Latest KFF Health News Stories
Administration Decision On Medicaid Work Requirements Expected Soon
Nine states are applying for federal waivers to impose the requirements for able-bodied adults enrolled in Medicaid. The Obama administration had refused such requests. Elsewhere, tensions are growing in Maine as the governor seeks to stop the Medicaid expansion approved by voters, frustrations with Iowa’s managed care program are raising concerns among lawmakers and budget requests for Medicaid programs in Arkansas and Alabama come in lower than expected.
Justice Department Announces It’s No Longer Taking Hands-Off Approach To Legalized Marijuana
Attorney General Jeff Sessions says he is revoking an Obama-era policy that was deferential to states’ permissive marijuana laws, but it’s not clear exactly what that means. However, the industry, which was riding a high from California legalizing recreational marijuana use, is worried.
‘Preparing For The Unthinkable’: CDC To Teach Health Professionals What To Do In Case Of Nuclear War
The agency is holding a teaching session for doctors, nurses, epidemiologists, pharmacists, veterinarians, certified health education specialists, laboratory scientists, and others to prepare them for how to act in case of a nuclear detonation.
Under Trump’s Proposed Rules, Small Businesses Could Band Together To Buy Health Plans
Republicans say that relaxing restrictions on association health plans will make coverage more affordable, but critics cite a history of fraud and abuse that has left employers and employees with hundreds of millions of dollars in unpaid medical bills.
First Edition: January 5, 2018
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
A selection of opinions on health care from news outlets around the country.
Thoughts On Curbing The Opioid Epidemic: Not All ‘Well-Intentioned’ Battle Plans Are ‘Good Ideas’
Opinion writers offer their thoughts on the current status of the nation’s attempts to address the opioid crisis and the areas in which they are watching for action.
Longer Looks: Crowdfunding Health Care; Why Humans Sleep; And Pseudoscience In Health
Each week, KHN’s Shefali Luthra finds interesting reads from around the Web.
Media outlets report on news from New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Tennessee, Florida, Texas and New Jersey.
Depending On Where You Live In Minnesota, Medical Treatments Could Cost You 8 Times As Much
An “eye-opening” study finds vast disparities in cost within just one state. But some say that the study shows only one piece of the complex puzzle behind rising health care costs in Minnesota and across the nation.
Evolving Gender Roles, Shrinking Job Opportunities Are Helping Shift More Men Into Nursing
Where there was once a stigma for men to enter the female-dominated field of nursing, the changing economical and social landscape is changing that. “This narrative that men can’t provide care in the way that women can is part of that broad cultural narrative that misunderstands what nursing’s about,” said Adam White, a nursing student.
Vast Geographical, Ethnic Disparities In Infant Mortality Continue To Plague U.S.
But a recent study found that, overall, infant mortality declined in recent years.
Lawsuit May Upend Local-First Mentality When It Comes To Organ Donations
There are vast geological disparities when it comes to availability of organs for donation, but a recent lawsuit may change that. In other public health news: sugar, nursing homes, hospitals gowns, “raw water,” dental health and meat allergies.
In Nation’s First Opioid Court, Goal Shifts From Punishing Defendants To Keeping Them Alive
Participants in the court, which recognizes failure as part of the process and not something that should be punished, are required to appear daily before Judge Craig D. Hannah. Court systems around the country are watching the Buffalo, N.Y., initiative as a potential model. Media outlets report on news from the drug crisis out of California and Tennessee as well.
ACLU Alleges In Suit That Rhode Island Medicaid Wrongly Dropped People From Rolls
The Rhode Island lawsuit centers on a Medicaid program that helps elderly and disabled enrollees pay their Medicare premiums. Elsewhere, Republican Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback names a lawyer who helped fight to block Medicaid payments to Planned Parenthood to serve as the interim head of the state agency that oversees the program.
Having Buyer’s Remorse Over Medicare Advantage Plan? You Can Still Switch Back
Medicare Advantage Disenrollment Period, which is open until Feb. 14, allows people enrolled in an Advantage plan for 2018 to switch to original Medicare. Meanwhile, in other Medicare news, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services will start reviewing Advantage networks on three-year cycles.
Trump’s Nuclear Taunt Reignites Democrats’ Chatter Over 25th Amendment, State Of His Mental Health
Last month lawmakers were briefed by a psychiatrist on the signs that might indicate President Donald Trump is having mental health issues. The president’s latest tweet on North Korea has done nothing to soothe those concerns.
‘No Significant Deterioration’ Is Expected In ACA Markets In 2018, Analysts Forecast
Since insurers have had time to adjust to “negative factors” and policy changes, analysts predict that marketplaces will remain stable for a year and maybe beyond.
Allergan To Slash Jobs In Preparation Of Generic Competition For Top-Selling Drugs
The biggest generic threat to Allergan is to its eye treatment drug Restasis. The company has taken various steps to shield Restasis from competition, notably selling its patents to an Indian tribe in New York state to avoid a U.S. Patent and Trademark Office hearing on the validity of the drug’s patents.
$850K Price Tag For Blindness Drug Makes It One Of Most Expensive In World — But There’s A Twist
In a novel arrangement, drugmaker Spark Therapeutics will offer discounts based on whether or not the drug, Luxturna, works initially and remains effective.
