Latest KFF Health News Stories
Partisan Bickering Threatens Health Law Talks As Political Ramifications Prowl In The Shadows
Lawmakers are trying to stabilize the health law marketplaces but partisan demands may bring the whole thing down during a politically charged election year. Meanwhile, a liberal group is making the argument that Congress funding the cost-sharing subsidies would actually “do more harm than good.”
Desperate, Struggling Idaho Residents Say Some Insurance Is Better Than None
Many people in Idaho have been priced out of the insurance marketplace. So for them, getting even the “junk” plans that don’t meet the health law requirements would be a step up from not being covered at all. Although the Trump administration informed the state it would penalize insurers for selling the coverage, Idaho’s Gov. Butch Otter says he views the rejection more as an invitation to figure out ways to make the state’s marketplace work.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Opinion writers focus on these health topics and others.
Research Roundup: Firearm Deaths; Premiums; And Sudden Unexpected Infant Death
Each week, KHN compiles a selection of recently released health policy studies and briefs.
Media outlets report on news from New Jersey, California, Wisconsin, Florida, Mississippi, Minnesota, Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, Arizona, Texas and Massachusetts.
Movement To Team Up Cops, Therapists In Emergency Response Teams Gaining Traction
Police departments are starting to embrace the idea of bringing an expert along to situations that involve a mental health crisis. In other public health news: malaria, the flu vaccine, lung disease in dentists, cellphones, genetic testing, clinical trials and more.
Paying for rehab for a family member affected by the opioid crisis is bankrupting families and loved ones, especially when the person has to go through multiple rounds.
‘Pharma Bro’ Martin Shkreli’s Fate On The Line As Judge Gets Ready To Hand Down Fraud Sentence
Prosecutors are asking for Martin Shkreli, who became the face of exorbitant drug costs, to get 15 years behind bars.
Amazon Has Been Slowly Poaching Employees With Drug Pricing Expertise In A Sign Of Things To Come
Experts say the level of inefficiency in the country’s current drug pipeline creates an enormous opportunity for Amazon, which has built a business empire on using technology to take time and cost out of unnecessarily clunky shopping experiences.
In Ever-Evolving Health Industry Landscape, Companies Realizing They Can’t Go It Alone Anymore
Cigna’s announcement that it will buy Express Scripts is just the latest in a flurry of mergers and acquisitions that has companies in the health care industry partnering up to survive. The proposed plan will face a antitrust merger review, though, which has brought down other deals.
President Doesn’t Seem To Have His Mind Made Up About Violent Media’s Link To Gun Violence
President Donald Trump hosted a “lively” conversation on the topic, but he reportedly seemed more on a fact-finding mission than anything else. Advocates weren’t hopeful any productive action would come from the listening session. Meanwhile, in Florida gun legislation is sitting on Gov. Rick Scott’s desk but he hasn’t indicated whether he plans to sign it.
Republicans’ Abortion Measures Are Deal Breakers For Democrats, Setting Up Spending Bill Battle
The government’s current funding expires on March 23, and Republicans are pushing provisions related to women’s reproductive health that Democrats say they won’t give in on. Meanwhile, one lawmaker wants to include a proposal to fight high drug prices in the final spending bill.
Adding Lifetime Limits To Medicaid Would Be ‘Unspeakably Cruel,’ Democrats Tell HHS Secretary
So far, five states — Maine, Arizona, Utah, Wisconsin and Kansas — have applied for waivers from the Health and Human Services Department to put a cap on how long Medicaid beneficiaries can receive health benefits. In other news, the Medicaid expansion stalemate in Virginia continues as lawmakers say they won’t be able to reach a budget deal by the scheduled conclusion of the session.
Some Areas Of Country Could See ‘Catastrophic’ Premium Increase In Next Three Years
The analysis found that the elimination of the individual mandate in 2019 will be the main driver of the spike in premiums. “The middle class will be priced out of insurance in about a third of America,” said Peter Lee, executive director of Covered California.
Administration Rejects Idaho’s Attempt To Skirt Health Law Rules, But Offers Another Path Forward
Idaho invited insurers to submit coverage plans that don’t measure up to the health law’s requirements. While CMS Administrator Seema Verma said the government has a duty to enforce and uphold the law, she also suggested that with slight modifications the coverage could be legally offered as a short-term plan.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Editorial pages highlight these health issues and others.
Longer Looks: Mental Illness And Homelessness; Death By Bacon; The End Of Mall-Walkers
Each week, KHN’s Shefali Luthra finds interesting reads from around the Web.
Media outlets report on news from Hawaii, Georgia, California, New York, Florida, Maryland and Montana.
