Latest KFF Health News Stories
Expert Panel Recommends Expansion Of Services With No Cost Sharing For Women
The list of preventive services that insurers must cover without a co-pay could grow to include mammograms for younger women, testing that follows an irregular screening and birth control for men.
Viewpoints: Ending Fee-For-Service; The Senate Should Move On Mental Health Reform
A selection of opinions on health care from around the country.
News outlets explore the federal health law’s implementation.
Thoughts On The Role Of Health Policy In The Debates, On The Campaign Trail
Opinion writers share ideas about how health policies are fitting into this year’s election.
Outlets report on health news from California, Florida, Massachusetts, Maryland and Ohio.
In Minn., Striking Nurses, Allina Return To The Bargaining Table
In other state hospital news, two Connecticut state agencies rule against a challenge by hospitals within the state to a tax’s legality. The next step will be for the hospitals to take the state to court.
News Roundup: Do Concussions Increase PTSD Risk?; Earlier Exposure To Eggs, Nuts May Help Allergies
More public health stories report about “bioidentical” hormone therapies for women, LED lighting’s impact on sleep, water fluoridation, kidney stones, lice, cryotherapy and spinal cord injuries.
New Tests May Help Doctors Pinpoint Cancer Faster With Higher Accuracy
In other oncology news, a cancer scientist is racing against his own diagnosis, experts caution against optimism over immunotherapy and more.
Patients Trying To Get Addiction Medication Run Up Against Insurer Brick Wall
“This is not the time to throw up barriers. We are struggling as it is to keep people alive,” Dr. Jeremy Engel, a family physician, says of insurers denying payment for addiction treatment. Meanwhile, media outlets offer coverage of the epidemic out of Minnesota, Texas, Ohio, Tennessee and Massachusetts.
For Obese Patients, Doctors Too Often Giving One-Size-Fits-All Answer: Lose Weight
Studies show that doctors are often not able to move beyond the patient’s weight when diagnosing a problem.
Home Care Workers Paid 10 Cents An Hour Less Than They Were A Decade Ago
However, it is among the nation’s fastest-growing occupations. In other news, one of the largest home health care agencies in the country is facing a whistleblower lawsuit alleging massive fraud.
FDA Gives The OK To Biosimilar Version Of Humira
The Food and Drug Administration’s approval of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy drug also continues to attract news headlines.
Emergency Care By Ambulance Crews Moves Away From Origins As ‘Horizontal Taxicabs’
EMS crews today are better equipped than ever for the worst kinds of emergencies.
Patient Mix-Ups Leading To Dire Consequences
“This is a huge problem that the general public isn’t aware of,” said William Marella, executive director for operations and analytics at the ECRI Institute’s Patient Safety Organization.
Texas Supreme Court Allows Medicaid To Cut Therapists Pay For Disabled Children
The legislature approved $350 million in cuts last year, but therapists had sued the state, warning the changes in pay would drive many professionals from treating the children. The court declined to hear the case. News outlets also report on Medicaid cuts in Florida and an analysis of managed care programs in Medicaid.
Experts Raise Concerns About Medicare’s Efforts To Bundle Payments In Wake Of New Study
“CMS is doubling down on bundled payments without a lot of evidence,” Dr. Chad Ellimoottil, an assistant professor at the University of Michigan who has studied alternative payment models, tells Modern Healthcare. Implementing payment reforms does not “flip a switch and all of a sudden hospitals are way more efficient.”
Democratic Senators Press Aetna CEO About Decision To Leave Marketplaces
In a second letter to Mark Bertolini, the senators question whether the insurer’s decision to pull back from many exchanges was related to the Justice Department’s decision to challenge Aetna’s planned merger with Humana. Also, Nebraska loses one of its marketplace insurers.
Dems Accuse GOP Of ‘Cynical’ Opioid-Funding Ploy In Stopgap Bill
Because the $37 million that is included in the spending bill is pro-rated, the administration will only actually get about $7 million to begin implementing a measure to curb opioid abuse during the 10 weeks that the stopgap measure would be in effect. Meanwhile, the spending fight has shifted focus from Zika to Flint.
Trump Cherry Picks Stats When Citing 60-Percent Obamacare Premium Hikes
The Washington Post fact checks one of Donald Trump’s go-to lines about the health law. In other election 2016 news, a look at the health policy experts both candidates have tapped for their transition teams and more out of the states.
First Edition: September 26, 2016
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.