Latest KFF Health News Stories
An Inspector General report suggests that private insurers are combing through patients’ files and adding on conditions like diabetes to make the patient looks sicker than they were to get more money from the government. A spokeswoman for America’s Health Insurance Plans said the report is based on a type of data with well-documented challenges, and noted that the watchdog didn’t review medical records for the analysis.
Unlike other states that have tried to add work requirements, South Carolina didn’t expand its program under the health law. Advocates denounced the approval, calling it “a new low in the Trump administration’s quest to strip away health coverage for our nation’s low-income residents.”
Democrats Pass Sweeping Drug Legislation As Political Salvo Heading Into 2020
The bill itself, which gives Medicare the power to negotiate drug prices, is likely dead on arrival in the Senate. But it gives Democrats a talking point for a contentious election year.
First Edition: December 13, 2019
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
San Francisco Hopes To Improve Care For People With Mental Illness Living On Streets
Dr. Anton Nigusse Bland, a veteran of public health psychiatry, was appointed by San Francisco’s mayor earlier this year to a newly created job: director of mental health reform. His main task is to improve mental health and addiction treatment for people experiencing homelessness.
In The Fight For Money For The Opioid Crisis, Will The Youngest Victims Be Left Out?
The opioid epidemic is intergenerational, with tens of thousands of babies born every year dependent on opioids. Advocates worry that settlement dollars resulting from lawsuits against the drug industry might not benefit these children.
Californians Without Health Insurance Will Pay A Penalty — Or Not
Californians must have health insurance starting next year or face a hefty tax penalty. But, as with the now-defunct federal tax penalty for being uninsured, some people will be exempt.
Some Rejoice Over New California Health Insurance Subsidies. Others Get Shut Out.
There’s something new in this year’s Covered California open-enrollment period: Consumers are learning whether they will qualify for new state-funded financial aid. The results are mixed, with some scoring hundreds of dollars per month and others nothing.
KHN’s ‘What The Health?’: Legislate-A-Palooza
The House passed legislation that would give federal workers 12 weeks of paid parental leave. The measure appears headed for passage in the Senate, and President Donald Trump has promised to sign the measure into law. Meanwhile, House and Senate lawmakers have a tentative deal on surprise medical bills, but don’t count on a compromise just yet. Joanne Kenen of Politico, Kimberly Leonard of the Washington Examiner and Emmarie Huetteman of Kaiser Health News join guest host Mary Agnes Carey of KHN to discuss this and more. And for “extra credit,” the panelists offer their favorite health stories of the week they think you should read, too.
Each week, KHN compiles a selection of recently released health policy studies and briefs.
Opinion writers weigh in on these public health issues and other health issues.
Football is the most popular sport in the U.S., but worries over brain injuries are spurring a flurry of designs for a safe helmet. “You can make whatever changes you want, but in the end it’s all physics,” one researcher said. “Talking of new and better buffers is like Goldilocks and the three foams.” News about public health issues is on food safety, a new approach to amputations, sexual abuse in juvenile detention centers, the men behind a menstrual cycle myth, mental health help for construction workers, a gene variant alert for black people, sleep-linked stroke risks, quality blood transfusions and lessons on making health care promises to loved one, as well.
Media outlets report on news from Maryland, Minnesota, New York, Louisiana, Georgia, Ohio, Arkansas, Illinois, New Mexico, Michigan, Iowa, Missouri, Florida, Wisconsin, and Florida.
Experimental Drugs Achieve Unusually Good Results Against Hard-To-Treat Advanced Breast Cancer
Researchers were excited about the possibilities, especially from one of the drugs that was able to reach tumors in the brain. Other pharmaceutical news focuses on insulin prices and biotech startups.
Health Care Data Of More Than Half A Million People Stolen In November. Here’s What’s Allowing It.
Email accounts involving phishing scams seem to be the primary target through which data is exposed. In other news on health technology, Google Health hires a leading researcher on wearables.
In Ambitious Pilot Program, Planned Parenthood Will Open 50 Clinics At Los Angeles High Schools
The clinics will offer birth control, STI testing and pregnancy counseling, but not abortion. Two public health officials, trained by Planned Parenthood, will be stationed full time at each school to provide education and counseling, and a Planned Parenthood nurse practitioner or other medical provider will come once a week. Women’s health news comes out of Missouri, Iowa, Florida and Ohio, as well.
After months of delays, the House Energy And Commerce Committee released legislation that would tackle the issue of surprise medical bills. It has garnered bipartisan support in Congress and won backing from President Donald Trump. But Ways and Means Committee lawmakers think their proposal is better.
Health Law Enrollment Still Trails Last Season’s But At A Slower Drop-Off Rate Than The Year Before
In the sixth week of open enrollment for 2019 coverage, there had been a 12% drop off. For 2020 coverage the sign-ups are lagging by 6%. These numbers don’t include people who will be automatically enrolled in their coverage, and there also is usually a flurry in the last few days before the Dec. 15 deadline.
As Congress Races Against Calendar, Vote On Flavored E-Cigarette Ban Will Be Pushed To Next Year
Rep. Donna Shalala (D-Fla.), the bill’s co-sponsor, previously said there would be a vote by the end of the year, but there’s only so many days left. And researchers are still investigating the root cause of the vaping-related illness that swept the country.
Researchers See Hopeful Trend In More People Dying At Home Rather Than In A Hospital Setting
But the flip side is that families may be unprepared to handle a seriously sick relative.