Latest KFF Health News Stories
Bickering In Congress Created Vacuum That Tech Billionaires Decided To Fill With Health Initiative
The idea of businesses stepping in where they see government failing is nothing new. But will the initiative from Amazon, Berkshkire Hathaway and JPMorgan actually succeed with the odds stacked against it?
Oregon VA Clinic Director Accused Of Trying To Game Ratings System Being Replaced
The Roseburg Veterans Administration Medical Center saw its ratings dramatically improve under Douglas Paxton. But doctors said that was driven largely by strategic tweaks to health care practices to boost performance measures, even when they left veterans worse off. Meanwhile, Wisconsin is setting up an alert system to locate at-risk, missing veterans.
‘Palpable Relief’ Sweeps CDC With Announcement Of Acting Director
Anne Schuchat, who has nearly three decades of experience at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, will be taking on the role again.
1.84 Percent Rate Hike Proposed For Medicare Advantage Plans In 2019
The increase in what the federal government pays the plans was near to what analysts had expected.
HHS Secretary Expected To Announce Today Work Requirement For Medicaid In Indiana
Secretary Alex Azar has announced he will be speaking about Medicaid in Indiana today. The state’s Medicaid waiver is up for renewal, and officials there have proposed adding a work requirement for non-disabled adults. News outlets also report on Medicaid developments in Iowa, Montana, Virginia and Arkansas.
‘Right-To-Try’ Bills Give Patients False Hope And Weaken FDA Safety Measures, Ethicists Argue
A group of more than 40 medical professionals sent a letter to Congress about the legislation after President Donald Trump mentioned it in his State of the Union address. Meanwhile, the inclusion of the topic in the speech gave advocates for the movement a jolt of momentum.
Few Republicans Have Appetite To Risk Another Repeal Failure In Election Year
“We sort of tested the limits of what we can do in the Senate last year. And we’re one vote down from where we were then,” said Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), the No. 3 GOP leader.
First Edition: February 2, 2018
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Opinion writers look at these healthcare issues and others.
Perspectives: Health Care Innovation Would Be Amazon’s ‘Toughest Fixer Upper To Date’
Editorial pages focus on the initiative to hold down employee health care costs put forth this week from Amazon, JP Morgan Inc. and Berkshire Hathaway.
Longer Looks: ER Bills; The Great Society; Amazon’s New Venture
Each week, KHN’s Shefali Luthra finds interesting reads from around the Web.
Media outlets report on news from Massachusetts, Texas, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa and California.
About 15 Percent Of Americans Still Smoke — A Look At Who They Are
When looking at smoking rates among different populations massive disparities emerge. In other public health news: birth defects, anxiety, brain damage, migraines, heart health and more.
Standing Desks Are Trendy, But Do They Really Help You Lose Weight? Not So Much.
Researchers found that standing as opposed to sitting burns a whopping 54 extra calories for a six-hour day. However, studies do show that people who have standing desks tend to move more during the day, which wasn’t accounted for in the study.
Life-Saving Cancer Treatments Can Also Cause Heart Failure For Women, Heart Association Warns
The American Heart Association is not advising against seeking cancer treatments, but wants doctors to be aware and take steps to prepare for those possible side effects.
Flu’s Severity Forces Emergency Rooms, Urgent Care Centers To Expand Treatment Areas
Because the number of patients has skyrocketed across the U.S., hospitals are revamping procedures: setting up second emergency rooms, postponing elective surgeries and turning away visitors. Meanwhile, Georgia reports its first pediatric fatality from this season’s flu.
21 Million Painkillers For A Town Of 3,200: What Was Going On?
The House Energy and Commerce Committee in part of an investigation into drug companies’ role in the opioid epidemic noted that between 2006 and 2016, drug distributors shipped large quantities of hydrocodone and oxycodone to two pharmacies in tiny Williamson, West Virginia.
“Little things add up,” said Susie Dade, the author of a new report looking at unnecessary medical care. “It’s easy for a single doctor and patient to say, ‘Why not do this test? What difference does it make?’”
Medicare Directories Have Lots Of Errors, But Where The Blame Should Fall Isn’t Quite Clear Cut
Data accuracy depends on both doctors and health plans, an AHIP official said. Medicare Advantage plans depend on doctors to submit accurate and up-to-date information. Will a new review help?
Molina Sues N.M. After Being Dropped From Medicaid Managed Care Program
Molina, which provides managed care to about 225,000 Medicaid recipients in the state, was one of two companies currently in the program to be cut out of the new contract. Also in the news, Democrats in New Mexico are pushing a plan to allow uninsured people to buy Medicaid coverage, Oregon may soon face new questions about funding its Medicaid expansion and Ohio Medicaid officials fund programs to end infant mortality in Cuyahoga County.
