Latest KFF Health News Stories
‘Every Day Was An Ethical Challenge’: How Guantanamo’s Psychiatrists Cared For The Enemy
The New York Times offers a look at the mental health teams that worked at Guantanamo Bay.
2016 Version Of Washington’s Quadrennial Guessing Game: Who Will Run HHS?
Stat takes a look at some of the people whose names are being mentioned for secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services and Modern Healthcare reports on the transition team.
Trump Stands Firm On Goal Of Overturning Roe V. Wade
Although Donald Trump walked back other campaign promises in an interview Sunday, he reiterated that abortion rights decision should be left to the states. When asked what that would mean for women in states that make abortion illegal, he said, ““Well, they’ll perhaps have to go — they’ll have to go to another state.” Meanwhile, language allowing health care workers to be exempt from performing services that violate their beliefs crops up on Trump’s transition website.
Ryan Signals Plans To Alter Medicare As Part Of Efforts To Overhaul Health Law
The Republican speaker of the House, who has advocated for an overhaul of Medicare in the past, says health insurance program for the nation’s elderly has “serious problems” that are related to the Affordable Care Act, and he thinks they must be addressed during the GOP’s efforts to repeal the Affordable Care Act. But his comments earn four Pinocchios from The Washington Post fact checker.
California Keeping Health Law Anyway ‘Probably Out Of The Realm Of Possibility’
If the federal health law is repealed or dismantled, the $20 billion California receives in assistance would dry up, making it nearly impossible for the state to keep its version of the exchanges.
The GOP Infighting Begins As Dream Of ‘Repeal And Replace’ Comes Closer To Reality
Some Republicans want to dismantle the health law the minute Donald Trump is sworn into office, while others say it would be unwise to uproot the legislation that quickly.
Trump Open To Preserving Most Popular Parts Of Health Law
Donald Trump says the ban on insurers denying coverage to people who are sick and the provision allowing young adults to stay on their parents coverage are “the strongest assets” of the Affordable Care Act.
First Edition: November 14, 2016
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Community Paramedics Work To Link Patients With Mental Health Care
Training these first responders to identify people who are suffering from mental illness and connect them with treatment other than the emergency room could be part of the solution to gaps in the nation’s mental health system.
Abortion By Mail Delivers Promise For Better Access But Political Questions Remain
The experiment — involving 50 women in Hawaii, Oregon, New York and Washington — breaks ground by letting women get an abortion without visiting a clinic.
Study: Many Caregivers Spend $7K Annually Out Of Pocket
Caregivers often pay some housing, medical, transportation and other living expenses for those they help, an AARP survey finds.
Republicans Likely To ‘Give Themselves Time’ To Set Health Law Replacement
KHN’s Julie Rovner joins a panel on ‘NewsHour’ to talk about how the new Trump administration and congressional Republicans might seek to repeal and replace the federal health law.
Viewpoints: Repealing Obamacare Is The Easy Part; How Consumers Fare In Merger Trials
A selection of opinions and editorials from around the country.
Research Roundup: ACOs And Non-Medical Needs; Library Health; Retail Clinics And ERs
Each week, KHN compiles a selection of recently released health policy studies and briefs.
Outlets report on health news from Michigan, Kansas, Georgia, Pennsylvania, New York, Minnesota and Florida.
Higher Tobacco Taxes Make A Dent In Smoking Rates
A further drop in the number of smokers is expected with California’s new $2-a-pack tax. In other cancer-related news, immunotherapy is making some progress against lung cancer, Vietnam veterans fight to raise awareness about the connection of a rare form of cancer to military service and a patient advocate group works to reduce chemotherapy errors.
Misconceptions About Methadone Undermine Opioid Treatment Efforts
Despite research that proves how effective methadone can be in treating addiction, there are still some who believe using it amounts to “trading one addiction for another.”
Suicide Hotlines Fielded Unprecedented Volume Of Calls On Election Night
“This was an extraordinary year by any stretch of the imagination,” says National Suicide Prevention Lifeline Director John Draper.
Medicare Sets Modest Part B Premium Increases For 2017
Federal officials say they will tap reserves to help keep beneficiaries’ costs down.
HHS Watchdog Sharpens Its Focus On Drug-Pricing Issues
Also, California Healthline explores how election results will change state and federal responses to controlling the price of prescription drugs.