Latest KFF Health News Stories
Anthem’s medical-loss ratio was higher than anticipated. The company said that the MLR has been pushed up by its Medicaid business, an issue it also flagged last quarter.
Twenty more insurers are joining the federal exchanges and the average premium for the benchmark plan will drop by 4% next year in the 38 states using the federal Obamacare exchanges. While the Trump administration credits its own efforts, health experts were quick to push back on that, saying instead that the marketplace is stronger because insurers have raised rates high enough in recent years to make selling plans on the exchanges a profitable businesses.
The Global Fund, attempting to end epidemics of malaria, TB and HIV by 2030, cites the need for additional funding of $46 billion in part because of how climate change impacts the diseases. Other news on public health reports on the “white-male-genius” stereotype, traffic deaths, Halloween safety, racial disparity in research funding, polio, C-sections, PTSD, cancer treatments, blood pressure, and more.
As Missouri works to shut down its last remaining clinic, a new Planned Parenthood facility in Illinois — 15 miles from downtown St. Louis — prepares to absorb the patients beyond its own borders. Meanwhile, a judge blocks an Oklahoma law that would have allow doctors to face felony charges if they didn’t inform their patient about abortion reversals.
Only a small percentage of vapers have been effected by the current outbreak. It’s more likely that the true extent of the negative health effects will be seen in the future. In other vaping news: increased scrutiny of the devices; marijuana and vaping’s tangled past; an increase in cigarette use; a look at the black market; and more.
Experts weigh in on how Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) could pay for Medicare for All, something she took flak over dodging during the last debate. Those options include taxing the wealthy, raising payroll taxes, and slashing spending elsewhere.
CMS Administrator Seema Verma faced a hostile House Energy and Commerce Committee and defended the Trump administration’s action on health care. However, she wouldn’t give specifics on a plan for what happens if the Affordable Care Act is ruled unconstitutional. Meanwhile, some states are crafting contingency plans in case the health law falls.
Politico takes a look at how health leaders in North Carolina, with bipartisan buy-in, are improving how health care is delivered and addressing the underlying social and economic drivers of poor health and high costs.
First Edition: October 24, 2019
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Read recent commentaries about drug-cost issues.
A weekly round-up of stories related to pharmaceutical development and pricing.
Washington State Law On Behavioral Care Balances Parental Rights, Teens’ Autonomy
Many states have rules that keep parents from knowing about or consenting to certain types of care for their children, including mental health and drug and alcohol treatment. Washington state, however, has revised its policies.
Compression Garments Can Ease Lymphedema. Covering Costs? Not So Easy.
Private insurance plans vary in coverage for compression garments, and some fall short of meeting patients’ needs. Although Medicaid programs cover some of these expenses, Medicare does not.
Monstruoso marketing de millones de dólares impulsa el uso de mamografías 3D
La investigación de KHN muestra que el dinero de la industria ha delineado políticas, a la opinión pública y a la atención al paciente en torno a las pruebas 3D.
A Million-Dollar Marketing Juggernaut Pushes 3D Mammograms
Companies are aggressively touting 3D mammograms, although there’s no evidence they save lives.
Para la “Generación Juul”, la adicción se presenta rápido y es difícil de superar
El uso de cigarrillos electrónicos entre adolescentes se ha duplicado desde 2017, según el Instituto Nacional sobre el Abuso de Drogas.
For Boomers Reframing Aging, Age-Proofing A Home Won’t Come Cheap
More baby boomers look forward to aging in place — in their homes, rather than in a care facility. But the costs of retrofitting a house is likely prohibitive for many Americans.
For Generation Juul, Nicotine Addiction Happens Fast And Is Hard To Shake
One in 4 high school seniors report vaping in the previous month. Teens talk about how quickly vaping became ingrained in teen culture and how hard it is to quit vaping nicotine.
Must-Reads Of The Week From Brianna Labuskes
Newsletter editor Brianna Labuskes wades through hundreds of health care policy stories each week, so you don’t have to.
Each week, KHN finds interesting reads from around the Web.