’ Off Americans
At a stop in Ohio, Vice President Mike Pence visited a small business with Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price and vowed to maintain health coverage for the most vulnerable Americans while repealing the law, which he says lays a heavy financial and regulatory burden on small businesses.
Specter Of Lifetime Caps Returns As Health Law’s Protections Are Considered For Chopping Block
Those with chronic illnesses are concerned the plan to replace the Affordable Care Act will bring back lifetime caps. In other health law news: the Cadillac tax; the implications of repeal on science; health care stocks; and the president’s claim that 20 million Americans have taken a tax penalty instead of buying coverage.
Governors Crafting Medicaid Compromise With Promise Of Ensuring Flexibility And Coverage
“What we’re trying to do is have everybody be on the same page with something that’ll actually pass and work in the states,” Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam said.
The Case Of The Hidden Draft: Senators Play Hide-And-Seek To Find GOP’s Repeal Blueprint
Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., and other lawmakers tromped through the Capitol on Thursday in search of the Republican leadership’s fiercely guarded draft replacement plan.
House Leaders, Confident Rabble-Rousers Will Fall In Line, Promise Repeal This Month
But in the Senate, Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., strikes a less optimistic tone, saying “we’re not there yet.”
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Viewpoints: The GOP’s Disparate Strategies To Repeal, Replace And Repair The Health law
Opinion writers offer their thoughts and advice regarding how to move forward on health policy in terms of the Affordable Care Act as well as Medicaid and Medicare.
A selection of opinions from around the country.
Longer Looks: John Oliver; Replacing Obamacare; And Birth Control In The Military
Each week, KHN’s Shefali Luthra finds interesting reads from around the Web.
Outlets report on news from California, Florida, Kansas, Texas, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Illinois, Iowa and Georgia.
Breakthrough Opens Possibility Of Cryogenically Preserving Organs
Before, researchers always had to contend with damage from re-warming frozen organs. In other public health news: sickle cell disease; bird flu; embryo research; syphilis; eczema; and bone marrow.
Opioid State Of Emergency Declared In Maryland In Face Of Growing Number Of Fatal Overdoses
Gov. Larry Hogan announces that the state will spend $10 million a year on prevention and treatment services as well as increased law enforcement efforts. And news outlets report on other stories on the epidemic from Pennsylvania and Virginia.
Facebook To Bolster Its Suicide Prevention Tools
In response to recent episodes in which deeply troubling moments play out in real time, this social media platform hopes to play a role in curbing suicide attempts.
Failure Rates For Contraception Falling
It’s not clear what the reason for the better rates are, but the study’s author suggests major public health efforts in recent years to improve public knowledge about contraception may have helped.
