What We're Reading: Interstate Health Insurance; Secondhand Smoke and Kidney Disease; Gun Violence Research

Trump Administration Looking at Interstate Health Insurance

The Trump administration is looking for ways to jumpstart the sale of health insurance across state lines, an idea President Donald Trump has often touted in the past. The Wall Street Journal reported that CMS is requesting comment on how to eliminate regulatory and other barriers that may be impeding interstate sales. CMS Administrator Seema Verma spoke in favor of the idea, saying Americans are in desperate need of more affordable health insurance options and that interstate sales could offer more competition and lower prices.

Secondhand Smoke Linked to Kidney Disease

A new study of more than 130,000 nonsmokers has demonstrated a connection between secondhand smoke exposure and a higher risk of chronic kidney disease. The study, published in the Clinical Journal of American Society of Nephrology, revealed that groups who had been exposed to secondhand smoke were 44% more likely to have chronic kidney disease than those who had no exposure.

Democrats Push for Funding Gun Violence Research

House Democrats have renewed their push for new funding for gun violence research, referring to the issue as a public health emergency. According to The Hill, if successful, it would be the first time in 20 years that Congress has funded research on on the issue. Last year, Congress included a statement in a spending bill that stated the CDC can study gun violence, but no funding was allocated.