Latest Morning Briefing Stories

Emotional Healing After A Flood Can Take Just As Long As Rebuilding

KFF Health News Original

Three weeks after the flooding in West Virginia, the phrase “West Virginia Strong” is painted everywhere. But no matter how strong the community, emotional healing after a disaster takes a long time.

Doctors Wrestle With Mixed Messages When Deciding Whether To Prescribe Painkillers

KFF Health News Original

Though the CDC’s new prescribing guidelines follow a theme of less is more, another federal agency’s patient satisfaction surveys include questions about pain management that some say encourage doctors to prescribe the highly addictive medicines.

Despite Overdose Epidemic, Georgia Caps The Number Of Opioid Treatment Clinics

KFF Health News Original

Georgia has stopped licensing new clinics that provide medication-assisted treatment for opioid addiction. Some call the state’s move irresponsible. Others say the clinics aren’t regulated enough.

Students Fill A Gap In Mental Health Care For Immigrants

KFF Health News Original

Latinos who’ve recently arrived in the U.S. often have poor access to health care, mental health treatment in particular. UNC Charlotte is among several universities trying to change that.

Factors Beyond Coverage Limit Mental Health Care Access

KFF Health News Original

According to a new study, the health law’s insurance expansions have helped more people gain access to mental health services. But racial and ethnic disparities continue.

Details On Death Certificates Offer Layers Of Clues To Opioid Epidemic

KFF Health News Original

Deaths from opioid overdoses are on the rise, and we know that because of data on death certificates. States determine who fills them out and what information they record. And that can vary widely.

FDA Considering Pricey Implant As Treatment For Opioid Addiction

KFF Health News Original

The FDA could soon approve an implantable form of a drug used to treat opioid addiction. While the approach helped patients avoid relapse in tests, its price may be prohibitive for some, doctors say.

A Doctor Yearns For A Return To The Time When Physicians Were ‘Artisans’

KFF Health News Original

Dr. Abraham Nussbaum, author of a new book examining the drive toward quality metrics such as checklists, says he fears medicine could become just another job and not a “calling.”