Latest KFF Health News Stories
Candidates Decry High Drug Prices, But They Have Few Options For Voters
Drug prices rise for a variety of reasons but opportunities for the government to control them is limited.
Viewpoints: Birth Control And The Court; Hill Bickering On Zika; Trump’s New Entitlement
A selection of opinions on health care from around the country.
Commentary On Candidates’ Health: ‘Powering Through’ Illness; Concerns On Trump’s Weight
Opinion writers examine some of the issues revolving around Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump’s health.
Perspectives On Health Reform: How Will The Election Affect The Path Ahead?
Commentators analyze how the election could affect the politics around the health law and possible changes.
Longer Looks: Catching Zika Mosquitoes, Climbing Drug Prices And Treating Sugar Like A Drug
Each week, KHN’s Shefali Luthra finds interesting reads from around the Web.
Outlets report on health news from Delaware, Indiana, Kentucky, Utah, Tennessee, Maryland, Massachusetts, Illinois, Georgia, California, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Ohio.
Iowa Supreme Court Asked To Review Governor’s Veto That Closed Two Mental Health Institutions
Meanwhile, Boston-area health centers get funding to improve children’s access to mental health services. In Ohio, drug treatment rules are debated. And Washington state’s largest psychiatric hospital is faulted for mistakes and lax security in a new report, following the escape of two violent patients.
Hospitals and medical centers in Texas, California, Illinois, Washington and Minnesota are in the news.
Allina Brings In Traveling Nurses During Strike
Meanwhile, the striking nurses highlighted some aspects of the hospital’s financial strategies.
State Officials Seek Feds’ OK To Expand Covered California To People In The Country Illegally
California will be the first state to seek federal permission to allow these immigrants to buy health insurance through the state-based exchange.
Positive Drug Tests Among U.S. Workers Reach Highest Level In A Decade
In related news, as the opioid abuse epidemic continues, law enforcement officers are increasingly facing challenges in protecting themselves from exposure to lethal substances.
Prostate Cancer Study Offers Insights Regarding Value Of Treatments
Researchers hailed findings that indicate the survival rate for early-stage prostate cancer is 99 percent after 10 years, regardless of whether men opted for surgery, radiation or were actively monitoring their conditions.
The Uphill Battle Of Fighting Zika: Americans Just Aren’t Worried Enough
A recent survey showed that two-thirds of Americans were “not too” worried or “not at all” worried about the disease. And without proper funding, public education becomes a crucial element to battling Zika. If people don’t care, though, that leaves officials at a loss. Meanwhile, a new poll shows that there are shifting views on late-term abortions now that the virus is spreading.
While Clinton Reveals More Details On Pneumonia, Trump Admits He’s Overweight
The campaign’s spotlight has shifted toward the candidates’ health in recent days, but the underlying concern has more to do with transparency issues.
Capitalizing On Renewed Interest From Clinton, Senators Launch Public Option Effort
The resolution to focus on building out a public option — introduced by Sens. Jeff Merkley, Chuck Schumer, Patty Murray, Dick Durbin and Bernie Sanders — follows several tumultuous months for the exchanges.
Those Drugmaker Coupons Cut Costs In The Short-Term, But Are Actually Driving Up Prices
The Associated Press breaks down the pros and cons of the coupons, which are facing increased scrutiny because of the EpiPen controversy. Meanwhile, Allergan strengthens its skin-care pipeline by acquiring Vitae.
EpiPen-Maker’s CEO To Face Congressional Fire At Hearing On Price Gouging
Chief Executive Heather Bresch will testify in front of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee next week. Meanwhile, senators plan to introduce a bill requiring drugmakers to give a 30-day notice and justification of any prescription drug price increase of more than 10 percent.
HHS Unlikely To Approve Changes To Kentucky’s Expanded Medicaid Program
Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin has sought a waiver to reshape the program put in place by former Gov. Steve Beshear. In other news, a federal report criticizes South Dakota’s efforts to fight Medicaid fraud, and a federal appeals court finds that some Medicaid patients who sued over the Arizona plan should be able to recover attorneys’ fees.
Lawmakers Voice Concerns About 2017 Premiums And Overall Performance Of Health Law
Republicans criticize insurer participation and co-op closures at a hearing of two House Energy and Commerce subcommittees while acting CMS Administrator Andy Slavitt defends the law. In other ACA news, Centene files to sell plans in two Arizona counties next year, Sen. Lamar Alexander introduces a bill to extend subsidies to some private plans and the Obama administration and insurers discuss payments.
Survey Of Employers Finds Modest Rise In 2015 Health Premiums, But Deductibles Soared
The Kaiser Family Foundation analysis finds that premiums for health insurance family plans offered through a workplace grew about 3 percent. Yet that was partly the result of employers shifting costs to workers through increased deductibles, which have grown nearly six times as fast as wages.