Latest KFF Health News Stories
Abortion Battle Takes Center Stage As N.C. Ultrasound Law Goes Into Effect
The legislation requires doctors who provide an abortion after the 16th week of pregnancy to also provide an ultrasound of the fetus to state officials, a provision that has already been implemented in Louisiana and Oklahoma. In other news, Planned Parenthood Founder Margaret Sanger’s grandson says he sees the same reproductive rights battles that his grandmother fought still playing out 100 years later.
Advocate Touts Patient Engagement As Crucial To Trials — And Drug Companies Are Listening
Engaging patients on clinical trial design can make it easier to recruit and retain participants, and it can prevent researchers from having to change the experiments once they have begun, says Bray Patrick-Lake, a patient-engagement proponent.
Drugmakers Begin 2016 With Price Increases
Vanda Pharmaceuticals and Pfizer are among the companies that exercised their pricing muscle even as criticism continues about these costs.
In State Of The Union, Obama To Abandon Sweeping Policy Proposals For Thematic Approach
Recognizing the futility of sweeping changes during a sharply partisan election year, the president will use the speech as a way to campaign for those on the ballot in 2016. “Last year, he spoke to Congress,” said Jennifer Psaki, the White House communications director. “This year, he’ll be speaking more to the American public.”
State Legislatures Brace For Medicaid Expansion Measures
In Alaska, early legislation includes a bill to curb the governor’s ability to accept the additional federal funding. Meanwhile, in Virginia, the Medicaid expansion debate is among the issues observers expect will trigger fireworks in the state capitol.
Special Enrollment Periods Drive Up Premium Costs, Insurers Say
Meanwhile, Humana reports that it is running afoul with the individual marketplaces set up by the 2010 health law.
IRS: 1.4M Households Failed To Properly Account For Subsidies From Health Law
Although the Department of Health and Human Services says it believes many of those people affected no longer have coverage through the Affordable Care Act, the complication highlights the difficulties Americans encounter with its taxes. In other health law news, the federal exchanges are falling short on getting young, healthy enrollees; the uninsured rate has ticked up; and the medical device industry is reveling in the suspension of a tax on its revenue.
Obama Vetoes Health Law Repeal, Says It Would ‘Reverse Significant Progress’
Republicans are claiming a victory, nonetheless, as they say it shows what could be possible if they take the White House in 2016.
First Edition: January 11, 2016
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Telenovelas, Spanish Website Seek To Inform Hispanics About Kidney Donations
The website Infórmate offers resources and information to help dispel cultural myths that may keep Latinos from becoming live kidney donors.
Last-Minute Deal May Resolve Dispute Over Managed Care Tax In California
The proposed compromise would avert $1 billion in budget cuts but still must be approved by a two-thirds majority in the legislature.
Viewpoints: Mixed Opinions On The GOP Repeal Vote; The Value Of A Chief Health Officer
A selection of opinions on health care from around the country.
Research Roundup: Readmission Rates At Safety Net Hospitals; Asthma Cases; Cataract Surgery
Each week, KHN compiles a selection of recently released health policy studies and briefs.
News outlets report on health care developments in Ohio, Kansas, Louisiana, North Carolina, Illinois, Colorado, California and Georgia.
Partners In Proposed Tennessee Merger Pledge $450M In Community Benefit If Deal Goes Forward
Also in Tennessee, Community Health Systems announces that its spinoff of 38 small-market hospitals into a new company will take place by the end of June, rather than its initial March target date. News outlets also report hospital news from Massachusetts, Illinois, Kansas and Florida.
Calif. Gov.’s Budget Would Raise Medi-Cal Spending, Seeks Compromise On Insurer Tax
In the $122.6 billion budget proposal, Gov. Jerry Brown offers more funds for the program that provides health coverage to low-income residents, but he says an extension of the current tax on health insurers is necessary to help pay for the program.
Poultry Companies Turn Down Bird Flu Vaccine Despite High Cost Of Outbreak
Chicken producers fear vaccinations would lead to trade bans from foreign buyers. Elsewhere, news outlets report on public health developments regarding sodium intake, a campaign to combat gun violence and employee weight loss incentives.
FTC Sends Message On Patient Data Protection With $250,000 Settlement
The Federal Trade Commission has settled with Henry Schein Practice Solutions, a company that supplies products and services to dental, medical and animal health providers, over allegations that it “falsely advertised the level of encryption it provided to protect patient data.” In other technology news, business leaders and lawmakers in Massachusetts want to create a digital health care hub.
Physicians Question ‘Voluntary’ Nature Of CDC’s New Opioid Guidelines
Comments will be accepted until Jan. 13 on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines, which were issued as a response to the nation’s growing problem with opioid overdoses. Meanwhile, a New Hampshire task force on heroin and opioid abuse has sent its recommendations to the state’s governor. A public hearing process is now slated to begin next month.
What’s Ahead For The Health Care Sector In 2016?
Bloomberg offers a series of charts to aid in understanding the market forces at work in the health industry in the year ahead. Meanwhile, a large shareholder sells off its stake in a giant hospital physician staffing company while a startup focused on cancer blood tests raises $100 million. Also, why insurers are enjoying this year’s mild winter.