Must-Reads Of The Week From Brianna Labuskes
By Brianna Labuskes
KHN Original
Newsletter editor Brianna Labuskes wades through hundreds of health care policy stories each week, so you don’t have to.
State Highlights: Texas Asks Federal Court To Revive Law On Burial Of Fetal Remains; On California Vaccine Bill, Governor’s Plan For Revisions Baffles Lawmakers
KHN Morning Briefing
Media outlets report on news from Texas, California, New York, Iowa, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Minnesota, Georgia, Wyoming, Louisiana, North Carolina and New Hampshire.
‘It’s So Stressful’: During Dangerous Storms Like Dorian, Elderly Often Have To Stay Put Even During Evacuations
KHN Morning Briefing
When mandatory evacuation orders come down at popular retirement communities located all along the southeastern seaboard, the elderly might have few options. News on the health industry’s response to Dorian comes from Georgia and Florida, as well.
Ultrasounds May Now Have Become The Norm, But Some Women Are Refusing Them Over Health Concerns
KHN Morning Briefing
Experts say ultrasounds have been used to monitor pregnancy for decades, and there’s no meaningful evidence that they can cause harm to a developing fetus. But some women say they would rather trust their bodies than take the chance. In other public health news: aid-in-dying, biobanks, measles, blood pressure, PTSD and ovarian cancer, a left-handedness gene, and more.
In Theory, Legislation To End Surprise Medical Bills Enjoys Bipartisan Support. Reality Is A Little More Complicated.
KHN Morning Briefing
Some Democrats are wary about handing a health care win to President Donald Trump and Republicans this close to elections. That doesn’t even account for the big players in the industry gearing up to block the bills with all the lobbying power they can muster. In other health industry and costs news: hospital mergers, Medicare Advantage, providers’ affiliates, and using Groupon for medical treatments.
Faced With Paying For Pricey Gene-Therapy Treatments, Insurers Start Thinking Outside The Box
KHN Morning Briefing
The expensive new therapies can be life-changing, but working out how to pay for them has become a pain point for the health industry. “Employers are saying, ‘I just can’t afford it,’” said CVS Health Chief Medical Officer Troy Brennan. In other pharmaceutical news: drugmakers’ try to gain traction for next-generation sequencing but the going is slow; and Pfizer gets fast-track approval for a rare lung cancer drug.
More People Actually Went To Emergency Department For Non-Urgent Issues When Medicaid Was Expanded
KHN Morning Briefing
The study counters a common talking point that expanding the program would get people to stop using the emergency department in non-emergency situations. The author say it’s not surprising because patients under Medicaid don’t have to fear debt collection, removing one big barrier that could deter someone from a hospital visit. So those visits may be perceived as more convenient than a regular doctor’s office, which can be difficult as many providers don’t take Medicaid.
Civil Rights Groups Sue To Block ‘Unconscionable’ Policy That Would Allow Sick Immigrant Children To Be Deported
KHN Morning Briefing
The Trump administration policy sparked national outrage when stories emerged about how children with cancer and other life-threatening diseases would be impacted. Advocates say that for immigrants seeking medical deferments, deportation could very well equal a death sentence.
U.S. Attorney Accuses Safe Injection Site Organizers Of ‘Astonishing’ Hubris In Case Over Legality Of Such Facilities
KHN Morning Briefing
The safe-injection sites have drawn pushback from the federal government and conservatives who see them as condoning drug abuse. Lawyers for the Pennsylvania site central to the case say it’s not illegal under the Controlled Substances Act — which regulates the possession, use and distribution of certain drugs — to stand nearby with life-saving medical help. Other opioid news comes out of Massachusetts.
Texas Oncologist With No Previous Ties To Washington Meets With Trump About Helming FDA
KHN Morning Briefing
The Trump administration is staring down a Nov. 1 deadline to name a permanent leader to the FDA. Public health advocates have been urging the White House to name acting FDA Chief Ned Sharpless to the position.
As Politicians Get Ready To Tackle Gun Regulations, Businesses Start Taking Matters Into Their Own Hands
KHN Morning Briefing
Walgreens and CVS followed in Walmart’s footsteps this week by asking their customers not to openly carry firearms in their stores. Meanwhile, President Donald Trump is busy drafting up a gun violence proposal — but it might leave both parties unsatisfied in the long run. Other news on gun violence looks at buy-back programs, better threat reporting options, bump stocks, survivors’ advice, and more.
Vitamin E Oil Eyed As Culprit In Vaping-Related Lung Illnesses, But Some Health Officials Remain Doubtful
KHN Morning Briefing
New York health officials identified a compound called vitamin E acetate that has shown up in several of their samples. But that doesn’t mean the mystery is solved, experts say. “No one substance, including vitamin E acetate, has been identified in all of the samples tested,” said Michael Felberbaum, a spokesman for the FDA. “Importantly, identifying any compounds that are present in the samples will be one piece of the puzzle but will not necessarily answer questions about causality.”
First Edition: September 6, 2019
KHN Morning Briefing
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Groupons For Medical Treatment? Welcome To Today’s U.S. Health Care
By Lauren Weber
KHN Original
Groupon and other deal sites are the latest marketing tactic in medicine, offering bargain prices but potentially unnecessary, duplicative services.
Watch: Five Things To Know About Hunger Among America’s Aging
KHN Original
One out of every 13 seniors in America struggles to get enough food to eat while the federal program intended to help hasn’t kept pace with the graying population. KHN Midwest editor/correspondent Laura Ungar explains what you need to know about this largely hidden problem.
California Lawmakers Send Contested Vaccine Bill To Governor. Will He Sign It?
By Ana B. Ibarra
KHN Original
The state Senate on Wednesday sent a measure to Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom that would tighten the rules for children’s medical exemptions from vaccines. Newsom, who said in June that he would sign the measure after amendments had been made at his request, now wants more changes.
