Latest KFF Health News Stories
States Filling In Gaps In Veterans’ Mental Health Care
Several states are moving legislation and introducing PTSD programs to target what they see as holes in the care offered by the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs. In other news, lawmakers and veterans are speaking up about the dangers of the military’s “burn pits.”
Patients, Advocates To Flood FDA Panel Hearing On Experimental Muscular Dystrophy Treatment
The panel will hear from scientists and patients alike on Monday as it decides whether to recommend that the FDA approve the drug, called eteplirsen. More than 800 patient advocates have registered to appear, making it among the best attended FDA advisory committee meetings in history.
‘All Humankind Is Waiting And Watching’: Mania Erupts Over Potential Fountain Of Youth Pill
Scientists announce a clinical trial to see if a common Type 2 diabetes treatment could stave off some of the most devastating diseases of advanced age — and seniors are coming out of the woodwork in droves to be involved.
Drug Companies To Pour $100M Into Battle Against California’s Price Control Ballot Initiative
The initiative, likened by one lobbyist to a “grenade being rolled into the conversation,” would require the state to pay no more for prescription drugs than the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, and the industry is gearing up to fight back. In other news, Novartis’ heart-failure drug is getting a warmer welcome in Europe than America, and the company is considering its options in selling its stake in Roche.
Despite Success In Extending Medicaid Expansion, Ark. Gov. Faces Obstacles Ahead
Opposition to the program is still strong in some areas, and funding in the future could be difficult. News outlets also report on Medicaid developments in Oklahoma and New Mexico.
Insurers’ Exit From Marketplaces Could Play Into Ariz. Senate Race
The expected loss of United plans and some Blue Cross Blue Shield plans could leave parts of Arizona with very little choice, and that could reignite the debate on the health law in the Senate campaign, some political analysts predict. Also in news on the health law, Minnesota weighs contracting out the technical work for the marketplace and a Republican group renews its suggestions on how to replace the health law.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Viewpoints: The Trump View Of Medicare And Social Security; Employers As Insurance Companies
A selection of opinions from around the country.
Research Roundup: Hospital Readmissions; Children’s Health; Medicare Overview
Each week, KHN compiles a selection of recently released health policy studies and briefs.
News outlets report on health issues in Texas, Delaware, Tennessee, Florida, Oregon, Illinois and Missouri.
Texas Appeals Court Throws Out Challenge To Medicaid Payment Cuts For Kids’ Therapy
Critics argue that the cuts to reimbursements for speech, physical and occupational therapists would drive them out of the Medicaid program.
Medicare Proposes Payment Increases For Skilled-Nursing And Inpatient Rehab Facilities, Hospice Care
In other related news, Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn, is backing legislation to alter the formula that determines how much Medicare reimburses hospitals.
Following $2.2M Federal Penalty, Future Murky For Real-Life Shows Filmed In Hospitals
NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital has agreed to pay $2.2 million penalty for allowing television crews to film patients without their consent. While some say it will have a chilling effect for shows aimed at giving insight into the complexities of medical care, others cheer the decision as a safeguard to patients’ privacy.
New Overtime Rules: Numbers Don’t Work For Association Relying On Medicaid Reimbursements
The American Network of Community Options and Resources, an association that represents employers offering support services to intellectually disabled people, is worried about the effects of new regulations that almost double the salary threshold for those who are automatically guaranteed overtime. In other news, a growing number of companies are offering their employees surgeries at prestigious hospitals at no cost.
How Theranos’ Fall From Grace Killed Walgreens’ Infatuation With The Startup
In 2013, Walgreens hoped to bask in the glow of the blood-testing company that was one of Silicon Valley’s hottest unicorns. Now, as Theranos faces multiple investigations into its practices and technology, the chain is trying to distance itself as much as possible from its once-touted partner.
Supreme Court Set To Hear Patent Case That Could Leave Mark On Drug Price Landscape
The case being heard next week has nothing directly to do with medicine but insurers and drug makers think the justices’ ruling will have repercussions for the generics market. And the Los Angeles Times reports on how pharmacy consolidation impacts drug affordability and KHN writes on patient challenges in accessing some more expensive drugs.
The Cold War: Anti-Abortion Movement Not Ready To Thaw Toward Trump
Anti-abortion leaders are still grappling over what do with a Republican front-runner who only recently came out in opposition of the procedure and has made several gaffes that don’t fit with the movement’s messaging.
Study Links Cold, Flu And Allergy Drugs To Dementia
Anticholinergics work by blocking a specific neurotransmitter in the brain and body. But one critic of the study says it did not look at how long the participants had been taking the drugs, which are only meant for short-term use. In other public health news, scientists have found that, when in new surroundings, only half the brain sleeps while the other stands guard. Also, the nation’s largest autism research study is set to launch and cities are beginning to look at the lasting effects of childhood trauma.
Death Toll Only Tells Part Of Story In New Hampshire’s Opioid Epidemic
Newly released reports show just how deeply the state has been hit by the crisis.
Suicide Rate In U.S. Spikes To Highest Levels In Nearly 3 Decades
From 1999 to 2014, the overall rate increased by 24 percent, while middle-aged women saw a sharp uptick of 63 percent. Meanwhile, the number of suicides for girls aged 10 to 14 tripled.
