Latest KFF Health News Stories
Bipartisan Group Of Senators Argue Ban On CDC Gun Research No Longer Makes Sense
A 1996 amendment prohibits the CDC from using funds to advocate for or promote gun control; while the language in the measure didn’t expressly prevent scientific research, it was ambiguous and the agency sharply curbed its research into gun violence. Meanwhile, advocates are taking advantage of the spotlight directed toward mental health to call attention to gaps in the system.
In a televised session on Wednesday, President Donald Trump signaled support on everything from expanded background checks, increased school security and mental health resources, and age limits. Trump also suggested that law enforcement officials should be able to confiscate people’s firearms without a court order.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Tens Of Thousands Of Medicaid Recipients Skip Paying New Premiums
Five states demand small payments from those who gained coverage under the Affordable Care Act’s Medicaid expansion, but enrollees often face few consequences if they don’t make their remittances.
ACA’s Popularity Grows, Even As GOP Lauds Change To Requirement To Have Coverage
Forty percent of people are unaware that Congress repealed the penalty for most people who don’t have insurance coverage starting in 2019.
Cartoon Mascot Masks Nasty Health Care Feud
California’s health insurers trotted out a heart-healthy character with an ulterior motive — taking a dig at drugmakers.
¿Nunca es tarde para operar? Las cirugías al final de la vida son comunes y costosas
Muchos abuelitos se exponen a procedimientos que hacen más mal que bien, afectando su calidad de vida en el poco tiempo que les queda de vida.
¡Cuidado! La multa por no tener seguro que impuso el Obamacare todavía está vigente
Si bien la administración Trump derogó la multa por no tener seguro de salud que impuso la Ley de Cuidado de Salud Asequible, esta norma entrará en vigencia en 2019.
Editorial pages focus on these health topics and others.
Perspectives: We Need Bold Changes In Order To Bring Down Drug Costs, Not The Tweaks Trump Proposes
Read recent commentaries about drug-cost issues.
This ‘Lower Cost’ Generic’s Eye-Popping Price Tag: $18,375 For 100 Pills
News outlets report on stories related to pharmaceutical pricing.
Media outlets report on news from Massachusetts, California, Michigan, Illinois, Georgia, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Indiana, New Mexico, and Virginia.
Nearly Every Hospital Patient Gets A Saline IV Bag. But Is There A Better Option?
Alternative intravenous fluids to the commonly used saline could save up to 70,000 lives a year, a new study finds. In other public health news: smoking while pregnant, memory loss, medical data, ALS, Weight Watchers, the U.S. pregnancy rate, and more.
While many funeral homes get reimbursements for burials or cremations, fewer of them are wiling to offer the services because the funds don’t cover ever-rising costs.
Virginia House Takes Aim At State Senate’s Plans To Expand Medicaid
The battle between the two chambers has been heating up as they debate a possible expansion of the state’s Medicaid program. Medicaid news comes out of Illinois, Ohio and Georgia, as well.
Tighter Regulations In Midwest States May Be Sending Women To Illinois To Seek Abortions
A new report shows that more than 4,500 women crossed into Illinois to terminate a pregnancy in 2016, up from 3,200 the previous year. Outlets report on abortion-related news out of Ohio, Mississippi and Tennessee, as well.
Shulkin Promises Rebellion At VA Won’t Take His Focus Away From Improving Veterans’ Care
“I’m not spending my time looking for subversion or doing investigations,” VA Secretary David Shulkin said. “When it becomes clear to me when people are pursuing different agendas, then I’m going to address that.” The secretary, fresh off a travel scandal, has been promising to rout anyone trying to undermine him from his agency goals.
Health Law’s Middle-Ground Approach Based On GOP Ideology No Longer Good Enough For Liberals
Democrats and liberal activists are no longer satisfied with a strategy that maintains private insurers’ primary role. They’re starting to focus instead on expanding popular government programs like Medicare and Medicaid.
Republican Lawmakers Pump Brakes On Gun Control Momentum
House Speaker Paul Ryan and Rep. Tom Cole (R-Okla.) both moved to temper enthusiasm about getting any gun control legislation through Congress, despite the surge of public ire following the latest mass school shooting. Meanwhile, lawmakers will meet with President Donald Trump today to discuss ways to battle gun violence.
Lawmakers are aggressively ramping up their efforts to fight the nation’s drug epidemic. In addition to the new measure, chairs of the two primary health committees in Congress pledged to push more legislation within the next months.