Latest KFF Health News Stories
Fall In Line Or Get Out: Shulkin Taking Steps To Rout Rebellious Political Foes In VA Department
Veterans Affairs Secretary David Shulkin, following a scandal over travel expenses, says he has the support of President Donald Trump and intends to keep his position. Shulkin is also taking steps to purge the department of those who he thinks are trying to undermine him.
Short-term policies are intended for people who are between jobs, and are generally cheaper than insurance that meets the law’s requirements. But they offer significantly less protection to consumers. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said people buying these plans could be “one diagnosis away from disaster, discovering they have been paying for coverage that may not cover basic care such as cancer treatment.”
Some Gun Control Measures ‘On The Table’ For Trump Following Florida Shooting
President Donald Trump has directed the Justice Department to issue regulations banning so-called bump stocks, which convert semiautomatic guns into automatic weapons. But people familiar with the conversations say he is mulling going further — and perhaps putting himself at odds with the NRA. Meanwhile, students are still reeling from the psychological toll of the mass shooting.
First Edition: February 21, 2018
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Bad Bedside Manna: Bank Loans Signed In The Hospital Leave Patients Vulnerable
Hospitals increasingly team up with lending institutions to offer low- or no-interest loans to patients to make sure their bills get paid. But critics say the complexity of hospital pricing means consumers should be cautious.
Reducen la burocracia para facilitar el trabajo de las enfermeras viajeras
La Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC), se lanzó en el año 2000 para abordar la escasez de enfermeras y permitir que más practiquen telemedicina. Esta licencia permite que ejerzan en varios estados. Voces a favor y en contra.
La administración Trump propone norma para planes de salud de corto plazo
Estos planes durarían doce meses. Son más accesibles, pero su cobertura es más limitada. Y pueden rechazar a personas con condiciones preexistentes.
Trump Administration Proposes Rule To Loosen Curbs On Short-Term Health Plans
The policy change is likely to entice younger and healthier people from the general insurance pool by allowing a range of lower-cost options that don’t include all the benefits required by the federal health law.
Viewpoints: Work Requirements Promote Healthy Attitude; Connect Dental Care With Health Care
Editorial pages highlight these and other health issues.
Media outlets report on news from Idaho, Maryland, California, Minnesota, North Carolina, New Hampshire, Wisconsin, Ohio, Massachusetts, Colorado, Iowa, Kentucky, Tennessee, Delaware and Texas.
Virginia House Finally Backs Medicaid Expansion, But It Could Be Tough Sell In State Senate
The proposed deal would include work training requirements and for beneficiaries to contribute to their coverage. But Medicaid expansion was not included in the budget that the state’s Senate passed out of committee on Sunday.
Justice Department Appeals Calif. Judge’s Decision To Block Rollback Of Birth Control Coverage
California Attorney General Xavier Becerra sued the Trump administration in October challenging the new rules, saying the policy discriminated against women.
House Ready To Hold First Hearings On Best Approach To Fight Opioid Crisis, Provide Adequate Funding
Following criticism for not providing a comprehensive strategy, House Republicans are setting out to find a bipartisan solution. “It’s my top priority as chairman of the committee to get rid of this deadly epidemic,” said House Energy and Commerce committee chairman Rep. Greg Walden (R-Ore.). “There’s going to be money—more money than has ever been spent.”
Battle Was Brewing Behind Closed Doors At VA Long Before Travel Scandal Erupted
Veterans Affairs Secretary David Shulkin is an Obama-holdover who defends the much-maligned VA health system. In an era where privatizing veterans’ care is popular among Republicans, the friction has continued to build behind the scenes at the agency and in Congress.
HHS Has Been Quietly Reversing Strides Made In Fostering, Protecting LGBT Heath Care
The LGBT population can be vulnerable to discrimination in health care settings, but the Trump administration says the changes within HHS are part of an approach to include LGBT health as part of its broader strategy. Meanwhile, a top HHS communications official becomes the latest in the administration to move to the Office of National Drug Control Policy.
Gap Between People Who Can’t Afford Health Care And Those Who Can Barely Afford It Stokes Resentment
For those that don’t qualify for Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act, the requirement for insurance coverage can seem unfair. Meanwhile, the congressional spending deal raises doubts about what lawmakers are doing to control health costs that are only expected to get worse.
Is Alzheimer’s A Glitch Of Our Brain’s Ancient Immune System?
Connecting Alzheimer’s and the immune system was a radical idea at first but these scientists pushed on. In other news, FDA has opened the doors to drugs that would treat people who have biomarkers of a disease but aren’t yet showing symptoms.
One Of The Best Weapons To Fight Hospital-Acquired Pneumonia: A Toothbrush
A new study finds that pneumonia is far more pervasive than people realized and at the same time hospitals aren’t doing enough to combat it. In other public health news: immunotherapy, horsepox, autism, alcohol, viruses, and more.
There’s Hope That Worst Of This Nasty Flu Season Might Actually Be Over
While officials can’t say that the season has peaked yet, there is data showing that it has started to plateau. In related news: officials say three out of four children who died from the flu had not gotten a flu vaccine, and the company that makes FluMist wants the popular vaccine to make a comeback.
How Doctors ‘Treating The Bad Guy’ Had To Put Emotions Aside To Care For Patient
Not all of the trauma patients the staff at Broward Health North hospital cared for were victims. “We just picked people we know can stay cool,” Dr. Nichiporenko said about choosing the team of medical professionals who treated the shooting suspect, Nikolas Cruz.