Latest KFF Health News Stories
Roundup: Late-Stage Cancer Patients Struggle With Immunotherapy Choice; The Danger Of PCBs
In other public health news, the Los Angeles Times reports on exploding e-cigarettes while The Star Tribune looks at the science behind the “runner’s high.”
Depression Among Doctors Is Rarely Discussed: Academy Of Medicine Tries To Break Taboo
Suicide among middle- and high-schoolers, a new California law expanding mental health services for low-income patients and training programs for law enforcement officers are also covered by media outlets.
When A Tragedy Saves A Life: Surge In Fatal Overdoses Is Leading To More Transplants
The opioid crisis is having a noticeable impact on organ donations, especially in hard-hit areas like New England. “Finding out that with his death someone else could benefit was such a joy,” says one mother. Meanwhile, mom-and-pop pill mills are cropping up around the country, Breaking-Bad style.
We’ve Hit Our Lifespan Ceiling As Humans, Scientists Say
A new study claims that humans’ biological limit on how long our lives can reach is 115 years.
Proposed N.Y. Rule Would Allow Medicaid To Pay For Hormone Treatments For Transgender Youths
The new policy would allow coverage of hormones that forestall puberty. Also, a look at the difficulties faced by some couples to stay together when looking for long-term care covered by Medicaid.
Hospitals Ask Feds To Slow Down Proposals To Shift Away From Fee-For-Service Payments
The Department of Health and Human Services has a goal of moving 50 percent of its Medicare payments from fee for service to instead reward quality or value through alternative payment models by the end of 2018. Other Medicare news explores the cost of a proposal to change how the government pays for drugs administered in doctors’ offices and efforts by insurers to move people “seamlessly” into Medicare Advantage plans.
$39.35 Charge For Mom To Hold Newborn Incites Outpouring Of Medical Billing Horror Stories
After a man posted the bill for his wife’s C-section online, showing a fee for “skin to skin after c-sec,” outrage spread like wildfire as it resonated with so many people who faced similar situations.
Bruised Theranos Shutters Labs To Devote Attention To Research
CEO Elizabeth Holmes announces that about 340 employees will be laid off as the company closes both its clinical labs and its blood collection centers. The company’s focus will shift to developing technology for its miniLab, a new blood-testing device.
Suit Claims UnitedHealth Used Secret System To Pocket Excessive Profits Off Prescription Drugs
The lawsuit says that one member paid a $50 co-payment for Sprintec, a contraceptive, while UnitedHealth paid the pharmacy only $11.65. The pharmacy was then required to hand the extra $38.85 over to UnitedHealth under its agreement with the insurer.
CMS: Mylan Overcharged Medicaid By Millions Despite Warnings From Feds
The company paid a 13 percent rebate rate when CMS says it should have been paying 23 percent.
States Worry About Rising Costs Of Medicaid Expansion
These budget concerns may hamper efforts to get the remaining 19 states to accept the health law’s Medicaid expansion. Also, Georgia lawmakers weigh models that would allow expansion of coverage for low-income residents but at a lower cost.
Obama Administration Set To Pick Coverage For Customers Who Lose Plans On Marketplaces
Some consumer advocates say the government assistance on choosing coverage will benefit people whose plans have exited the health law’s exchanges, but insurers worry that it could create confusion. In other health law news, Republicans on Capitol Hill are hoping to stop administration efforts to pay insurers more under a risk program to help the businesses that have been hurt by enrolling too many sick customers.
First Edition: October 6, 2016
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
A Bygone Era: When Bipartisanship Led To Health Care Transformation
A federal law enacted shortly after the end of World War II provided grants and loans to fund hospital construction that have left a lasting legacy.
Tracking Who Makes Money On A Brand-Name Drug
KHN’s Julie Appleby joined forces with USA Today to create this chart, which details the various industry players and how they contribute to a prescription drug’s cost.
Dialysis At Home? Medicare Wants More Patients To Try It
Nationwide, fewer than 10 percent of people who need kidney dialysis do it at home. But close to 40 percent of patients of a Montana doctor do it at home. Medicare is hoping it’s a trend.
Covered California resuelve lío de embarazo
Oficiales en el mercado de seguros estatal dicen que han arreglado su sistema de computación para frenar el traspaso de mujeres embarazadas de bajos ingresos al Medi-Cal sin su aprobación.
Covered California Resolves Pregnancy Snafu
Officials at the state exchange say they have fixed their computer system to stop switching some low-income pregnant women into Medi-Cal without their approval.
Viewpoints: Fixing The Health Law; Obamacare’s Unexpected Critic
A selection of opinions on health care from around the country.
Perspectives: Pharma Has Big Storm Coming Its Way In Form Of Calif.’s Prop. 61
Read recent commentaries about California’s ballot initiative and other drug-cost issues.