Latest KFF Health News Stories
Republican Health Replacement Bill’s Provisions On Medicaid Are Key Concern For Senators
One of the thorniest issues for Republicans is how to handle the Affordable Care Act’s expansion of Medicaid.
In Senate, GOP Is Walking A Razor-Thin Margin And These Deal-Breakers Could Nudge Them Over Edge
Politico looks at four hot-button topics that could cost Republican votes needed to pass health care legislation. Other media outlets offer explanations on taxes, the Byrd Rule and what will happen if the senators can’t pass a repeal-and-replace law.
Amid Fierce Criticism, McConnell Defends All-Male Panel: ‘Everybody Is At The Table’
Democrats are concerned that there are no women involved in the health law working group because they say the legislation is particularly harmful to women.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Reactions To The GOP Health Bill: Voices From The States
What will happen to people with preexisting conditions is one worry some Americans expressed; the high costs of insurance under Obamacare is another.
Parents Of Sick Children Fear Trap If States Have Say On ‘Preexisting Conditions’
“I’m not going to risk my son’s health on the political whims of Jefferson City,” says one Missouri father, whose son requires about $20,000 to $30,000 in medical care expenses a year. The new GOP health bill to repeal the Affordable Care Act lets states decide whether or not insurers must cover people with preexisting conditions, such as birth defects.
Grassley, Chaffetz Send Fiery Response To HHS Memo They Say Chills Whistleblowing
The two Republican lawmakers sent a letter to HHS Secretary Tom Price warning him that whistleblowers in HHS could be intimidated into silence by a department memo instructing employees to get clearance before talking with members of Congress and their staffs.
Medicare no investigó 96 casos de peligrosas infecciones en hospitales
Un informe oficial cuestiona el sistema para reportar y monitorear infecciones adquiridas en centros de salud. Los hospitales reciben bonos, o multas, según el número de casos.
Grupo enseña a familiares de pacientes con Alzheimer a cuidar de ellos mismos
Los médicos y los investigadores reconocen cada vez más que el cuidado de las personas con demencia compromete la salud física y mental de los cuidadores.
Nearly 1 In 3 Recent FDA Drug Approvals Followed By Major Safety Actions
More than 70 drugs approved from 2001 through 2010 ran into safety concerns later that resulted in withdrawals from the market, “black box” warnings or other actions.
A selection of public health opinions from around the country, ranging from the national response to the opioid crisis to states’ continued debate over Medicaid.
Opinion writers offer scathing reviews of the approach Republicans in Congress have so far taken in repealing and replacing the Affordable Care Act.
Editorial pages examine a range of health policy issues with the Republicans health bill, the American Health Care Act, including an analysis of two Republican governors’ signals on preexisting conditions and doubts about how people with mental illness fare.
Media outlets report on news from Minnesota, Colorado, Wisconsin, Massachusetts, Maryland, Florida, Washington and Texas.
Deficiencies In Detention Centers’ Medical Care Contributed To Immigrants’ Deaths, Report Finds
“There is significant evidence that ICE does know about many of the deficiencies in its medical care system, but that it has failed to take swift and appropriate action,” the Human Rights Watch says in the report.
Anti-Abortion Democrat’s Mayoral Bid Exposes Cracks In ‘One Voice’ Party Line
Is there room for anti-abortion lawmakers in the Democratic Party? Leaders are split on the issue.
This Research On How Salt Affects Our Bodies Just Upended 200 Years Of Accepted Knowledge
Salt may actually be involved in weight loss. In other public health news: Facebook and suicide, loneliness in seniors, gunshot wounds, and autism.
‘Enormous’ Disparity In Longevity Rates Between Counties Is Only Getting Worse
There are pockets in the country where people can expect to live 20 years less than residents in other areas. The research echoes other findings in recent years that show that the United States is failing to keep up with improvements in longevity seen in other affluent nations.
Senator, Concerned About Pharma’s Influence, Asks HHS To Delay Opioid Workshop
The workshop, hosted by the Food and Drug Administration, is designed to review the ways that physicians can treat pain and safely prescribe opioids. But Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) is concerned that the preliminary list of groups that are scheduled to participate in the workshop have ties to drugmakers. Meanwhile, states are being overwhelmed by the increased popularity of fentanyl.
Questions To Ask To Help You Avoid Surprise Medical Bills
In the world of murky prices and “gotcha” medical bills, there are some things a patient can do in advance to avoid getting blindsided by the cost of care.