Latest KFF Health News Stories
Documents From Senate Hearing Reveal The Driving Force Behind Valeant’s Price Hikes
Outgoing CEO J. Michael Pearson went against suggestions from the top leaders in the company to push for aggressive increases, documents show. Meanwhile, The Wall Street Journal takes a look at incoming CEO Joseph Papa’s strategy as head of a pharmaceutical company — and it looks very similar to the course Valeant has set.
First Zika-Linked U.S. Death Reported; Congress Leaves For Recess Without Approving Funding
Doctors say deaths caused by Zika complications are rare. Meanwhile, lawmakers left several unresolved issues, including a compromise that could allocate more than a billion dollars toward efforts to fight the virus, as they left on a week-long break.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Viewpoints: Paul Ryan And High Risk Pools; Why Is Congress Delaying Zika Funding?
A selection of opinions on health care from around the country.
Research Roundup: New Medicare Doc Pay; Workplace Violence; Insurers’ Losses
Each week, KHN compiles a selection of recently released health policy studies and briefs.
News outlets report on health issues in California, South Dakota, Nebraska, North Carolina, New Jersey, Illinois, Ohio and Washington.
BP Oil Spill Settlement Will Be Used To Fund Medicaid Under Alabama Plan
The Alabama House approved a proposal for allocating the $1 billion that BP will pay the state, including $70 million for the state’s Medicaid program — which says it needs an additional $85 million to survive next year.
Cancer Nonprofit Helps Younger Patients Find Their Community
Matthew Zachary noticed a gaping hole in the support and attention for cancer patients between the ages of 15 and 39, and he decided to do something about. And so, Stupid Cancer was born.
Severity Of Damage From Zika Far Worse Than Seen With Textbook Microcephaly Cases
Experts have begun calling the constellation of maladies linked to the virus Congenital Zika Syndrome, because they go far beyond what happens with babies who just have microcephaly. In other virus news, the first test for Zika has won approval from the FDA, pregnant women brace for the summer mosquito season and a Hillary Clinton adviser travels to Puerto Rico to learn how it’s dealing with the outbreak.
Ransomware Attacks: Why Hospitals? Why Now?
The digital era has swept in a new “crime of the century,” and hospitals are in the crosshairs.
Gilead Reports 17 Percent Earnings Drop Due To Slow Hep C Drug Sales
Gilead Sciences’ steep discounts and rebates on Harvoni are hitting the drugmaker’s bottom line. And in other pharmaceutical news, The Wall Street Journal reports on upheaval at Valeant.
Flurry Of Health Care Deals Highlights Companies’ Focus On Scaling Up
In a strikingly busy week for the industry, more than $40 billion worth of deals were announced Thursday. While the activity all on one day is more of a coincidence, the movement toward pairing up is not.
Colorado Voters Will Consider Ballot Measure To Set Up Public Health Care For All
The ballot issue in November asks voters if they want to establish a taxpayer-financed public health system that guarantees coverage for everyone at an estimated cost of $38 billion a year. Also in health law news are reports on a new poll, insurers’ efforts on the online marketplaces and possible premium increases next year.
Sweeping VA Reform Bill Would Strengthen Whistleblower Protection, Solidify Accountability Measures
The legislation would also expedite the removal of Department of Veterans Affairs employees found guilty of misconduct, give the VA secretary additional hiring-and-firing authority and reduce benefits for senior executives who have committed certain crimes. Elsewhere on Capitol Hill, the bill to increase access to overdose antidote naloxone is moving through the House and Florida’s delegation is pushing Gov. Rick Scott to explain revised HIV numbers.
Opposition Building On Capitol Hill To HHS Plan To Cut Medicare Payments For Some Drugs
The plan would reduce payments to doctors and hospitals for some outpatient drugs.
Teen Birth Rates Plunge Dramatically, But ‘Profound’ Racial Disparities Remain, CDC Finds
Hispanic birth rates dropped 51 percent, while those for black teens are down 44 percent, but the white teen birth rate is only half as high.
Administration Expands Medicaid To Cover Former Prisoners In Halfway Houses
People who are still incarcerated are not eligible for the program, but there had been questions previously about their eligibility once they moved to a halfway house. The administration also wants correction departments to begin signing up prisoners before they are released to help ease the transition.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Longer Looks: Madness, The Robot Revolution And Traumatic Births
Each week, KHN’s Shefali Luthra finds interesting reads from around the Web.
Viewpoints: Finding Profits With Obamacare; Entitlement Reform And The 2016 Election
A selection of opinions on health care from around the country.
