Latest KFF Health News Stories
First Edition: January 23, 2018
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Opinion writers from around the country express views on health care issues.
Monday Morning Quarterbacks: Pros And Cons Of Work Requirements; What If A Doctor Won’t Help?
Editorial pages offer a variety of views on the pending debate surrounding this Medicaid policy and a range of other health care issues.
Media outlets report on news from Illinois, Kansas, Texas, Minnesota, Colorado, Florida, California, Wisconsin, Ohio, Tennessee and Connecticut.
California Lawmakers Expected To Introduce Legislation To Fortify State’s Health Exchange
“Everything they are doing at the federal level, we are doing the opposite,” said state Sen. Ed Hernandez. Meanwhile in Wisconsin, Gov. Scott Walker shifts toward the center with proposal to use money to stabilize the state’s health law marketplace.
In Rapidly Evolving Health Care Landscape, Traditional Borders Are Blurring
Hospitals’ recent decisions to start making their own drugs is just one in a long string of actions taken within the industry to break down conventional roles.
Not All Screen Time May Be Harmful To Kids, Some Experts Begin To Consider
The standard these days is to recommend children limit time in front of screens. But there’s a difference between passive exposure and active interaction. In other public health news: transgender children, Tide Pods, gene-editing, contraceptives, cancer patients and marijuana, personalized diets based on genetics, and more.
As Nasty Flu Spreads, California Reports 74 Dead So Far
The epidemic is producing rising death rates and overwhelmed emergency workers and nursing facilities. Media outlets report on news of the flu out of California, Louisiana, Georgia, Minnesota and Texas, as well.
Although the nation has been transfixed by the horrifying statistics about drug overdoses, that’s not the reality most people who are addicted to opioids are experiencing. Instead they’re caught up in a grinding, consuming and debilitating cycle of addiction.
GOP Lawmakers Waver On Governor’s Call For $10M Cut In Iowa Medicaid
Gov. Kim Reynolds says the cuts won’t reduce services, but legislators aren’t sure. In other Medicaid news, a bipartisan group of lawmakers is looking for a way to craft a deal on Medicaid expansion but Republican leaders say there isn’t enough support for such a move, Oregon voters decide tomorrow if they support a tax on hospitals and insurers to fund that state’s expansion, and hospitals in Illinois and Montana are concerned about less funding.
While Gov. Matt Bevin (R) is enthusiastic about his proposal to add work requirements to his state’s Medicaid program, residents relying on it are worried. “People need their Medicaid,” says Lakin Branham, who relies on the program to pay for drug counseling every other week. Outlets report on news about the requirements from Alabama, Ohio and Louisiana, as well.
Trump Administration Policies Have Chilling Effect On Hispanics Seeking Medical Care, Advocates Say
The trend applies to those who are in the country legally. Advocates say they fear their family and friends could be tracked through them and sent home. Meanwhile, an entire population forgoing health care will have ripple effects across the entire country, experts say.
‘We Are With You All The Way’: Trump Renews Anti-Abortion Support During March For Life
The president also delivered yet another victory to the anti-abortion movement to coincide with the march: pulling back an Obama-era policy that posed a legal roadblock to conservative states trying to cut Medicaid funds for Planned Parenthood.
Evangelicals Inside HHS Have Critics Worrying About Blurred Lines Between Church And State
The agency’s evangelical leaders have set in motion changes with short-term symbolism and long-term significance, on issues such as abortion and transgender care.
About Half Of HHS Staff To Be Furloughed As Shutdown Slips Into First Work Week
Senators failed to reach an agreement over the weekend to re-open the government before the work week started, but some lawmakers are hopeful Monday will bring compromise. Meanwhile, an administration official says that, in contrast to the official contingency plan, the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention will continue flu season monitoring.
First Edition: January 22, 2018
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Opinion writers and medical experts from around the country express views on a number of health care issues.
Research Roundup: CHIP, Medicaid And High-Needs Patients
Here is a selection of news coverage of other recent research:
Media outlets report on news from Massachusetts, Arizona, Maryland, Ohio, Texas, Oregon, Louisiana and California.
N.H. Bill Introduced To Address School Nurse Shortage By Easing Certification Requirements
Meanwhile, in the news from other capitols around the country, the California Nurses Association stormed the state house Thursday to demonstrate in support of single-payer health care and Iowa’s senate approves a measure to lighten the penalty for first-time possession of small amounts of marijuana.
