Latest KFF Health News Stories
California Sued For Allegedly Substandard Medi-Cal Care
The lawsuit is a civil rights case on behalf of Latinos, who comprise nearly half of the program’s enrollees. But the advocates who filed it also hope to get class action certification for all Medi-Cal enrollees.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
In Texas, People With Mental Illness Find Work Helping Peers
Peer support, well-known in addiction treatment, is gaining ground for people with serious mental illness. Texas and 35 other states are training and paying peer support specialists to help bridge a gap in mental health treatment.
Nursing Homes Move Into The Insurance Business
Although proponents say the policies offered by nursing homes are more attuned to patients, some report frustrations when trying to dispute care decisions.
Senators Grill Top Indian Health Officials About Trump Budget
The administration officials could not answer some basic questions from senators, including how much money the agency has gained from the health law’s Medicaid expansion and whether President Donald Trump’s proposed 2018 budget would help the agency hire more staff.
DNA Links Deadly Germs, Tainted Heart Surgery Devices To German Factory
LivaNova plant in Germany is the likely source behind outbreak that has sickened more than 100 people since 2013.
Whichever Way ‘Repeal And Replace’ Blows, Pharma Is Due For Windfall
A little-noticed provision in President Donald Trump’s executive order on drug prices may offer a clue to why Big Pharma hasn’t opposed a bill that could bleed their balance sheets of millions of patients.
GOP Health Bill Eases Rules For Some Small-Business Plans
Congressional Republicans are keen to loosen restrictions set by the federal health law on insurance sold by associations that small employers join.
Cuando el cirujano opera a dos pacientes a la vez… en distintos quirófanos
Es una práctica común en hospitales universitarios, pero ahora defensores de los consumidores y expertos opinan que puede no ser segura para el paciente.
Viewpoints: Reasons To Defend Medicaid; For Congress, Recess Isn’t The Problem… It’s The Games
Opinion writers offer their analysis of the ongoing debate on Capitol Hill and across the country over health care reforms and issues.
Perspectives: More Transparent Pricing System Would Help Untangle Confusion Around High Costs
Read recent commentaries about drug-cost issues.
Pharma’s Money-Back Guarantees Sound Nice, But Experts See Them As A Ploy
News outlets report on stories related to pharmaceutical pricing.
Media outlets report on news from California, Massachusetts, Michigan, Connecticut, Florida, Wisconsin and Missouri.
With Smoking In Movies On Rise, Experts Want All Films With Tobacco Use To Get An R-Rating
They say there’s evidence that strongly suggests that depictions of smoking in movies can lead to youth smoking.
Treatment Using Patient’s Own Immune Cells To Fight Cancer May Take Step Forward Wednesday
A Food and Drug Administration advisory committee will decide if it can recommend the “true living drug” that has shown impressive success in some patients to the full agency. In other public health news: syphilis rates, mental health, high-risk pregnancies, alcohol withdrawal and more.
Justice To Target Opioid Treatment Programs Exploiting Affordable Care Act Insurance Plans
Sources say arrests will be carried out in cities including Miami, Chicago, Detroit and Los Angeles. Meanwhile, the department has reached a settlement with a pharmaceutical company over its failure to report potential abuse of its drugs.
Home Health Agency Workers Get Extra Time To Prepare For New CMS Regulation
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services delays the rule by six months. In other news on the agency, its Hospital Value-Based Purchasing program awarded bonuses to some lower-rated facilities, the Government Accountability Offices finds.
Former CMS Administrators Press Senate To Delay Making Changes To Medicaid
Andy Slavitt, who worked for President Barack Obama, and Gail Wilensky, who worked for President George H.W. Bush, urge lawmakers to take a more deliberate review of Medicaid issues. “Congress can and should commit to improving and modernizing Medicaid, but the process will take time to develop bipartisan support for the changes that are needed and should not be rushed,” they wrote.
Oscar Teams Up With Humana In Pilot Project For Small-Business Insurance In Nashville
The partnership expands the startup insurer’s interests beyond plans sold to individual market.
Alaska To Set Up Reinsurance Program To Protect Consumers From Skyrocketing ACA Premiums
The state says the program will help save the government money in premium subsidies.