Latest KFF Health News Stories
Two Republican Senators Temper Expectations On Completely Scrapping Health Law
Sens. Chuck Grassley and Joni Ernst, both Republicans from Iowa who are active players in the health care debate, admitted that completely repealing and replacing the Affordable Care Act doesn’t look like it’s going to be in the cards. But, the forecast looked just as gloomy a few weeks ago in the House.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
California’s New Single-Payer Proposal Embraces Some Costly Old Ways
The legislation would revive the age-old practice of paying providers for every service they perform — a recipe for a busted budget, some experts say. Backers say the bill is a work in progress.
GOP Health Bill Pleases Most Republicans, But Not Many Other Americans
While nearly half of Americans support Obamacare, fewer than a third are in favor of the Republican replacement legislation.
Two Medicare Advantage Insurers Settle Whistleblower Lawsuit For $32 Million
Freedom Health and Optimum HealthCare agreed to settle a lawsuit alleging they overbilled Medicare.
Handshake-Free Zone: Keep Those Hands — And Germs — To Yourself In The Hospital
Health care workers and families are trying new ways of greeting people in two neonatal intensive care units at UCLA, hoping to reduce infections and protect fragile babies.
Drug Rebates Reward Industry Players — And Often Hurt Patients
A new JAMA study examines how drug rebates can direct money to middlemen and force Medicare patients to cough up more money.
Defensores desconfían de nuevas reglas para inscribir en planes de salud en el otoño
En el otoño, corredores y aseguradoras podrán guiar a los consumidores en el proceso para obtener un plan de salud de principio a fin. Pero algunos piensan que no mostrarán todas las opciones por igual, sino aquéllas por las que obtendrían una comisión.
“Zonas libres de apretones de manos” para prevenir infecciones en hospitales
Las infecciones adquiridas en hospitales son un problema grave y a menudo se responsabiliza a las manos sucias de los trabajadores de salud. Una experiencia en California mostró una eficaz, aunque controversial forma, de prevenir la diseminación de gérmenes.
A selection of opinions on health care from around the country.
Memorial Day Thoughts On Veterans’ Health
Opinion writers pause on the holiday to urge recognition of soldiers who deal with mental health injuries when they return from war as well as other issues — including President Donald Trump’s budget — related to vets’ health care.
Opinions continue to swirl regarding the status of the Affordable Care Act’s marketplaces and about the challenges involved in advancing California’s health insurance reform plan as well as how the Trump administration budget blueprint deals with the safety net.
Repeal-And-Replace Perspectives: Tough Talk About The GOP Health Care Plan Continues
Editorial pages skewer a variety of aspects of the House-passed GOP health plan. Some, however, counter these arguments with skepticism.
Media outlets report on news from California, Connecticut, Wisconsin, Kansas, Texas, New York, Michigan, Georgia, Minnesota, Maryland and Iowa.
As Population Ages, Communities Face Tough Choices On Supporting Local Nursing Homes
Some jurisdictions are opting to use general fund money to cover costs for necessary services, while others are selling the facilities to private companies. Also, the top complaint among nursing home residents is eviction.
Apple’s ResearchKit Poised To Become Actually Medically Useful
Much of the early research scientists were doing with ResearchKit wasn’t clinical in nature; rather it simply studied the feasibility of using mobile apps to collect health data. But that may be about to change. In other health IT news, Molina Healthcare is investigating a potential data breach.
Public Health Roundup: Losing Sleep Over Climate Change; Immunotherapy And Hope; And Youth Suicides
Also in more public health news: rheumatic heart disease, gay and transgender patients, adult ADHD, reading and the brain, bullying with peanuts, and more.
Profit Mining The Opioid Epidemic: These Middlemen Are Turning ‘Patients Into Paychecks’
Patient brokers can earn up to tens of thousands of dollars a year by wooing vulnerable addicts for treatment centers that often provide few services and sometimes are run by disreputable operators with no training or expertise. Meanwhile, there are tools people can turn to in order to manage chronic pain, but the treatments costs thousands of dollars.
Women Feel Impact Of Texas’ Roundabout Ways Of Chipping Away At Planned Parenthood Funds
By 2013, the state’s maneuvers prompted 82 Texas clinics to close or stop offering family planning services. None of the clinics performed abortions. In related news, a sweeping anti-abortion bill passes the Texas legislature.
Drug, Opioid Thefts A Stubborn Problem At VA Hospitals
In February the agency announced it was putting safeguards in place to combat the problem, but criminal investigators say it’s hard to tell if they’re working.