Jan 14 At $850,000, price for new childhood blindness gene therapy four times too high, analysis says By Andrew Joseph, STAT Luxturna, a gene therapy with a list price $850,000, is the latest flashpoint in the debate over how to afford innovative medicines. Continue reading
Jan 14 With CHIP funds running low, doctors and parents scramble to cover kids' needs By Phil Galewitz and Emmarie Huetteman, Kaiser Health News The months-long failure on Capitol Hill to pass a long-term extension to CHIP portends serious health consequences, with disruption in ongoing treatments. Continue reading
Jan 14 Medicaid work mandate will create uncertainty in some states By Andrew DeMillo and Gretchen Ehlke, Associated Press Republicans this past week began to realize their long-held goal of requiring certain adults to work, get job training or perform community service in exchange for getting health coverage through Medicaid. Continue reading
Jan 13 Kentucky is first state granted approval for Medicaid work requirements By Phil Galewitz, Kaiser Health News Thousands of poor adults in Kentucky will have to find jobs and pay monthly premiums to retain their Medicaid coverage as a result of drastic changes to the state’s health insurance program approved Friday by the Trump administration. Continue reading
Jan 11 This surgeon general's famous report alerted Americans to the deadly dangers of cigarettes By Dr. Howard Markel On this day in 1964, Dr. Luther Terry released an earth-shaking, 150,000-word report entitled, "Smoking and Health."… Continue reading
Jan 10 Biden addresses possible link between son's fatal brain cancer and toxic military burn pits By Dan Sagalyn Former Vice President Joe Biden said he thinks toxins found in smoke from burning waste at U.S. military installations in Iraq and at other facilities abroad could “play a significant role” in causing veterans' cancer. Continue reading
Jan 10 Defending against this season's deadly flu: 5 things to know By Barbara Feder Ostrov, Kaiser Health News Flu is widespread in 46 states, and at least 106 people had died from the infectious disease as of mid-December. Here's what you need to know about this year's flu. Continue reading
Jan 09 Rural hospitals rely on Medicaid expansion to stay open, study shows By Casey Moss, STAT A new study released Monday reports a crucial consequence of that divide: Nonexpansion states have suffered a significant increase in hospital closures. States that expanded benefits, on the other hand, saw their rate of closures decline. Continue reading
Jan 09 Rex Tillerson unconvinced that 'deliberate attacks' in Cuba are over By Josh Lederman and Matthew Lee, Associated Press Rex Tillerson said he’s not convinced that what he calls the “deliberate attacks” are over. Continue reading
Jan 09 CBO says Children's Health Insurance Program would cost $800 million for five years By Alan Fram, Associated Press Financing for the program expired last fall. Congress has temporarily extended its funding, but growing numbers of states have moved closer to exhausting their money. Continue reading