Latest KFF Health News Stories
Health care stories are reported from Illinois, California, New York, Missouri, North Carolina and Kansas.
School Nurses’ New Tool To Combat Opioid Overdoses
In public schools in New York, school nurses are stocking up on naloxone to help students who overdose on school time, thanks to a new state law. In Florida, heroin addiction is taking an inordinate amount of police officers’ time.
Virginia Hospitals Launch Ads Urging State Lawmakers To Help Relieve Financial Stress
After prior appeals to expand Medicaid failed to make inroads in the state’s political environment, the Virginia Hospital and Healthcare Association is targeting lawmakers who oppose extending coverage to 400,000 uninsured Virginians with a campaign asking for help.
Researchers Find Flaws In Paxil Study That Downplayed Drug’s Risk To Youth
The drug was later tied to an increase in suicidal thoughts among adolescents, according to the FDA. Elsewhere, GlaxoSmithKline’s Seroxat is criticized by a medical journal for not allowing access to data it says would have shown the antidepressant is not safe or effective for youths.
Cigna CEO Says Anthem Takeover Will Increase Choice, Affordability
But worries persist from others that the $47 billion deal will hurt competition. Elsewhere, a GM official says there are no plans for the company to sell its health care business, and Target will give its employees Fitbits to help track health.
Vaccines, Planned Parenthood Among Health Care Flashpoints Debated By Republicans
News outlets fact check statements made during the second debate of the top presidential candidates seeking the GOP nomination.
CBO: Planned Parenthood Funding Cuts Would Bring Immediate Savings — And Future Costs
The Republican effort to ban federal payments to the women’s health group would save about $235 million over 10 years, the Congressional Budget Office reported. But that would be tempered by $60 million spent by Medicaid on women who no longer receive birth control from the group and become pregnant.
Pressure Grows Over Fears Planned Parenthood Controversy Will Lead To Shutdown
Republican leaders in Congress are determined to thwart conservatives’ efforts to close the government and are looking for other routes to allow the party to deal with the issue.
Texas Uninsured Rate Falls, But State Now Has Largest Number Of People Without Coverage
Meanwhile, Kentucky saw the largest drop in percentage of residents without health insurance between 2013 and 2014. News outlets across the country examine how their states fared in regard to the Census Bureau’s data on income and health coverage.
Census: More People Have Health Coverage Even As Poverty Persists
The annual Census Bureau report, which provided 2014 numbers, is considered the gold standard for explaining how the nation is faring in terms of prosperity. The section on insurance coverage points to the effects of the Affordable Care Act, the new insurance marketplaces and expansion of Medicaid that year.
First Edition: September 17, 2015
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Viewpoints: Toss Out The House GOP Lawsuit Against Health Law; Sanders’ Expensive Plans
A selection of opinions on health care from around the country.
Health care stories are reported from California, Alabama, Virginia, Missouri, Kansas, Illinois, Texas and North Carolina.
Calif. Doctor Charged In $150M Insurance Scam
Also in the news, the Justice Department reached a $69.5 million settlement with a South Florida hospital district accused in a lawsuit of forming financial relationships with doctors who in turn referred patients to the district’s facilities. News outlets also report developments in West Virginia related to another fraud settlement and in Massachusetts regarding state charges about a nursing home’s misleading advertisements.
Louisiana Again Notifies Planned Parenthood That Medicaid Funds Will Be Terminated
This time the state is citing a $4.3 million whistleblower settlement in Texas as the reason. Other news outlets report on Planned Parenthood funding developments in Wisconsin, North Carolina and Ohio.
CDC Asks Nursing Homes To Take Steps To Thwart ‘Superbugs’
Federal officials say lowering improper use of antibiotics may help slow the spread of drug-resistant microbes. Elsewhere, groups ask the Senate to intervene to release records on opioid use and financial ties between the drug industry and pain-management groups.
Memoir Explores Black Doctor, Black Patient Experience
Elsewhere, the issue of how America trains doctors — and who pays for this education — is set for debate in a House subcommittee. And, Kaiser Health News examines the gender gap in academic medicine as well as hospitals pushing to improve doctor bedside manner.
Google Health Care Investments Expand To Insurance Startup Oscar And Neuroscientist Hire
The Internet company is making a $32.5 million investment in Oscar Health Insurance Corp., a new company that wants to compete with established providers by using data and technology to modernize the insurance business. Google also hires the director of the National Institute of Mental Health to join a team researching mental illness.
Obama Picks Cardiologist Robert Califf As Nominee For FDA Commissioner
Califf joined the Food & Drug Administration as a deputy commissioner last February following years as a researcher and administrator at Duke University and was considered a likely candidate for the top job.
Reid, McConnell ‘On Same Page’ In Push To Prevent A Government Shutdown
Congress has just 15 days left in September to reach a budget agreement and avoid a temporary government shutdown. The process has become complicated by the Planned Parenthood controversy, which has triggered a flurry of activity of its own — including a House government oversight panel subpoena for unedited videos about Planned Parenthood’s provision of fetal tissue for research.
