Latest KFF Health News Stories
In Mostly Symbolic Gesture, Democrats Introduce Bill To Stop Rollback Of Contraception Mandate
“President Trump wants to make birth control about ideology, but let’s be clear: for women and their families in the 21st century, birth control is about being healthy and financially secure,” said Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.).
Forget Political Upheaval: For Insurers ‘Job No. 1’ Is Easing Confusion For Consumers
As uncertainty reigns in Washington, D.C., insurers are more focused on the rest of America and making sure people know what to do when enrollment kicks off. In other marketplace news: middle-class Americans are upset about insurer subsidies being cut off; a look at the way this enrollment season will be different; uninsured numbers are expected to rise; and more.
“They are not ready for this,” a public health advocate said of an emergency declaration after talking to Health and Human Services officials enlisted in the effort. Meanwhile, states have been quietly taking matters into their own hands.
Trump’s Support Contingent On Deal Including ACA Rollbacks, White House Says
Many of the changes President Donald Trump wants to see in the legislation are ones that couldn’t get through Congress this summer.
‘Do The Math, Baby’: Senators Seem To Have Secured 60 Votes For Bipartisan Health Bill
Sens. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) and Patty Murray (D-Wash.) have an unusually high number of sponsors on their legislation — 12 lawmakers from each party — and Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) promises that every Democrat will vote for it, meaning it seems to have the 60 votes necessary to overcome a fillibuster.
Amid For-Profit Surge, Rural Hospice Has Offered Free Care for 40 Years
Tiny Washington state hospice accepts no federal funds, relies on community volunteers and donations to serve the dying.
First Edition: October 20, 2017
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Podcast: ‘What The Health?’ Whiplash
In this episode of “What the Health?” Julie Rovner of Kaiser Health News, Margot Sanger-Katz of The New York Times, Joanne Kenen of Politico and Alice Ollstein of Talking Points Memo discuss the bipartisan plan in the Senate to stabilize the individual insurance exchanges, and President Donald Trump’s mixed messages about his support or lack thereof.
A selection of opinions on health care from around the country.
Some Tips To Help Decide Whether Popular Medicare Advantage Plans Are Right For You
These private insurance plan take the place of traditional Medicare and vary in coverage and cost.
Opinion writers offer a variety of takes on the deal announced this week by Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) and Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.) as well as what it can and cannot accomplish. They also take a tough inventory of the politics in play and examine other health policy issues, such as Medicare Advantage networks and the status of the Children’s Health Insurance Program reauthorization.
Longer Looks: PTSD Or Hate?; In The Wake Of Hurricanes; And Male Fertility
Each week, KHN’s Shefali Luthra finds interesting reads from around the Web.
Media outlets report on news from Maryland, New York, Colorado, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Ohio and Minnesota.
Despite Growing Trend, Doctors Warn Against Women Eating Their Placenta
Proponents have said eating placenta reduces pain, improves mood and energy level, increases milk production, but scientists find any evidence to support those claims lacking. In other public health news: diabetes during pregnancy, other viruses to look out for this flu season, concussions in teenagers, infectious diseases, and postpartum depression.
Rumor Mill Churning About Who Next Drug Czar Will Be After Original Pick Bows Out
Rep. Tom Marino (R-Pa.) withdrew his name from consideration after reports tying him to legislation that undermined the Drug Enforcement Administration’s power during the opioid crisis.
Second Version Of Groundbreaking Immunotherapy Treatment Approved By FDA
The therapy is part of a hot new field that uses a patient’s own immune system to turn the cells into a “living drug” that attacks disease.
Anthem, Spurning Express Scripts, Will Join With CVS To Start A Drug Plan Business
The new business, which will start in 2020, will be a new pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) company. PBMs serve as intermediaries between drug companies and the prescription plans, but they have come under increasing pressure for not being transparent about how much money they save and how much is passed along to consumers.
Federal Judge Rules Undocumented Pregnant Girl Can Get An Abortion
Judge Tanya Chutkan ordered the government to move “promptly and without delay.” The administration is appealing the ruling.
Americans Grappling With Confusion As Enrollment Season Nears
The sign-up period for coverage under the Affordable Care Act begins Nov. 1, but uncertainty only continues to mount.
Cutting Off Insurer Payments Increases Number Of People Who Get Help Through Other Subsidies
Stopping insurer subsidies is like pushing down on one end of a see-saw only to see the other end go up because another of the health law’s subsidies would rise for people with low-to-moderate incomes. Meanwhile, a look at how Illinois raced to get ahead of President Donald Trump’s move to cut off payments.