Latest KFF Health News Stories
Are Medicare ACOs Working? Experts Disagree
Federal officials reported recently that in 2014 the accountable care organizations saved $411 million, but after the program paid bonuses to the successful groups, Medicare recorded a net loss of $2.6 million. So KHN asked a panel of experts to offer their views about the program.
Suing A Nursing Home Could Get Easier Under Proposed Federal Rules
Many families must sign a binding arbitration agreement when a loved one is admitted to a nursing home, pledging not to sue if something goes wrong. Proposed rules would ban that requirement.
Viewpoints: Cynical Surprise At Co-Ops’ Problems; Bernie Sanders On His Health Plan
A selection of opinions on health care from around the country.
News outlets report on health issues in Georgia, Illinois, Connecticut, Nevada, California, North Carolina, Wyoming, Michigan, Ohio and Iowa.
Michigan Lawmakers Seek To Ease Nursing Home Woes With Bills
The bills would address staff shortages, establish nurse-to-patient ratios and prohibit mandatory overtime. Elsewhere, new federal rules could make it easier to sue nursing homes, and the home health industry in Georgia faces its own nurse shortage woes.
Detroit’s Last Remaining Independent Hospital Is Still Open — Barely
Doctors’ Hospital in Pontiac, Mich., nearly closed last month but could be moving toward new private ownership. Meanwhile, news outlets report on other hospital developments in Florida, Georgia and Illinois.
News outlets report on other state-level Medicaid news from Arkansas and North Carolina.
News outlets report on the continuing funding battles related to Planned Parenthood and the Medicaid program.
Landmark Study Finds Talk Therapy Eases Schizophrenia
The chances of easing the symptoms of the mental health disorder increase dramatically when talk therapy and small doses of antipsychotic medicines are used in tandem, a study finds.
Republicans Start Work To Increase Debt Limit, Find New Speaker
And Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., is said to be more open to running for speaker of the House. In the meantime, a Nebraska senator is blocking two Department of Health and Human Services nominees over troubles faced by the health-law-created insurers known as co-ops.
Drug Testing Lab Millennium Health To Settle Federal Suit For $256M
The government alleged that the largest U.S. lab-testing company charged Medicare for unnecessary tests and provided gifts to doctors in exchange for referrals. Millennium Health is expected to file for bankruptcy by Nov. 10 as part of a corporate restructuring.
Study Finds Prices Rise When Hospitals Acquire Doctors’ Practices
The research in JAMA Internal Medicine reports that patient prices go up an average of $75 when small doctor practices join hospitals.
Drugmakers Push Specialty Pharmacies To Encourage Prescriptions Of High-Priced Drugs
The specialty pharmacies affiliated with a drug company can relieve physicians of having to deal with insurance issues and therefore make them more willing to prescribe the drugs. In related news, pharmaceutical companies like AbbVie and Sanofi are paying large sums for Food and Drug Administration “priority review vouchers” to help speed new products to market.
Aetna, Humana Shareholders OK Proposed Merger
The deal, however, still faces hurdles, including scrutiny by federal antitrust authorities.
Money Short, Colorado Health Insurance Cooperative To Shut Down
The move to begin ceasing operations comes after an unsuccessful eleventh-hour appeal to get permission to sell 2016 insurance policies. The Colorado Division of Insurance says the insurer doesn’t meet the state’s capital reserve requirements.
Bugs In Healthcare.gov Upgrades Still Being Fixed; Some Features May Be Delayed
With open enrollment two weeks away, federal officials race to finalize improvements to the government’s health insurance website. Meanwhile, many employers are reporting that few of their low-income employees are taking advantage of offered health insurance, due primarily to cost.
Judge Turns Down Administration’s Request For Appeal On House GOP Lawsuit
Federal Judge Rosemary M. Collyer denies the request in a case hinging on whether the House is allowed to sue the administration. The House brought the lawsuit after the government set up health insurance subsidies that Republicans said were not authorized by Congress.
First Edition: October 20, 2015
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
The North Carolina Experiment: How One State Is Trying To Reshape Medicaid
With legislation that passed last month, North Carolina is trying to build a hybrid managed care, accountable care model – with doctors, hospitals and insurance companies all sharing some risk. Advocates worry it could eclipse gains made by Medicaid in the state in the past.
For Former Foster Kids, Moving Out Of State Can Mean Losing Medicaid
Youths who have aged out of the foster care system can lose their Medicaid eligibility when they move to another state. Advocates and some members of Congress want to fix that.