Latest KFF Health News Stories
Success Of Medicaid Expansion Ballot Measures Has Advocates Eyeing Possibilities For 2020
Advocates for expansion used ballot measures in the 2018 elections to circumnavigate the Republican legislatures of three states. Now, they’re hoping to replicate that success in other states through the 2020 elections. They haven’t named their targets, but here are six states they might be eyeing: Florida, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, South Dakota and Wyoming.
First Edition: November 19, 2018
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Editorial pages focus on these health care topics and others.
Opinion pages focus on the FDA’s new regulations on vaping and plans to ban menthol cigarettes.
Media outlets report on news from Kansas, California, Ohio, New Hampshire, Texas, Florida and New Jersey.
North Carolina-Based Hospital System Atrium Health Settles Antitrust Lawsuit With Justice Department
The suit is part of a broader trend of regulators more carefully scrutinizing contracts between hospital systems and health insurers to prevent insurers from steering patients to certain health care providers. Hospital news comes out of Texas, Illinois and Massachusetts, as well.
Republican Gov. John Kasich has blocked previous heartbeat bills, saying they would almost certainly be ruled unconstitutional in the courts. Right now advocates have 58 votes in the House, but they need more than 60 to override a gubernatorial veto.
Medicare Insurance Options ‘Complicated’ For 300,000 Minnesotans Seeking New Coverage
Traditional Medicare or Medicare Advantage? As open enrollment gets under way across the nation, many Minnesota residents are especially hard pressed to decide which insurance is better for them because their current plan is being eliminated in many parts of the state. Enrollment is down compared to last year. In other news, advocates for older citizens in North Carolina are trying to help them sort through the differences.
Gonorrhea Is On The Verge Of Becoming Unstoppable By Antibiotics. But A Vaccine May Offer Hope.
Cases of gonorrhea jumped 19 percent in the U.S. last year, with similar trends noted around the world, and it’s becoming resistant to all the measures doctors use to fight it. A vaccine already on the market may offer some partial protection though. In other news: fish oil and vitamin D, heart health, genetics, gut bacterium, HIV infections and more.
Suicide Rates For American Workers Rose 34% From 2000 To 2016, CDC Report Finds
The CDC broke down the numbers into which fields were the most vulnerable for men and women. “Because many adults spend a substantial amount of their time at work, the workplace is an important but underutilized location for suicide prevention,” the authors say.
“If they have to decide if they’re going to pay their rent or the rest of our bill, they’re definitely paying their rent,” said Gerald “Ray” Callas, president of the Texas Society of Anesthesiologists. “We try to work with the patient, but on the other hand, we can’t do it for free because we still maintain a small business.”
Pharma’s Public Image Has A Bruised Eye. This Man Wants To Restore Its Reputation.
Patrick O’Connor wants his group — the Alliance to Protect Medical Innovation — to be able to shine a light on pharmaceutical companies that he contends are taking big risks and developing innovative treatments to help patients. But he’s facing a lot of skepticism. Meanwhile, cutting edge therapies are setting the health industry on fire, but their costs temper that excitement. In other pharmaceutical news: medication adherence, generics safety and more.
The Battle Quietly Brewing Over Privatization Of Veterans’ Health Care
President Donald Trump is an enthusiastic supporter of moving veterans into private care. But many experts, veterans groups and lawmakers have warned that it will cost the taxpayers a lot of money and veterans will get worse care. Meanwhile, technological failures are leaving some veterans without GI Bill money.
Beyond the current fires burning in California, doctors, scientists and public health officials are concerned that the changing face of wildfires will pose a much broader health hazard than just bothersome smoke. In other news, the death toll continues to climb from the Camp Fire, and the number of unaccounted people soars to over 600. Meanwhile, a norovirus outbreak threatens the health of those who have been evacuated, and residents gets mixed messages about mask safety.
Since the 1970s, NRA has been a big player in politics, pouring millions into lawmakers’ campaigns. But the organization may finally have a formidable foe. More news on gun violence comes out of Florida, California and Virginia, as well.
20.1 Million Fewer Americans Are Uninsured Post-Health Law, But Coverage Remains Uneven
Americans in states that expanded Medicaid coverage were more likely to have health care plans. For states that expanded coverage, the uninsured rate was 9.1 percent compared to 18.1 percent in the states that did not. Meanwhile, Democrats are planning a vote on a bill that would protect preexisting conditions.
The agency is allowing sales of flavored products in stores as long as their in an age-restricted section or areas inside stores that are not accessible to people under 18. Earlier versions of the proposal had contained a ban on the sales completely. But, in one of its most aggressive actions to date, the FDA did announce it would implement a ban on menthol products.
Calif. Gov.-elect Gavin Newsom ran in part on his support for a single-payer system in his state, but no matter how he moves forward he’s bound to anger a section of his base. His situation is emblematic of the dilemma the rest of the party faces as the 2020 campaign starts up.
In October, an additional 3,815 beneficiaries lost their coverage and joined thousands of others who have failed to report their work requirements. There are also 6,002 people with two strikes against them who are at risk for losing coverage next month.
Research Roundup: Patient Safety; Opioid Use; And Marketplace Premiums
Each week, KHN compiles a selection of recently released health policy studies and briefs.
