Latest KFF Health News Stories
Massachusetts Lacks Legal Tools To Go After Cases Involving Doctors, Sexual Abuse
District Attorney Marian Ryan says Massachusetts’ high court has previously ruled that the state law governing rape does not cover instances in which someone obtains consent through fraud. “There’s no real point in saying to someone let’s go forward when you know you are going to lose,’’ Ryan said.
Nearly 30 Percent Of Ill Patients Suffer Additional Harm Under Care At Rehab Hospitals
A government reports finds that 29 percent of people sent to a medical facility to recover after a stroke, surgery or injury are further harmed by a mistake in care like a medication error, bedsore or infection.
Managed Care Firms Improperly Cut N.Y. Home Services For Disabled Medicaid Patients: Report
The detailed report by a coalition of more than 100 nonprofit groups finds hundreds of patients were affected.
Big Pharma Finds A Match Made In Heaven With Biotech Startups
Strategic partnerships between large pharmaceutical companies and more agile biotech firms is becoming a fast-growing trend. In other news, an analysis identifies the drugs on which Medicaid spends the most money, cancer drugs drive Roche’s sales and more.
Even If Justice Dept. Blocks Insurer Mega-Mergers, Consolidation Trend Likely To Continue
The New York Times reports on how the changing environment of the health care sector supports the merging and combining of hospitals and doctor groups. Meanwhile, Bloomberg reports that Aetna is prepared to go to court to proceed with its proposed takeover of Humana.
Idaho Lawmakers Weigh How To Help Residents Caught In The ‘Medicaid Gap’
Idaho has not expanded its Medicaid program under the federal health law and that leaves some low-income residents without access to Medicaid or subsidies to buy private insurance. Also, Kentucky residents complain about the governor’s plan to change the Medicaid program and CNBC takes a detailed look at the impact of Medicaid expansion across the country.
Study Finds Only A Third Of Insurers Made Money On Marketplace Plans In 2014
Overall profits for insurers were down because of higher payouts, the Commonwealth Fund reports. Also in the news, a look at how hospitals might trim insurance costs and many Minnesota residents may be missing health insurance subsidies.
Push To Lift Medicare Ban On Obesity Drugs Grabs Attention At Republican Convention
Drugmakers use the spotlight of the political conventions to urge lawmakers to pass pending legislation that would allow Medicare to cover the medications. And after vice presidential nominee Mike Pence’s Republican convention speech, WFYI dives into the Indiana governor’s record on important health issues.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Viewpoints: Obamacare Court Challenges Continue; Examining The GOP Platform
A selection of opinions on health care from around the country.
Perspectives On Drugs Costs: A Misunderstanding About ‘Sunk Costs’; Insurers’ Role In Pricing
Editorial and opinion writers offer their takes on drug-cost issues.
How Much More Do Americans Pay For A Drug Than Others Around Globe? Report Quantifies Gap
News outlets report on the pharmaceutical drug industry.
Outlets report on health news from Alabama, Minnesota, Texas, Massachusetts, Florida, California, Pennsylvania and Ohio.
HIPAA Hasn’t Kept Up With Apps And Wearable Fitness Trackers, Report Finds
The report by federal officials offered no suggestions on what to do to fix the problem, however. In other health technology news, employers in an effort to address the high costs of untreated mental illnesses are turning to apps, “smart thread” is helping to alert doctors when something is wrong with a patient’s wound, and a Tennessee firm wants to unlock troves of health data.
Maryland Changes Preferred Opioid Treatment But Critics Say New Drug Is Less Effective
The state’s Medicaid program used to pay for Suboxone in dissolvable film for people addicted to opioids to help control cravings. But officials say they changed to Zubsolv tablets, because the strips were being smuggled into jails. Elsewhere, a Florida law allows pharmacists to sell Naloxone over the counter.
30 Years Of Emphasizing Low-Fat Diets May Have Backfired, Study Finds
While a Mediterranean diet which includes healthy fats doesn’t affect mortality, it does reduce a person’s risk of heart issues as well as having benefits in connection with breast cancer and type 2 diabetes. In other news, a study finds that reducing kids’ sugar intake has an immediate improvement on their health, federal agriculture subsidies are fueling Americans’ bad eating habits, and a Florida hospital has launched a breast milk initiative to cut down on asthma and eczema cases.
James Watson: Cancer Moonshot Is ‘Same Old People Getting Together … And It’s All Crap’
Watson, who with Francis Crick discovered the structure of DNA, tells Stat he isn’t at war with the cancer research community, but he isn’t impressed with some of the new strategies being explored. Also in the news, a study finds that fertility treatment doesn’t raise a woman’s risk of breast cancer and aggressive prostate cancer cases are increasing.
Florida Officials Investigating First Possible Non-Travel Related Zika Case In U.S.
Most experts believe the spread of the virus in the U.S. will be contained, though.
Development Suspended On Obesity Drug Tied To Two Deaths
The drugmaker, Boston-based Zafgen, also announces that it will lay off a third of its employees. In other pharmaceutical news, biotech company Synthorx says it will enter the biologic drug market with two new synthetic nucleotides to add to DNA library. And two Valeant drugs get FDA scrutiny.
Governor Who Embraced Core Aspect Of ACA Slams Clinton’s Policies As ‘More Of The Same’
Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson has continued the Medicaid expansion started by his Democratic predecessor. But, while speaking at the Republican National Convention he took the opportunity to criticize Hillary Clinton for wanting to continue to build out the Affordable Care Act. Meanwhile, PolitiFact checks Donald Trump Jr.’s claims that Clinton is going to destroy Medicare.
