Latest KFF Health News Stories
Task Force: Not Enough Evidence To Recommend Yearly Pelvic Exams For Women
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force’s conclusion applies only to women who are not pregnant and who do not have pelvic symptoms, such as pain or unusual bleeding.
Lead Testing Violations Reported At Over 5,300 Water Systems That Serve 18M People
An EPA analysis finds that 5,363 systems did not properly monitor or treat water for lead and copper last year. In other news impacting public health, KQED covers the “European bias” in clinical trials. Other news outlets report on the risks of bullying, the health of widowers and how labels are affecting caloric intake.
‘There’s Not Going To Be Any Pity Party’: Pat Summitt’s Journey With Dementia
Famed college basketball coach Pat Summitt died Tuesday, five years after being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s-type dementia. She used that time to shed light on the disease.
Zika Vaccine Success In Mice Offers Tantalizing Prospect Of Complete Protection
Two experimental vaccines show promise in early studies, and researchers are cautious but optimistic. In a different study, scientists find that the virus has a prolonged effect in pregnant women. Also, Zika isn’t the only virus mosquitoes carry, and the combination of environmental factors and reproductive health care cuts is creating a perfect storm for women in the South.
Biden To Roll Out ‘Down-Payment’ Cancer Initiatives At Moonshot Summit
The new efforts to be announced at the daylong summit can be seen as the beginning of the new discussion around cancer, and represent “down payments on actions that we can achieve this year,” says Greg Simon, the executive director of Biden’s cancer effort.
Telemedicine May Offer Cheaper Options For Some Health Care
Routine online consultations are generally less expensive than an office visit, according to The Wall Street Journal. Also, NerdWallet provides some consumer advice about using medical records to help figure out billing problems.
Speculation Over Anthem-Cigna Deal Mounts
But company officials say no talks are underway to end the proposed merger. In other insurance industry news, Blue Shield of California is facing new scrutiny about whether it adequately paid back policy holders for its excessive administrative spending in 2014. Meanwhile, in Ohio, nearly 22,000 people face a deadline to find a new health plan or face being uninsured for most of July.
FDA OKs Gilead’s Lower-Priced Drug To Treat All Strains Of Hep C
Epclusa costs $74,760 for a 12-week course of treatment.
Official Tells Hill Panel Medicare May Revise Controversial Drug Payment Proposal
The Senate Finance Committee grilled Dr. Patrick H. Conway, a deputy administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, over an administration plan to change how Medicare pays for drugs administered in doctors’ offices.
Dark Cloud Over Abortion Providers’ High Court Victory: Damage Might Already Be Done
The Texas law, which took effect in 2013, shuttered many of the state’s clinics, and the road to rebuilding won’t be easy. Meanwhile, other states react to the ruling.
Supreme Court Rejects Mississippi, Wisconsin Attempts To Revive Abortion Restrictions
The orders follow a ruling Monday which struck down the admitting privileges law for abortion clinics in Texas.
Democrats Block Zika Bill; Tension Mounts As Lawmakers Trade Barbs Ahead Of Recess
The Republicans are accusing Democrats of being “sore losers,” while the Democrats are saying that including poison pills in the legislation is a “cynical ploy.” Meanwhile, the vote against the funding leaves very little time for the two sides to work out their differences before summer recess.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Viewpoints: GOP Health Plan Light On Care; Teaching Doctors; Vaccine Prices
A selection of opinions on health care from around the country.
Views On Justices’ Decision On Abortion: ‘Major Victory’; ‘Misogyny In Action’
News outlets provided a variety of views about the Supreme Court’s ruling that struck down key provisions in a Texas abortion law.
Outlets report on health news from Illinois, Minnesota, Massachusetts, California, Maryland, Wyoming and Texas.
Calif. Governor Signs Law Limiting Medi-Cal Estate Recovery Program
Previously the state was allowed to seize a deceased person’s assets to get reimbursed for its Medi-Cal contribution to a patient’s medical care. Now, it will only be able to recover what was spent on long-term care needs. In other news, Three North Texas cab company executives have agreed to pay $1 million to resolve Medicaid fraud allegations.
Public Health Roundup: Experts Debate Cancer ‘Moonshot;’ Best Time To Induce At 39 Weeks?
News outlets also report on developments related to end-of-life care, a family hit by the same heart ailment, exercise guidelines for kids, digital tools helping seniors cope with loneliness and the fallout from lax medical research.
Prescribing Take-Home Antidote Along With Opioids Reduces ER Visits, Study Finds
Patients who legally use opioids to manage chronic pain may not realize they’re in danger of an overdose. “We’re prescribing naloxone for risky drugs, not risky patients,” said lead researcher Dr. Phillip Coffin of the San Francisco Department of Public Health. In other news, medical schools are rethinking their training on opioids, a once-a-month injection shows promise as effective treatment, USDA’s head speaks about hard-hit rural areas, and other news about the opioid epidemic.
Mining Prescription Data Helps Pharmacy Benefit Managers Identify Costs Savings
Companies like OptumRx, CVS Health and Express Scripts are using troves of data to help their clients control drug expenses. In other pharmaceutical news, AstraZeneca uses a rare children’s condition to argue that its best-selling anti-cholesterol medicine Crestor should be protected from generic competition.
