Latest KFF Health News Stories
Medicare Trust Fund Is Not Sustainable Long-Term, HHS Warns
The agency estimates that the ratio of workers paying taxes to beneficiaries eligible for Medicare will drop from 3:1 in 2016 to 2:1 by 2091, even as health care costs continue to rise.
VA Secretary Signals New Support For Privatized Care For Veterans
“The direction I’m taking this is to give veterans more choice in their care,” Veterans Affairs Secretary David Shulkin says. The issue is a hot-button topic for those involved in veterans’ advocacy.
Massachusetts To Require Insurers Cover Contraception No Matter What Happens To Health Law
The Trump administration is starting to roll back mandates on contraception coverage, but Massachusetts moved to protect the requirement, which came about from the Affordable Care Act.
States That ‘Went All-In’ On Health Law Have Half As Many Uninsured As Those That Didn’t
The disparity can largely be explained by the expansion of Medicaid.
Health Centers Desperate As Renewal Of Their Funding Languishes In Congress
The funding for the centers, which are often located in under-served areas, is a noncontroversial aspect of the Affordable Care Act. But the deadline for renewing the money passed in September, leaving the facilities scrambling. In other news from Capitol Hill: CHIP funds, hospital cuts, orphan drugs, an alcohol tax, and a potential bipartisan fix for the health law.
When Wait Times Become A Death Sentence: A Look Inside Backlog For Disability Benefits
The Washington Post investigates the ever-growing backlog for people seeking disability benefits.
Nominee For HHS Post Raked In Millions As Top Pharma Executive
The newly released numbers are likely to ratchet up the scrutiny of Alex Azar, who is already facing criticism that he is too closely tied to the industry to be effective as the person regulating it.
Years Before Heading Offshore, Herpes Researcher Experimented On People In U.S.
Southern Illinois University’s William Halford conducted unregulated human herpes experiments in hotels near university campus, emails show.
First Edition: November 21, 2017
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Puertorriqueños desplazados enfrentan obstáculos para tener seguro médico
Más de 140,000 puertorriqueños llegaron a la zona central de Florida desde que el huracán María devastó la isla. En muchos casos, los planes médicos que tenían en Puerto Rico no funcionaron en el continente.
Doctor’s Rx For A Stiff Knee: A Prescription For 90 Percocet Pills
Following minor surgery, KHN’s consumer columnist sees how easily doctors offer pain pills, fueling epidemic of opioid addiction.
Massachusetts Grabs Spotlight By Proposing New Twist On Medicaid Drug Coverage
In an effort to reduce drug costs and increase efficiency, Massachusetts is seeking federal approval to implement a new approach to how the state’s Medicaid program covers prescription medications.
Displaced Puerto Ricans Face Obstacles Getting Health Care
Many have complicated questions about whether their Medicaid or Medicare coverage can shift to their new homes. And for those seeking private insurance, using the ACA’s insurance marketplaces will likely be a new experience.
No dejes que la culebrilla te ataque… como me atacó a mí
Una nueva vacuna contra el herpes zoster puede ayudar a millones que portan el virus a evadir el dolor y los costosos tratamientos.
Viewpoints: Dangerous Roads; Cracking Down On Stem Cell Clinics, Half-Hearted Fight Against Hep A
A selection of opinions on health care from around the country.
Perspectives On Obamacare: Mandate Repeal Is Not A Tax Increase; Who Wins If Mandate Is Gone
Opinion writers analyze the controversy about the Senate Republican tax bill’s efforts to get rid of the federal health law’s requirement to have insurance or pay a fine and other concerns about the law.
Media outlets report on news from New York, Florida, Connecticut, Wisconsin, California, Texas, Georgia and Illinois.
Surprise Medical Bills And Balance Billing: ‘It’s A System Totally Rigged Against Patients’
Patients who do all the right things to go to an in-network hospital can still get stuck with thousands of dollars of surprise medical bills because the doctor treating them is out of network. The Houston Chronicle investigates why that is.
Asia’s Bird Flu Putting Global Health Officials On High Alert
The flu worries many scientists as they see it as the virus most likely to start a pandemic that kills millions, as the 1918 Spanish flu did. In other public health news: vaccines, blood pressure, cigarette ads, standing desks, napping on the job and more.
Number Of Transgender Homicide Cases For This Year Highest On Record
And the advocacy groups say their counts may be incomplete because transgender victims are sometimes misidentified in police and news reports.