Latest KFF Health News Stories
ProPublica investigates how much a New Jersey plan that covers teachers paid out for specialists because it doesn’t have limits on out-of-network bills. More than 70 acupuncturists and physical therapists earned more than $200,000 in 2018 from their teacher clients alone, and one brought in more than $1 million.
In Surprising Turn, Grassley Accuses McConnell Of Sabotaging Senate’s Bipartisan Drug Pricing Bill
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, who has outsized power in deciding the Senate’s schedule, has not slated the Senate Finance Committee’s drug pricing bill for a vote, largely because the package does not have widespread Republican support. In other pharmaceutical news: “one-and-done” therapies, generics lawsuits, and insulin costs.
Court Decision Offers Republicans Some Political Breathing Room Heading Into Contentious 2020
It’s a widely believed that attacking the health law — and its popular provisions that protect preexisting conditions — proved to be a political vulnerability for Republicans during the 2018 elections. Because the case has been kicked back down to the lower courts, that means a final decision on the law’s fate might not come until after the 2020 election cycle.
“Tonight’s ruling is a chilling threat to the 130 million Americans with preexisting conditions and every other family who depends on the lifesaving protections of the Affordable Care Act,” said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.). Meanwhile, insurers and other industry groups who have been living with turmoil for years over the fate of the law were concerned the decision only drags out the uncertainty. President Donald Trump heralded the ruling, vowing to protect the law’s popular provisions without giving details on how he would do so.
FDA officials will decide whether the makers have proven that e-cigarettes help traditional smokers quit, and if that is indeed the case whether that outweighs the public health toll vaping takes on young people. Meanwhile, the agency is facing criticism for not acting faster.
Health Industry Scores Big In Spending Bill, But Consumers Were Left In The Cold
Congress’ decision to repeal three health law taxes was a huge win for the industry, but consumer protection issues — like surprise medical bills — were not included. Meanwhile, advocates hope that the data that might come from the gun violence funding included in the spending bill for the first time in decades will make a difference in swaying lawmakers in the future.
For one thing, Canada doesn’t produce enough drugs, nor does it seem to be on board with exporting the ones it does have to America. Beyond that, experts say President Donald Trump’s plan will have little to no impact on what consumers pay for drugs.
The only full-throated supported of “Medicare for All” at Thursday night’s Democratic presidential debate is expected to be Sen. Bernie Sander (I-Vt.) In recent weeks, Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), whose fate got tangled up with the plan, has been re-calibrating her message to focus on the transition period to a new system.
In a long-awaited decision, the Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit in New Orleans agreed with Judge Reed O’Connor that the individual mandate can no longer be viewed as a tax, and thus the requirement to buy insurance is unconstitutional. But the judges dodged a hard decision on whether that meant the whole law has to fall, sending it back to the lower courts for a closer look at whether the provision can be severed.
First Edition: December 19, 2019
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
From Clinic To Courtroom, Fighting For Immigrant Health Care
Jane Garcia is CEO of La Clínica de La Raza, which operates more than 30 clinics in the San Francisco Bay Area serving a high percentage of immigrant patients. She has challenged state and federal immigration policies in court, including the Trump administration’s recent attempt to expand the “public charge” rule.
‘An Arm And A Leg’: Reporter Says ‘Shame’ Spurred Hospital To Cancel Debt For Thousands
Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare in Memphis, Tenn., sued thousands of patients for unpaid medical bills. Journalist Wendi Thomas wrote about it. Months later, the hospital dropped 6,500 lawsuits.
Parenting Your Aging Parents When They Don’t Want Help
Relationships between adult children and their parents can fray with age. Experts offer help on how loved ones can preserve the love and negotiate those tension-filled final years.
Federal Appeals Court Strikes Down Portion Of Obamacare
The court, based in New Orleans, agreed with a federal judge in Texas that the individual mandate section of the Affordable Care Act could not stand after Congress eliminated the tax penalty for not having coverage. But the case now heads back to the lower court to see how much of the law can remain.
Border Fight: Trump’s Plan To Import Cheaper Drugs From Canada Faces Hurdles
The administration’s proposed rule to allow states to bring in prescription medications isn’t expected to provide immediate relief.
ACA Individual Mandate Ruled Unconstitutional But Appeals Court Does Not Invalidate Health Law
In a closely watched case that could determine the future of the Affordable Care Act, the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals declared the law’s individual mandate unconstitutional but in need of further analysis.
Peligrosos desechos del vapeo son un nuevo dolor de cabeza para escuelas y ciudades
En Boulder High School, en Boulder, Colorado, se ha convertido una tarea cotidiana recoger productos del vapeo, que pueden ser tóxicos.
The proposed rules would allow states, drug wholesalers, or pharmacies to apply to import certain drugs from Canada. The policy would also let drugmakers import their own products sold in other countries.
Corte federal de apelaciones derrumba crítica parte del Obamacare
Todavía queda por delante un largo proceso judicial que tiene que determinar las partes de la ley que pueden seguir adelante sin un mandato individual.
Opinion writers weigh in on these health care issues and others.