Health Industry

Latest KFF Health News Stories

HHS Pick Price Made ‘Brazen’ Stock Trades While His Committee Was Under Scrutiny

KFF Health News Original

With federal investigators bearing down on his committee, Rep. Tom Price, R-Ga., who is line to be secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, showed little restraint in investing in health companies.

Women Fear Drug They Used To Halt Puberty Led To Health Problems

KFF Health News Original

Despite questions about Lupron’s lasting side effects and minimal study into its safety, the FDA sped approval of the drug to market. Years later, some young women are still living with the consequences.

Renewed Cleaning Efforts For Scopes Not Enough To Vanquish Bacteria

KFF Health News Original

A new study, though small, finds extensive damage to commonly used medical scopes that could trap dangerous bacteria. That raises concerns about the potential for more outbreaks.

Getting Patients Hooked On An Opioid Overdose Antidote, Then Raising The Price

KFF Health News Original

The device, known as Evzio, administers just enough naloxone to stabilize someone who has overdosed on drugs. But its manufacturer, Kaleo, may be positioning itself to find profits in a dire health care crisis.

California Fines Kaiser Permanente $2.5 Million Over Missing Medicaid Data

KFF Health News Original

The HMO blew two deadlines to supply information required by the state to monitor Medi-Cal managed care plans. Kaiser says it is “taking steps” to resolve the problem.

Tackling Patients’ Social Problems Can Cut Health Costs

KFF Health News Original

Intense, “high touch” care that focuses on housing as well as health care brings down medical costs for the most expensive patients. But it’s been hard to replicate successful programs.

Sky-High Prices For Orphan Drugs Slam American Families And Insurers

KFF Health News Original

Orphan drugs for rare diseases have helped or saved hundreds of thousands of patients like 2-year-old Luke Whitbeck, but families and insurers are picking up the astronomical cost.

Drugmakers Manipulate Orphan Drug Rules To Create Prized Monopolies

KFF Health News Original

Drugmakers have brought almost 450 orphan drugs to market and collected rich incentives but nearly a third of those products aren’t new or were repurposed multiple times, an investigation shows.

Timeline: The Orphan Drug Act

KFF Health News Original

Follow the twists and turns of the orphan drug industry over the past three decades.

Interactive: How Orphan Drugs Win The ‘Monopoly’ Game

KFF Health News Original

Check out all the drugs the FDA has approved to treat rare diseases. You can search by brand name, or by disease, and see familiar names that were first sold on the mass market or all the drugs that won FDA approval to treat more than one rare disease.