Latest KFF Health News Stories
Allergan Acquisition Would Vault Pfizer To Top Drug Maker Spot
As the trend toward mega-mergers continues in the health care sector, Pfizer and Allergan confirmed that the two companies are in talks to create a drug giant. In related news, a former executive at an Allergan unit was charged with conspiring to pay kickbacks to doctors.
Groups Eye Obamacare Enrollment As Voter Registration Opportunity
Voting rights groups are urging the Obama administration to make sure this opportunity is available in states that rely on the federal exchange to sign people up for health care.
HHS To Launch National Ad Campaign Encouraging Health Plan Enrollment
The advertisements will stress that affordable options are available on the health law’s marketplace plans. Also, news outlets look at other strategies to get the long-time uninsured to sign up for coverage and explore why consumers are hesitant.
With Committee Hearing, Senators Focus Attention On Mental Health
The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee heard expert testimony regarding pending legislation to reform the nation’s mental health system, as well as a bottom-line message that much more must be done in order to apply research gains to treatment.
Paul Ryan Takes The Speaker’s Gavel — But Will He Be Able To Advance His Policy Agenda?
News outlets analyze how the new speaker, who previously chaired the House Budget and Ways and Means committees, might use this position to advance policies that he has promoted in the past, including overhauling Medicare and changing the federal health law.
Senate Approves Budget Deal To Avert Default Risk, Sends Measure To Obama
In the wee hours of Friday morning, the Senate approved the bill 64 to 35.
With Open Season About To Begin, Minnesota Exchange Officials Expect Busy Season
News outlets also cover insurance cost news from Ohio and Indiana as well as uninsured rates for kids in Virginia and Georgia.
Breaking Down Medicare, Social Security Positions At Republican Debate
Also, McClatchy takes a closer look at candidate Ben Carson’s short-on-details proposal for overhauling the health care system.
First Edition: October 30, 2015
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Exchanges Face Sign-Up Challenges As Health Law’s 3rd Open Enrollment Begins
After millions of people signed up for Obamacare over the past two years, the ones still lacking insurance may be harder to both find and persuade to enroll.
Costs May Keep Low-Income Patients From Clinical Trials, Study Finds
Insurance generally covers routine costs patients encounter in a clinical trial, but the patients can still be responsible for co-payments and other expenses, such as lost wages and travel.
Feds Issue Proposed Rule On Health Information Collected By Workplace Wellness Programs
This proposal allows these workplace wellness programs to set financial incentives for participation as high as 30 percent of the cost of family coverage. A separate draft rule pegs this amount to the cost of employee-only coverage.
Viewpoints: Budget Deal Averts Crisis But Doesn’t Advance GOP Goals; Fatal Flaws In Co-Ops
A selection of opinions on health care from around the country.
Longer Looks: Nursing Shift Changes, Electronic Health Records, Red Meat And Cancer
Each week, KHN’s Shefali Luthra finds interesting reads from around the Web.
News outlets report on health issues in Texas, California, Florida, Ohio, New York and Alabama.
Army Settles With VA Hospital Whistleblower
The infection control analyst was punished for reporting dangerous safety conditions at Womack Army Medical Center in North Carolina. Elsewhere, a study is released showing a potential impact if a South Dakota VA medical center is shuttered.
Anthem 3Q Profits Beat Estimates As Insurance Enrollment Increases
In the meantime, HealthSouth’s third-quarter report was not as positive as the company missed earnings forecasts and cut its overall 2015 outlook. And in other marketplace news, UnitedHealthcare expands a high-profile test of whether bundled chemotherapy payments can help slow rising cancer treatment costs.
Walgreens Profits, Sales Up As Attention Focuses On Pending Acquisition Of Rite Aid
However, scrutiny is already emerging regarding antitrust issues related to the deal, which would unite two of the nation’s three biggest drug store chains. News outlets also examine how the Walgreens purchase of Rite Aid might impact consumers.
Medicaid Expansion May Help Increase Health Services For Native Americans
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services is proposing fully funding medical services that are not always available at tribal health care facilities in some states. Meanwhile, news outlets report on state Medicaid developments in Montana, Nebraska, Arkansas and Texas.
Utah Insurer Joins The Quickly Growing List Of Collapsing Health Co-Ops
As Utah’s Arches Health Plan announces plans to close, it becomes the tenth of 23 nonprofit insurance cooperatives created under the 2010 health law to shut down. Marketplace reports on how the remaining “financially fragile” co-ops might survive.