Latest KFF Health News Stories
It’s Almost Time To Vote … Experts Opine About How It’s All Played Out, What Could Happen Next
Polls will open for the midterm elections in less than 24 hours. Already there’s an effort to look at how the health care debate has unfolded — fact-checking statements, measuring what people understand about catch phrases such as Medicare-for-all, handicapping what might happen to Obamacare if the GOP retains control of the House and Senate, and predicting how the health care sector might come out in the end.
Ballot Issues In 4 Red States Will Test Medicaid’s Popularity After Failed ACA Repeal
Voters in Idaho, Nebraska, Utah and Montana will decide whether to expand Medicaid under a provision of the federal health law. Critics of such a move argue Medicaid is a government handout, but the program appears to have gained acceptance among many people when its benefits were highlighted during the Republicans’ efforts to repeal the ACA. News outlets also report on ballot measures in Washington, Oregon, California, Massachusetts and Ohio.
The Future Of Health Care Is A Key Debate In Close House Races
Tight races in Arizona, New York and Nebraska draw headlines.
Democrats are hammering congressional Republicans who supported upending the Affordable Care Act, which guaranteed that people with medical problems could get coverage. GOP candidates and President Donald Trump vow that they would not take that away from patients, but they have not offered any plan.
First Edition: November 5, 2018
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Tobacco Tax Battle Could Torch Montana Medicaid Expansion
A ballot initiative in Montana would tax cigarettes $2 a pack to help pay for the state’s Medicaid expansion. But the tobacco industry has spent more than $17 million fighting the effort.
Quick: What’s The Difference Between Medicare-For-All And Single-Payer?
As politicians across the country toss about such health care catchphrases, sometimes interchangeably, many voters say they’re “just confused.”
Like Clockwork: How Daylight Saving Time Stumps Hospital Record-Keeping
One of the most popular electronic health records software systems used by hospitals, Epic Systems, can delete records or require cumbersome workarounds when clocks are set back for an hour, prompting many hospitals to opt for paper records for part of the night shift.
Ad Check: What Happens If California Limits Dialysis Center Profits?
Both sides in the contentious and expensive battle over California’s Proposition 8 are cherry-picking the facts ahead of Tuesday’s vote as dialysis companies spend record amounts to persuade voters through ads.
Viewpoints: Lessons From ‘The Massacre Generation’; Pittsburgh Doctors Followed Torah Law Of Decency
Editorial writers weigh in on these health topics and others.
Opinion writers weigh in on the best ways to lower health care costs.
Research Roundup: Medicaid Costs; Domestic Violence; Drug Monitoring Programs
Each week, KHN compiles a selection of recently released health policy studies and briefs.
Media outlets report on news from New York, Hawaii, California, Arizona and Minnesota.
Inmate Details Abuse, Attacks And Death In Book About Florida Prison
Harold Hempstead, who told the Miami Herald about the death of a man with mental health problems who was left in a hot shower for two hours by guards, has completed a book describing many abuses that he saw while in the prison. Across the country in California, the state’s chief prison psychiatrist issues a scathing report about conditions there.
Looking For Antibodies To Fuel Universal Flu Vaccine, Researchers Turn To Llamas
A team from the Scripps Research Institute in La Jolla has taken a major step toward the long-sought goal of developing a universal vaccine against influenza. “From a scientific and technical standpoint, this is really a very elegant study — the highest quality of science,” said Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. Other public health news focuses on cellphone cancer risks, cannabis-derived medication, psychedelic drugs and PTSD, rehab and running, growing burdens on food pantries.
Star Rating Changes At VA Hospitals Might Conceal Problems, Former Officials Say
Other veteran hospital news focuses on a “deteriorating” no-bid $10 billion contract for electronic records and controversial research on dogs and cats.
Cigna Joins Health Companies Reporting Strong 3Q Results And Raising 2018 Forecasts
The insurer beat Wall Street expectations with its third-quarter profits, Cigna reported. And pharmaceutical industry developments are reported out of Teva, Pfizer, Merck and McKesson.
“It is with tremendous sadness that I learned of the passing of our friend and colleague,” Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar said in a statement.
Safety-Net Hospitals Win With New Rule That Penalizes Drugmakers For Overcharging
Under a new Trump administration regulation, pharmaceutical companies face a fine of up to $5,000 for overcharging hospitals and clinics that qualify for the 340b program. In other drug pricing news, 40 large employers like IBM, Verizon, and American Express will use an online tool from startup Rx Savings Solutions to help employees get better deals on prescriptions.
The report, which came from Rep. Diana DeGette (D-Colo.) and Rep. Tom Reed (R-N.Y.), co-chairs of the Congressional Diabetes Caucus, took more than a year to complete. In other Capitol Hill news, lawmakers are poised to renew a popular HIV/AIDS program.