Latest KFF Health News Stories
100 Years After Little Brooklyn Clinic Opened Its Doors, Contraception Still In Spotlight
During the week marking 100 years of Planned Parenthood, The Washington Post looks at some statistics about Americans’ contraception use.
LGBT Community’s Classification As Health Disparity Population May Spark Much Needed Research
The National Institute of Minority Health Disparities’ classification doesn’t come with any funding itself, but it spotlights a population whose health was once considered “disposable.” In other public health news, the move toward de-prescribing, gut bacteria and allergies, and dental sealants for kids.
Primary Care Physicians Bench Themselves In Battle Over Opioid Crisis
Experts are frustrated that primary care doctors — who are in the best position to recognize, stave off or treat addiction — are sitting out the fight. The doctors, however, say they aren’t trained to handle the issue, and often refer the patients to people who are.
HHS: We Couldn’t Start Distributing Zika Funds Until We Knew How Much We Had
The Department of Health and Human Services answers questions about the delay in doling out money finally approved by Congress.
Kentucky Congressman Urges Governor To Drop Plan To Revamp Medicaid
Rep. John Yarmuth, a Democrat, says at a press conference that federal officials will not accept the plan put forward by Gov. Matt Bevin, a Republican. Also in Medicaid news, Florida looks to extend its managed care program, Centene increases its business in Missouri, Nebraska officials broker a deal with the federal government over a reimbursement controversy and Montana hospitals feel the effect of the state’s expansion efforts.
Small Increase In Social Security Checks Could Bring Higher Medicare Premiums For Some Seniors
Because the complex formula for Medicare costs holds many people harmless, about a third of higher-income beneficiaries could see a steep increase in their premiums. Also, federal auditors find Medicare spends millions on unnecessary chiropractic care.
Speculation Starts To Build Around Clinton’s Potential Choices For Top Health Jobs
Her choices for the administration positions will have their hands full immediately, if Hillary Clinton wins the White House. Meanwhile, experts criticize Donald Trump’s plan to fight the opioid crisis, and the WikiLeaks hack could raise questions about Clinton’s Medicare proposals.
The 27 Million People The Health Law Left Behind
A new analysis looks at why there are still millions of uninsured under the Affordable Care Act. In other news, the Obama administration says that steep rate increases don’t actually reflect what customers can expect to pay next year, experts are pessimistic about progress that can be made in 2017 to fix the law, top lobbyists reject the idea of a public option and more.
First Edition: October 19, 2016
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
New California Law Will More Finely Parse Health Data On Asians
Advocates hope better data will help ethnic communities.
Big Raises For Many Home Care Workers Won’t Necessarily Help Senior Citizens
A $15 minimum wage will almost double what many home care workers are paid but won’t solve other problems.
Organ Donation And The Opioid Epidemic: ‘An Unexpected Life-Saving Legacy’
So far this year, more than one in four donations in New England are from people who died after a drug overdose — a much higher rate than in the U.S. overall, though it’s not clear why.
Viewpoints: Obamacare, Narrow Networks And The Future; Health Insurance’s Zombie Marketing
A selection of opinions on health care from around the country.
Outlets report on health news from Massachusetts, California, District of Columbia, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Kansas, New Hampshire, Florida and Ohio.
Looming Threat Of Tuberculosis: U.S. Is ‘Right At The Edge Of Cliff’
A small uptick in TB cases worries experts — and they say the current levels of funding and infrastructure can’t handle an outbreak. In other public health news, calcium supplements increase women’s risk for heart disease; depression often tags along with autoimmune diseases; a look at lupus and pregnancy; and more stories.
Pepsi Announces Plan To Reduce Sugar, Fat In Its Beverages
Pepsi is one of several companies that have started to make changes to their products as consumers’ appetite for healthier products grows.
Surprise Medical Bills Can Mean Financial Ruin For Some Patients
A new study finds that, although there’s a growing awareness of the problem, some patients can be hit with bills up to 20 times more than they expected to pay.
Report: ER Has Become ‘Dumping Ground’ For Psych Patients Abandoned By Health System
Researchers found that people with mental health conditions rely more on the emergency department, are more likely to be admitted when they show up, and tend to stay longer, too.
Medicare Payment Rule May Put Doctors In Alternative Medicaid Program At Disadvantage
Most of the medical homes serving Medicaid patients will not count as an alternative pay model under the new rules. Also in Medicaid news, Arkansas officials announce 7,000 people were added to the state’s program in September.
Low Inflation May Leave High Earners With Steep Rise In Medicare Premiums
Because inflation has been low, Social Security’s annual cost-of-living adjustment for retirement benefits is widely expected to be small so most Medicare beneficiaries will not get a premium increase. That means, unless Congress intervenes, high earners will shoulder more of the cost. Also, federal officials announce encouraging results from a Medicare initiative to improve the quality of primary care, and an association of nursing homes files suit against the government over a new rule barring arbitration agreements.