Latest KFF Health News Stories
U.S. Government Recovers Millions In Funds From States Where Exchanges Faltered
The Wall Street Journal reports that more than $200 million has been recouped, and officials hope to collect more of the original grant funding. Meanwhile, an analysis by the Kaiser Family Foundation finds that consumers who don’t buy health insurance in 2016 will face bigger tax penalties. Also, the Congressional Budget Office predicts the health law will likely have an impact on the American workforce.
State Obamacare Exchanges ‘Sustainable’ Without Federal Aid, Official Tells Congress
But CMS Acting Administrator Andy Slavitt declines to predict fate of the 13 remaining state exchanges in congressional testimony.
Uninsured People Eligible For Obamacare Face Average $969 Penalty In 2016
Average penalties are set to rise 47 percent next year for Americans who can afford insurance but choose to remain uncovered, according to a Kaiser Family Foundation analysis.
Drug Cocktails Fuel Massachusetts’ Overdose Crisis
A state analysis reveals that the majority of overdose deaths in 2014 came from heroin or prescription opioids taken in combination with cocaine, anti-anxiety medications or alcohol.
Medical Training So Dark Many Students Depict Supervisors As Monsters – Literally
Studies find many medical students and residents often are so traumatized by training experiences they test positive for depression.
Viewpoints: GOP Putting Repeal Plan In Place For 2017; Gun Violence And Public Health
A selection of opinions on health care from around the country.
News outlets report on health care developments in Connecticut, Washington, Idaho, California, Texas, Minnesota and Puerto Rico.
Minnesota Home Health Providers Can Unionize, 8th Circuit Court Rules
Elsewhere, a federal appeals panel rejects a lawsuit filed by a Pennsylvania hospital against Medicare’s payment structure for skilled nurses. And the U.S. Supreme Court will hear a case on whether providers who bill Medicaid imply they are following program requirements such as licensing and supervising staff.
Report: Three Years After Sandy Hook, A Number Of States Cut Mental Health Funds
The report, issued by the National Alliance on Mental Illness, found that 23 states have increased money for mental health services in 2015 while the others decreased or kept funding level. Connecticut, the site of the school shooting, is among the states that have increased resources.
Linde To Purchase American HomePatient Inc.
American HomePatient, a company that specializes in respiratory health care and had sales of $280 million last year, has faced financial pressure because of government budget cuts. Also in the news, SAP showcases its software for doctor data sharing.
State Policies Sometimes Dissuade Doctors From Reporting Drug-Endangered Babies
Reuters reports that some state laws, which were designed to protect drug-dependent babies, put the mother in legal trouble, leading some doctors to avoid certain referrals. In a separate story, Reuters reports on patterns in which these at-risk babies, once released from the hospital, have a greater risk of mortality.
HHS Official: Only Three Cents Of Each Health Care Dollar Goes To Public Health Activities
Even so, physician Karen DeSalvo, acting assistant secretary of health at the Department of Health and Human Services, said this investment plays a big role in keeping Americans healthy. Meanwhile, news outlets report on a range of public health issues, including the Alzheimer’s risk of some prostate-cancer drugs, the rising incidence of the “phantom menace” superbug and HIV infection rates.
Jon Stewart Returns To ‘Daily Show’ To Urge Congress To Extend 9/11 Health Benefits
The Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act, which expired last year, provides health care funding and compensation for first responders. The program has enough funding to last another year, and its backers are seeking a permanent extension.
Speculation Increases That Congress Might Miss Friday Budget Deadline
Policy riders appear to be the stumbling block. Some leaders are suggesting a stop-gap measure may be necessary to avert a government shutdown, but the White House spokesman said the president would not sign a short-term bill unless an outline for a deal had already been reached.
In Some Red States That Expanded Medicaid, Focus Shifts To Details Of Federal Waivers
These waivers allow states to create a Medicaid expansion that fits their political outlooks. Also, news outlets examine Medicaid expansion news in Kentucky, Ohio, Louisiana and Idaho.
HHS Says It Won’t Allow Extension This Year For People Who Miss 2016 Enrollment Period
The administration offered uninsured consumers a reprieve if they missed the 2015 enrollment deadline, but officials said that wouldn’t be repeated this year. Also in health law news, a new government survey looks at the effect of medical bills on consumers, HHS Secretary Sylvia Mathews Burwell’s mission for the rest of her term and an insurance executive’s views of the changing market landscape.
Kansas Finds Way To Increase Federal Medicaid Dollars Despite Aversion To Expansion
Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback, who faced a serious state deficit after cutting state taxes, tripled the tax on managed care companies and used that extra revenue to draw down more federal Medicaid funds and help stabilize his budget. In Iowa, state officials are working to overcome concerns about a shift to managed care in the Medicaid program.
Mom Left Me Money, But Does Uncle Sam Get It As Repayment For My Subsidy?
KHN’s consumer columnist answers questions about the effects a change of income can have on an individual’s subsidy for insurance premiums and dental care for Medicare beneficiaries.
Add This To Challenges Of Old Age: Keeping Your Teeth
Many seniors either resist or can’t afford regular dental care, putting them at high risk of gum disease, tooth loss and other serious health complications.