Latest KFF Health News Stories
GAO To Launch Investigation Of FDA’s Orphan Drug Program
The Government Accountability Office said it will investigate potential abuses of the orphan drug program, which offers incentives to drugmakers to develop medicines for rare diseases.
House Republicans Recycle Controversial 2003 Bill To Boost Small-Business Insurance
The legislation, passed by the House, would allow nationwide “association health plans.” But consumer advocates have raised serious concerns about such options in the past.
In Deep-Red Western N.C., Revered Congressman Leads Charge Against GOP Bill
Is Republican Rep. Mark Meadows the man who would kill “Trumpcare”? He enjoys strong support in his gerrymandered western North Carolina district as he leads conservative opposition to the GOP’s plan for repealing and replacing Obamacare.
GOP Bill’s Unheralded Changes In Rules Could Undermine Health Of Neediest
Lesser-known provisions in the Republican proposal to replace the Affordable Care Act would push some Medicaid enrollees out of coverage and cause financial pain for others.
Prescription Drug Costs Are On The Rise; So Are The TV Ads Promoting Them
Spending on consumer advertising by drugmakers has increased 62 percent since 2012.
Travel Ban Adds Stress To ‘Match Week’ For Some Doctors
Matching with a residency program had an added layer of stress this year for doctors-in-training from the countries affected by President Donald Trump’s travel ban.
Report: Fired U.S. Attorney Was Probing Tom Price’s Stock Trades
The HHS Secretary bought stock in companies that stood to benefit from legislation he voted for and sponsored as a Georgia congressman.
Nueva droga baja el colesterol en forma drámatica y previene ataques, pero es costosísima
Por primera vez, una investigación muestra que un nuevo, y costoso, medicamento llamado Repatha no sólo baja dramáticamente los niveles de colesterol malo (LDL) sino que también reduce el riesgo de ser hospitalizado y de morir.
Cholesterol Drug Prevents Heart Attacks — But It Doesn’t Come Cheap
A cholesterol-lowering drug called Repatha cuts the risk of heart attacks, strokes and heart-related death by 20 percent, according to a new study.
$89,000 Orphan Drug Gets A New Owner — And Likely A New Price
Marathon, maker of an expensive treatment for Duchenne muscular dystrophy, sells the drug for $140 million in cash and stock to PTC Therapeutics.
Sticker Shock Forces Thousands Of Cancer Patients To Skip Drugs, Skimp On Treatment
A growing number of patients fail to fill prescriptions because the cost of cancer drugs is too high.
By The Numbers: Trump’s Choice For FDA Chief Is Versatile, Entrenched In Pharma
The numbers show that President Trump’s choice for FDA commissioner, Scott Gottlieb, has long-standing ties to pharmaceutical companies as a board member or consultant and that he had to recuse himself multiple times while working at the FDA.
Two Words Can Soothe Patients Who Have Been Harmed: We’re Sorry
For patients killed or maimed by medical errors, doctors and hospitals still often deny wrongdoing. But newer programs offering prompt disclosure of medical errors, an apology and compensation for them or their families are growing.
Say What? Fact-Checking The Chatter Around The GOP Health Bill
In the heated political arguments as Republicans rush to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, some facts can get buried.
By Law, Hospitals Now Must Tell Medicare Patients When Care Is ‘Observation’ Only
Not being officially admitted — a status known as observation care — can have financial consequences for beneficiaries, and patients had often complained they were not informed.
HMO Doctors Take Pains To Slash Opioid Prescriptions
A Kaiser Permanente pain management program in Southern California aims to help patients taper off addictive painkillers. Some doctors and patients see it as a godsend; others complain that patients have been cut off medications they need.
To Save On Drug Costs, Insurer Wants To Steer You To ‘Preferred’ Pharmacies
Blue Shield of California is hoping to steer consumers to “preferred” pharmacies where drugs are cheaper and copays lower.
Los Angeles County Scores An E-Success In Managing Specialist Care
An electronic consulting and referral system adopted by the county’s safety net public health system in 2012 has reduced waiting times for appointments with specialists and eliminated the need for such appointments in a significant number of cases, according to a new study in the journal Health Affairs.
Three Key Senators Ask GAO To Investigate Possible Abuses Of The Orphan Drug Act
Amid an uproar over high drug prices, three GOP senators are asking the Government Accountability Office to investigate whether the Orphan Drug Act is being abused.
Are Virtual Doctor Visits Really Cost-Effective? Not So Much, Study Says
Rand Corp. finds that telehealth encourages patients to seek care for minor illnesses they wouldn’t bother to make an office visit for, raising overall health costs.
