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KHN’s ‘What the Health?’: News You Might Have Missed

Congress is in recess, so the slower-than-average news week gives us a chance to catch up on underreported topics, like Medicare’s coverage decision for the controversial Alzheimer’s disease drug Aduhelm and ominous new statistics on drug overdose deaths and sexually transmitted diseases. Margot Sanger-Katz of The New York Times, Joanne Kenen of Politico and the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, and Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico join KHN’s Julie Rovner to discuss these issues and more. Plus, for extra credit, the panelists recommend their favorite health policy stories of the week they think you should read, too.

April 14, 2022

A Travel Nurse Leaves Fears of Hospital Drug Tampering Across Three States

Kentucky nurse Jacqueline Brewster is accused of tampering with opioids in Tennessee and West Virginia, possibly contaminating drugs given to hospital patients.

By Brett Kelman

April 14, 2022

KHN On Air

Journalists Discuss Insulin Costs and Ethical Questions Surrounding a North Carolina Rehab Program

KHN staff made the rounds on national and local media this week to discuss their stories. Here’s a collection of their appearances.

April 9, 2022

California Handed Its Medicaid Drug Program to One Company. Then Came a Corporate Takeover.

The company awarded the state’s Medi-Cal Rx contract was taken over by another company, Centene. That left the state with a contractor it didn’t pick — one that has been accused of overbilling nine other state Medicaid programs and is now under investigation by California.

By Samantha Young

April 8, 2022

Podcast

KHN’s ‘What the Health?’: Finally, a Fix for the ‘Family Glitch’

President Joe Biden welcomed former President Barack Obama back to the White House this week to announce a new policy for the Affordable Care Act that would make subsidies available to more families with unaffordable employer coverage. Meanwhile, Congress struggled to find a compromise for continued federal funding of covid-19 vaccines, testing, and treatments. Tami Luhby of CNN, Shefali Luthra of The 19th, and Jessie Hellmann of CQ Roll Call join KHN’s Julie Rovner to discuss these issues and more.

April 7, 2022

An Asian Chinese male pharmacist helping customer doing blood sugar test at pharmacy counter. Close up shoot sugar test.

Despite Doctors’ Concerns, Pharmacists Get More Leeway to Offer Treatment With Testing

In the battle against covid, pharmacies became a key place for consumers to seek vaccines and testing. Some states are expanding pharmacists’ work to include directly prescribing drugs for customers who seek some routine, point-of-care tests, such as those for flu or strep throat. But doctor groups oppose the move.

By Michelle Andrews

March 31, 2022

A large sign that reads, "Dale Hollow Pharmacy," in blue lettering stands in front of Dale Hollow Pharmacy. The pharmacy is a white building with a grassy area and parking lot at the front.

At a Tennessee Crossroads, Two Pharmacies, a Monkey, and Millions of Pills

Prosecutors say opioid-seeking patients drove hours to get their prescriptions filled in Celina, Tennessee, where pharmacies ignored signs of substance misuse and paid cash — or “monkey bucks” — to keep customers coming back.

By Brett Kelman

March 29, 2022

A man in a suit sitting behind a desk speaks during a Senate hearing.

Pharma Cash to Congress

Big Pharma Is Betting on Bigger Political Ambitions From Sen. Tim Scott

The South Carolina senator led the congressional pack in pharma campaign contributions for the second half of 2021. There are clear reasons.

By Rachana Pradhan and Victoria Knight

March 28, 2022

Campaign Contributions Tracker

Pharma Cash to Congress

A KFF Health News database tracks campaign donations from drugmakers over the past 10 years.

By Elizabeth Lucas and KFF Health News Staff

March 23, 2022

Albert Bourla is seen sitting in a chair, speaking during a panel at the South by Southwest festival. A blurred person sits on the left in the foreground.

COVID-19

Pfizer CEO Pushes Yearly Shots for Covid. Not So Fast, Experts Say.

A corporate CEO’s call for a fourth mRNA shot struck those closely watching the pandemic as self-serving. It creates public pressure for a fourth dose of vaccine before government experts have time to assess the evidence and settle on the best course forward.

