Latest KFF Health News Stories
With Price Nomination, Trump Undercuts Campaign Promise To Protect Medicare
Rep. Tom Price, R-Ga., Donald Trump’s choice to head the Department of Health and Human Services, is eager to overhaul the program that the incoming president swore to defend.
Price’s Vision For U.S. Health Care: Free-Market Framework, State Flexibility And Doctor Protections
The surgeon who is Donald Trump’s nomination for Health and Human Services secretary has a staunchly conservative plan that would largely remove the government from the health care industry.
Legislation To Improve Mental Health Care For Millions Sails Through House Vote
Sponsors of Congressional action up for vote Wednesday have championed mental health changes since the 2012 Newtown shootings.
First Edition: November 30, 2016
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Need Pricey Drugs From An Obamacare Plan? You’ll Shoulder More Of The Cost
A Kaiser Health News analysis finds that the portion of federal marketplace plans requiring people to pay a third or more of the cost of specialty drugs have jumped from 37 to 63 percent since 2014.
Push-ups In The Park: Cal State Students Lead Outdoor Exercise In Low-Income Areas
A program to boost physical activity at parks around California can help people lose weight and prevent – or control – chronic conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure.
Tighter Prescribing Rules: An Anti-Abuse Strategy That Could Hurt Patients In Pain
Responding to a national epidemic, many state Medicaid programs are making the coverage rules for these opioid-based medicines tougher so that physicians will think twice before prescribing them. But some worry that legitimate pain patients could suffer.
Trump’s Pick To Run Medicare And Medicaid Has Red State Policy Chops
Seema Verma is a consultant who was Vice President-elect Mike Pence’s health policy advisor when he was governor of Indiana, playing a key role in Medicaid expansion in that state.
Price’s Appointment Boosts GOP Plans To Overhaul Medicare And Medicaid
Privatizing the Medicare program for the elderly and disabled and turning the Medicaid program for the poor back to the states are long-time goals for Republicans in Congress and the White House.
¿Sin anticonceptivos y gastando más?, qué le espera a las mujeres con el Trumpcare
La idea de que las mujeres perderían el acceso gratuito a anticonceptivos si la ley de salud se deroga o reemplaza es sólo la punta del iceberg del problema. Hay otros beneficios para la salud de las mujeres que también están en riesgo.
Viewpoints: Finding Cures And Medical Advances; Cost Of Caring For Microcephaly
A selection of opinions on health care from around the country.
Perspectives On Obamacare: Amending? Repealing? Replacing? And Other Thoughts
Editorial and opinion writers offer different takes on what’s ahead in health policy as leaders grapple with what comes next.
Outlets report on health news from Oregon, Florida, Colorado, Massachusetts, Kansas, Maryland and California.
Boston Children’s To Partner With GE To Improve Interpretation Of Young Patient’s Brain Scans
In other hospital news, Catholic Health Initiatives is bringing an operating loss to merger talks with Dignity Health.
Scientists Shift Focus To Understanding Root Of Allergies Instead Of Treating Symptoms
The experimental treatment that may be closest to market uses desensitization to wean patients away from an allergy. In other public health news, a study finds getting flu shots while pregnant does not increase the child’s chance of being diagnosed with autism, doctors suggest behavioral therapy over drugs when it comes to insomnia, just one season of playing football affects brain health, and more.
Computer, Cell Phone Use Linked To Better Health Among Older Generation
In other news on aging, the Atlanta Journal Constitution reports on the challenges that face the 5.5 million Americans with Alzheimer’s.
How One Man’s Addiction Took Him To ‘Rock Bottom’ — And How He Dug Himself Out
For Ken DeCesare it took a bigamist second marriage he didn’t even remember before he realized he needed help.
Myriad Stokes Unfounded Fears That Competitors’ BRCA Cancer Tests Are Faulty
Myriad Genetics pioneered breast cancer testing that has saved millions of lives. And the company was reaping the rewards for nearly 20 years before it lost its patent. Now, struggling, it’s going after its competitors.
Texas Confirms Locally Transmitted Zika Case: ‘We Knew It Was Only A Matter Of Time’
No travel alert suggesting that pregnant women avoid the area will be issued now because a single case does not constitute evidence of continuing local transmission.
Hospitals Raise Concerns About GOP Proposal To Limit Federal Medicaid Spending
The health care providers say efforts to cut back federal funding would force deep cuts on hospitals and leave millions of low-income patients without access to care. Other Medicaid news comes from New Jersey, Rhode Island, Texas and North Carolina.