Latest KFF Health News Stories
Did Alaska Actually Figure Out How To Fix The Health Law? Well, It’s Complicated
The plan Alaska instituted to control spiking premiums is being touted as a great success, but is it really?
For Democrats, Trump’s ‘Mean’ Comments Could Be A Gift On A Silver Platter
The party hopes to use the sentiment as a unifying message against Republicans. Meanwhile, Sen. Bernie Sanders says he supports any tactic the Democrats take to “defeat that horrific piece of legislation.”
With Self-Imposed Deadline Looming, Where Does Senate Stand On Health Plan?
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is “bound and determined” to hold a vote on the legislation soon, but there are still a lot of obstacles in the way.
Secrecy And ‘Legislative Sleights-Of-Hand’: McConnell’s About-Face On Passing Health Bills
The Washington Post fact checks Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s positions on the process of passing a health care bill in 2010 versus now. And other media outlets take a look at how Republicans are struggling with the fact that the legislation is being crafted behind closed doors.
GOP’s Health Plan Threatens Coverage For Most Vulnerable, Bipartisan Group Of Governors Says
The governors are urging congressional leaders to concentrate on stabilizing the marketplace while searching for a bipartisan solution that will provide affordable health care to those who need it.
SEND IN YOUR QUESTIONS!: KHN is launching our new Facebook group on navigating aging with a live online chat, “Getting Smarter About Getting Older.” You can send in questions ahead of time here. But make sure to mark your calendars for tomorrow at 12 p.m. to join in the conversation on Facebook Live with Judith Graham, our Navigating Aging columnist, and her guest Dr. Lee Ann Lindquist.
A ‘Safe’ Space To Shoot Up: Worth A Try?
A bill pending in the state legislature could make the Golden State the first in the U.S. to open establishments where intravenous drug users can shoot up under medical supervision. Proponents say that would save lives.
Ear To The Door: 5 Things Being Weighed In Secret Health Bill Also Weigh It Down
No one knows what the final Senate bill will look like — not even those writing it. But here are some safe, educated guesses.
Exclusive: White House Task Force Echoes Pharma Proposals
Documents examined by Kaiser Health News shed light on the workings of the Trump administration’s “Drug Pricing and Innovation Working Group.”
Research Roundup: Medicaid Flexibility, Drug Price Transparency and Hospital Quality
Each week, KHN compiles a selection of recently released health policy studies and briefs.
Viewpoints: Waiting For The Doctor; Preventing A Mental Health Crisis
A selection of opinions on health care from around the country.
Perspectives: Medicaid Costs And Cuts; Should Doctors March On Washington?
Opinion writers examine a variety of issues related to health system reform and current efforts to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act.
Media outlets report on health-related news from Minnesota, Colorado, Georgia, Texas, Massachusetts, New Jersey and California.
Republican Gov. Greg Abbott did sign measures that give a boost for telemedicine and provide for postpartum depression screening for low-income women, among others. Meanwhile, guns and abortion measures have been hot topics in Kansas.
Slight Mutations To Bird Flu Virus Would Make It Easier To Spread Between Humans
Right now, it’s not easy for humans to pass the virus to each other. And scientists aren’t bracing themselves for the next pandemic quite yet. “[W]e’ve got to be careful that we separate the elegance of the science and the likelihood” of it happening, said Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.
In Arms Race Against Superbugs, Returning To Tried-And-True Technique May Be Key To Winning
Although it’s been said that soil has been “over-mined” for antibiotics, some think that new technology could rejuvenate the old practice. In other public health news: Lyme disease, wounds to the hip, elder abuse, IVF and sepsis.
Beyond Paint And Pipes: Lead Found In 20 Percent Of Baby Food Samples
Though it was at low levels, scientists say that even a small amount can be detrimental to a child’s development.
Advocates Cheer Drop In Teen Tobacco Use As Potential Turning Point In War Against Smoking
“This is unimaginable, extraordinary progress,” said Matthew Myers, president of the nonprofit Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids.
With Hundreds Dying Each Week, A Panel To Study Opioid Crisis Is Just Waste Of Time, Experts Say
President Donald Trump’s special commission will hold its first meeting Friday, but experts say it’s not necessary. “What we need is an enormous federal investment in expanding access to addiction treatment, and for the different federal agencies that have a piece of this problem to be working in a coordinated fashion,” said Dr. Andrew Kolodny, of Brandeis University.
Core VA Services Neglected In Trump’s Budget, Democrats Say
Lawmakers say the president’s proposed budget increases money for private services, but does little to help Veterans Affairs clinics, hospitals and other veteran care.