Latest KFF Health News Stories
Hospitals, Health Systems Announce Sales, New Joint Ventures
Louisville-based Kindred Healthcare announced it will sell 12 long-term acute care hospitals, while LHC Group, a Louisiana company, announced a joint venture with two of Northern Arizona Healthcare’s home health agencies and a hospice. Changes are also afoot in Minnesota and Ohio.
N.Y. Attorney General Probes Sale Of Manhattan Nursing Home
The nonprofit health center for AIDS patients has been sold to a luxury condominium developer.
Florida Settles Lawsuit And Agrees To Improve Medicaid Services For Children
Under terms of the agreement, the state will raise its reimbursements to doctors in an effort to get more providers to see Medicaid patients and will set benchmarks for preventive and dental treatment. The settlement ends an 11-year class action lawsuit.
Increasing Number Of HIV Patients Over Age Of 50 Is Shifting Concerns About Care
People who are older when the disease is diagnosed tend to be sicker. Also in public health developments, news reports today focus on electroconvulsive therapy for depression and regulations for restaurant calorie counts.
Calif. Legislator Proposes Allowing Supervised Facilities For Drug Users
The proposal, similar to ordinances being considered in a number of cities, is aimed at helping cut down the number of overdoses.
Calif. Agents Search Home Of Man Behind Planned Parenthood Videos
David Daleiden says the investigators took all of his video footage and other personal information. State Attorney General Kamala Harris could not comment on an ongoing investigation, but had previously announced that she would look into whether Daleiden broke any laws with his sting operation, which has also led to an indictment in Texas. Meanwhile, the National Abortion Federation has attributed a surge in violence and threats directed at abortion clinics to the videos.
Survey: Medical Students Believe African-Americans Feel Less Pain
The University of Virginia survey found there’s an implicit racial bias in how students and medical professionals treat pain.
‘Mother Of COBRA’ Helps Push Administration’s Financial-Advice Rule
Phyllis Borzi, who drafted large portions of the law that helps workers who lose their jobs keep their health insurance, says that experience helped make her sensitive to the problems many consumers face when looking at retirement savings.
From Cost Of Visit To Staff Compassion, Yelp Hospital Ratings Go Beyond ‘Gold Standard’ Survey
Yelp reviewers offer information on 12 criteria not used by Medicare in assessing hospitals. Meanwhile, in information security news, MedStar hackers took advantage of a system flaw that hospitals had been warned about since 2007 while attacks on three California hospitals expose additional vulnerabilities.
In Special Session, Ark. Lawmakers Weigh Modifications To Medicaid Expansion
The governor has called the legislature into session today to consider his plan to revamp the program Arkansas set up under the federal health law to expand health coverage for low-income residents. Also, in New Hampshire, the governor has signed legislation extending the Medicaid expansion program.
Election-Year Dynamics Could Derail Mental Health Reform Legislation
Meanwhile, a Senate panel faces a deadline for its medical innovation bill.
White House Plans To Use Ebola Funds To Help Fight Zika
Officials say the administration will transfer much of the $600 million to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. President Barack Obama had asked for about $1.9 billion to combat the virus, but Congress stalled on the request saying the country should use up the leftover funding for Ebola.
Cruz, Sanders Win Big In Wisconsin
Republican front-runner Donald Trump had stumbled in recent days over comments he made about women and abortion.
FDA Approves Knockoff Version Of Johnson & Johnson’s Remicade
Although the Food and Drug Administration is making a concerted effort to send more biosimilars to market, Inflectra is only the second biosimilar drug to make it on the somewhat bumpy path.
Pfizer-Allergan Deal Off Following New Tax Regulations Targeting Inversions
The decision is a win for the Obama administration, which on Monday introduced the initiatives in an effort to foil companies’ plans to shed their U.S. corporate citizenship for a lower tax bill.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Opioid Epidemic Spurs Rethink On Medication And Addiction
Some say the usual methods — abstinence and therapy — may not be enough.
A selection of opinions from around the country.
News outlets report on health issues in Washington, D.C., Connecticut and Ohio.
In other hospital-related news, Marketplace reports how the future look of health care facilities is changing. News outlets report on other hospital developments in Tennessee, D.C., Texas, Kansas and North Carolina.