As States Try To Rein In Drug Spending, Feds Slap Down One Bold Medicaid Move
Medicaid drug spending doubled in five years in Massachusetts. The state wanted to exclude expensive drugs that weren’t proven to work better than existing alternatives from its Medicaid plan, but the federal government blocked the effort.
Discreetly Tracking Down Sex Partners To Stop A Surge In STDs
In response to a spike in syphilis and gonorrhea cases, one Oregon county is sending medical sleuths to break the bad news in person. Some people have no idea they’ve been exposed to an infection.
Insurer To Purdue Pharma: We Won’t Pay For OxyContin Anymore
Embattled drugmaker Purdue Pharma defends OxyContin as some insurers are dropping the drug in favor of other abuse-deterrent opioid painkillers.
Insulin’s Steep Price Leads To Deadly Rationing
Alec Raeshawn Smith was 23 when diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes, and 26 when he died. He couldn’t afford $1,300 per month for his insulin and other diabetes supplies. So he tried to stretch the doses.
Babies Dependent On Opioids Need Touch, Not Tech
One doctor in Kansas works to make sure every hospital in the state can provide the soft start, ideally with their mothers, that babies with neonatal abstinence syndrome need.
As Opioid Crisis Rages, Some Trade ‘Tough Love’ For Empathy
An approach known as Community Reinforcement and Family Training, or CRAFT, coaches families to deal with a loved one’s substance abuse with compassion.
Doctors Reckon With High Rate Of Suicide In Their Ranks
The devastating loss of a promising young doctor prompts soul-searching and action at one of the nation’s largest emergency room staffing companies.
Patients With Chronic Pain Feel Caught In An Opioid-Prescribing Debate
States are passing laws that limit a doctor’s ability to prescribe opioids. Doctors and patients alike are wrestling with what that means in cases of chronic pain.
Some Doctors, Patients Balk At Medicare’s ‘Flat Fee’ Payment Proposal
The Trump administration says its plan to overhaul the way Medicare pays doctors will save physicians time and paperwork. But critics worry the changes will hurt patients’ care and doctors’ income.
How Soon Is Soon Enough To Learn You Have Alzheimer’s?
Only about half of people with Alzheimer’s symptoms get a diagnosis, partly out of fear of an incurable decline, doctors suspect. But Jose Belardo says facing the future allows him to plan for it.
Support Circle: Family Caregivers Share Stories And Tips To Ease Alzheimer’s Toll
As the number of people with Alzheimer’s climbs, so does the number of loved ones caring for them. The health of 16 million unpaid U.S. caregivers has become a focus for Alzheimer’s advocacy groups.
Fearing Deportation, Immigrant Parents Are Opting Out Of Health Benefits For Kids
Advocates in Texas say immigrant families, nervous about a higher degree of scrutiny in applications for health and food benefits, are choosing to drop out of Medicaid and SNAP for citizen children.
After Opioid Overdose, Only 30 Percent Get Medicine To Treat Addiction
Patients revived from an opioid overdose who get methadone or Suboxone treatment for addiction afterward are much more likely to be alive a year later, says a study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
Poison Ivy, A ‘Familiar Stranger’ That Could Ruin Your Summer
Spotting poison ivy is tricky because it can come in several forms. And bad rashes may need to be treated by a doctor. Warning: This story might make you itch.
He Started Vaping As A Teen And Now Says Habit Is ‘Impossible To Let Go’
Public health officials worry vaping is an emerging disaster that could reverse years of decline in smoking by young people. What’s the latest evidence that e-cigarettes are a gateway to tobacco?
Listen: What You Need To Know About The News On Breast Cancer And Chemo
KHN senior correspondent Liz Szabo joins a panel on WAMU’s radio show “1A” to discuss new insight into breast cancer treatment.
With The Rise Of Legal Weed, Drug Education Moves From ‘Don’t’ to ‘Delay’
Today’s drug prevention messaging is a far cry from the “Just Say No” days. Schools want to give kids the facts to make informed decisions about whether and when to try drugs or alcohol.
Listen: Disrupted Lives, Delayed Care And A Revised Death Toll In Puerto Rico
KHN senior correspondent Sarah Varney, who has seen firsthand how devastation wrought by Hurricane Maria has harmed residents of Puerto Rico, discusses the new statistics on the number who perished in the storm.
Domestic Violence’s Overlooked Damage: Concussion And Brain Injury
Women are at high risk for getting concussions from domestic violence. A neurologist and a social worker have paired up to try to get women the specialized medical help and counseling they need.
Another Cause Of Doctor Burnout: Being Forced To Give Immigrants Unequal Care
Undocumented patients with kidney disease often can’t get treatment unless they are in a state of emergency. This bothers clinicians who want to treat all patients equally.
