Latest KFF Health News Stories
The “risk corridor” program was the financial carrot to get insurers to participate in the marketplaces. But Republicans stripped most of the money from the program in 2014. Now insurers say the government owes them $12 billion. “At its core, this isn’t really a case about health policy,” said Christen Linke Young, a fellow at the Brookings Institution. “It’s a case about whether or not the government keeps its word.”
CMS Administrator Seema Verma filed a claim with the government after $47,000 worth of jewelry and other property was stolen during a work trip. According to White House aides, President Donald Trump is standing by Verma, despite the fact that she’s embroiled in another controversy over spending millions on communications contracts as well as an increasingly hostile and public feud with HHS Secretary Alex Azar. Meanwhile, HHS says it was “perfectly appropriate” for Verma to file the claim.
Efforts to address surprise medical bills had stalled until a bipartisan agreement emerged over this past weekend. The White House praised lawmakers’ “delicate work” to reach a deal, which is a compromise between two other strategies for dealing with the costs. But even with the White House’s support, question marks remain about whether the deal can be pushed through both chambers and sent to President Donald Trump by the end of the year.
First Edition: December 10, 2019
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Editorial pages focus on these health care cost issues and others.
Opinion writers weigh in on these health issues and others.
The Unity Center in Portland initially wanted the man arrested for trespassing because he wouldn’t leave. Disability advocates praised police for pushing back because they said the man was clearly having a mental health crisis. News on hospitals is from Minnesota, Massachusetts and New Hampshire as well.
Making Stringed Musical Instruments Helps People In Recovery In Area Hard Hit By Opioid Crisis
The Culture of Recovery program is helping the town of Hindman, Ky., rebuild its identity on the backbone of its musical heritage. News on the epidemic is also on the rise of kratom abuse.
Media outlets report on news from California, Missouri, Louisiana, Florida, Texas, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Georgia, Illinois, Connecticut, Maryland and Alaska.
Experts say law-enforcement authorities need to do a better job assessing all offenders to determine their risk of repeating. “It’s not as simple as saying don’t drink and then drive. These are people who have underlying issues we need to get to,” said traffic-safety consultant Pam Fischer. In other public health news: a miraculous story about the heart’s resilience, new dementia therapies, a testicle transplant, the responsibility of psychotherapists and porn-consumption, the cops’ use of lie-detecting software, and more.
VA Opens Institute To Pursue Research On Artificial Intelligence
As a national health system, the VA has amassed a significant amount of data—possibly giving it a leg up because lack of trustworthy and accessible data has traditionally been one of the major roadblocks to AI development. In other health technology news: a website helps patients with rare diseases find more information about them.
The NIH requires disclosures of “significant” financial conflicts but has never released the database to an outside party before.
Repealing Unpopular Cadillac Tax Is ‘On The Table’ For Dems During Funding Deal Negotiations
Meanwhile, more than 1,000 employers, insurers, unions and other groups are urging lawmakers to kill the unpopular provision, which sets up a tax on expensive employer-sponsored health plans.
Experts ‘Cautiously Optimistic’ That Vaping Illnesses Are Trending Downward Nationwide
While no single product or substance has been associated with all of the cases, the majority are linked to THC-containing products. An investigation in Massachusetts connected six patients with products from state-licensed dispensaries, but officials later conceded that the consumers may have used illicit products as well.
The Republicans’ bill would enact a $3,100 cap on out-of-pocket drug expenditures for Medicare beneficiaries and add monthly caps as well. The proposals are identical to ones that are in the Senate’s version of the legislation. In other pharmaceutical news: how to pay for expensive sickle cell treatments; FDA’s approval speed generates alarm; the government investigates possible carcinogens in diabetes drug; lawmakers urge HHS to probe patient assistance programs; and more.
Controversy Over Practice Of Indefinitely Detaining Immigrants Hasn’t Dissuaded Trump
The Trump administration wants to expand the system of facilities where migrant families can be incarcerated for months or longer, despite the fact that numerous health experts have warned that detaining children for such lengths of time, even with their parents, can cause permanent psychological damage. In other news on the immigration crisis: accusations surround a death of a teen in U.S. custody; a suit against immigration pilot programs, and a ruling on the “public charge” rule.
The government ultimately reimbursed CMS Administrator Seema Verma $2,852.40 for her claim. HHS has a longstanding policy of paying for certain goods when they are lost during a work trip, so long as they “are not inherently for other uses.” Meanwhile, tensions between Verma and HHS Secretary Alex Azar have reportedly escalated to a point that an outside counsel was brought in to investigation allegations of sex discrimination.
And Medicare officials hinted Friday that they would be amenable to providing a window for beneficiaries who are worried about their plans. Other news on Medicare focuses on: prescription drug prices, hospital and hospice payments, and increasing costs.
In Iowa, Warren Trying To Pivot Away From ‘Medicare For All’ Back To Core Anti-Corruption Message
“Medicare for All” has tripped Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) up in recent weeks. Now in Iowa, Warren is treading lightly on the issue. Meanwhile, black voters support a single-payer system more than any other group, but they still support former Vice President Joe Biden over the more progressive candidates.
Tackling surprise medical bills was touted as an issue that might actually make it through the severely divided Congress, but then talks broke down earlier in the year when it came time to choose a strategy to move forward with. Now a proposal from key House and Senate leaders, built on the idea of a dispute resolution system, could be gaining traction.