By Arthur Allen

March 21, 2022

Nicholas Kelly is seen on the left looking out a window, holding his hand to his chin. Bright daylight shines in from the window, casting dramatic shadows on the left side of his body.

COVID-19

Covid’s ‘Silver Lining’: Research Breakthroughs for Chronic Disease, Cancer, and the Common Flu

Billions of dollars invested in mRNA vaccines and covid research could yield health care dividends for decades to come.

By Liz Szabo

March 17, 2022

Podcasts

‘An Arm and a Leg’: Need an Expensive Drug? Here’s What You Need to Know

Even a personal finance expert can get stuck with a huge unexpected bill for a drug. Listen up for what you need to know about "copay accumulators."

By Dan Weissmann

March 15, 2022

Vladimir Putin is seen sitting in a chair, looking across a table.

Which Companies Aren’t Exiting Russia? Big Pharma

U.S. and global drug manufacturers invested in Russia’s sizable pharmaceutical industry contend international humanitarian law requires they continue manufacturing and selling their products there, even while condemning the Ukraine invasion. Not everyone agrees.

By Sarah Varney

March 10, 2022

A gloved hand uses a pipette to divide liquid into test tubes. A screen shows a series of brain scans behind the lab equipment.

Patients Divided Over Alzheimer’s Drug: Is It a ‘Risk I’m Willing to Take’ or Just a ‘Magic Pill’?

Medicare has proposed limiting coverage of Aduhelm, the costly new drug to treat Alzheimer’s disease, and several prominent groups representing patients and their families are pressing the program to make it more widely available. But among individuals facing the disease, the outlook is more nuanced.

By Judith Graham

March 7, 2022

13-year-old Joshua Davis stands up as people around him applaud and smile during the State of the Union address.

$35 Insulin Cap Is Welcome, Popular, and Bipartisan. But Congress May Not Pass It Anyway.

Spun off from the ailing but not-quite-dead Build Back Better legislation, a popular proposal to cap out-of-pocket insulin costs at $35 a month faces tough political realities that could kill it.

By Michael McAuliff

March 4, 2022

Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks from behind a podium, gesturing with his arms outside of a restaurant. A blue sign sits in front of the microphone at the podium that says, "The California Blueprint."

California Governor’s Big Promises on Drug Prices Are Slow to Materialize

Gov. Gavin Newsom has launched several initiatives to cut rising drug prices, but the savings haven’t been as monumental as he promised. And his plan to have California make its own generic drugs hasn’t gotten off the ground.

By Angela Hart, Rachel Bluth, and Samantha Young

March 4, 2022

A bottle of Truvada, an HIV prevention drug, tips out blue pills onto a pill counting tray.

HIV Preventive Care Is Supposed to Be Free in the US. So, Why Are Some Patients Still Paying?

The Department of Labor issued rules in July clarifying that health plans need to cover the costs of prescription drugs proven to prevent HIV infection, along with related lab tests and medical appointments, at no cost to patients. More than half a year later, the erroneous billing continues.

By Sarah Varney

March 3, 2022

President Joe Biden speaks from a podium with Vice President Kamala Harris and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi standing behind him.

Fact Check: Biden Sets High Bar in 1st State of the Union Speech

What a difference a year makes. The speech was delivered to a largely unmasked crowd of lawmakers, justices, and Cabinet members in the House chamber.

By Victoria Knight and Colleen DeGuzman

March 2, 2022

A pharmacist places a customer's prescription medication into a paper bag

Changes to Medi-Cal’s Troubled Drug Program Reduce Backlog in California, but Problems Persist

After a troubled start to the new Medi-Cal prescription drug program, the state’s contractor has hired staffers to reduce wait times for medication approvals and patients seeking help. But some doctors and clinics report that patients continue to face delays.

By Samantha Young

Feb. 24, 2022

KHN On Air

Journalists Review Hospital Penalties and Problems Riddling Medicaid Rx Program

KHN and California Healthline staff made the rounds on national and local media this week to discuss their stories. Here’s a collection of their appearances.

Feb. 19, 2022

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