Latest KFF Health News Stories
Premature Birth Rate Increases For Second Straight Year In U.S.
The annual March of Dimes report finds that 9.8 percent of babies were born preterm in 2016, up from 9.6 percent the year before — and minorities suffer a disproportionate share of those births. News outlets look at the impact nationally, as well as in states like Ohio and Virginia.
States That Got Top Hospital Quality Grades Put In Concentrated Efforts To Improve
The nonprofit Leapfrog Group released its grades for hospitals across the country — which take into account medical errors, infections and injuries, based in part on patient survey responses and data provided to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the American Hospital Association and to Leapfrog.
Aetna’s Leadership Remains Mum On CVS Talks, But Posts Spike In Q3 Profit
The company touted growth in its Medicare Advantage enrollment.
N.J., Alaska Latest States To Sue Opioid-Maker For Its Role In Epidemic
More and more states and counties are using the court system to go after pharmaceutical companies for their opioid marketing techniques. Meanwhile, President Donald Trump’s opioid commission won’t be asking for any new funding with its blueprint to battle the crisis, but the Senate health committee chairman says he expects Congress will provide more money to fight the epidemic.
State AGs To Expand Price-Fixing Case To Go After Big Pharma Players For Generic Drug Costs
The complaint alleges an industry-wide conspiracy to divide up the market as a way to drive up prices.
Iowa Gets Federal Approval To Reduce Retroactive Medicaid Coverage
The state has provided payments for services that enrollees received in the three months before they were formally declared eligible for Medicaid. Officials said the change would save the Medicaid program nearly $37 million, but health care providers said they would have to absorb those costs. In other news, a private insurance company pulls out of Iowa’s managed care program, Ohio officials approve spending and Oregon’s governor reportedly was not told of the state’s overpayments.
Timeline For CHIP Reauthorization Now Likely To Stretch Into December
As lawmakers continue to discuss proposed changes in the measure to renew federal funds for the Children’s Health Insurance Program, it appears a likely candidate for inclusion in a massive end-of-year omnibus spending bill.
Advocacy Groups File Suit Against Rollback Of Health Law’s Birth Control Mandate
The lawsuit argues that the Trump administration’s new rules — which allow employers to cite moral or religious exemptions to birth control — violate the equal protection and due process guarantees of the Constitution and the non-discrimination provision of the Affordable Care Act.
Future Of Alexander-Murray Bill, At A Standstill In Senate, Unclear As End Of Year Inches Closer
Many observers think its only real chance is to be included in a larger deal on spending in December.
RNC Ad Accuses Dems Of Blocking Repeal, Ignoring Republicans’ Role In Their Failure
Republicans could have passed repeal without a single vote from a Democrat, but they still did not fulfill their years-long promise. The new ad portrays the story differently, though.
Federal subsidies will help most people on the exchanges, but there’s a small group of higher-income people who are going to face eye-popping sticker prices.
Bruised And Battered Health Law’s Open Enrollment Period Starts Today Amid Much Confusion
The fifth open enrollment period for the Affordable Care Act kicks off today. But many consumers don’t even know if the health law is alive or not.
First Edition: October 31, 2017
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
A selection of opinions on health care from around the country.
Opinion writers offer a variety of ideas about the nation’s continuing opioid epidemic.
Editorial pages examine a range of policy issues, from the need for Congress to act regarding funding for community health centers to the impact of the Trump administration’s so-called Obamacare “sabotage” as well as what the Wall Street Journal calls the “game of health care thrones.”
Media outlets report on news from Puerto Rico, Texas, Massachusetts, Missouri, Georgia, Oklahoma, Colorado, New Mexico, Tennessee, Iowa, Kansas and Florida.
Maryland Hospitals Receive Low Grades For Avoiding Medical Errors, Says New Assessment
The review by the Leapfrog Group finds Maryland hospitals rank near the bottom nationally for certain quality measures. Meanwhile, the District of Columbia’s only public hospital also faces challenges regarding patient safety. News outlets also report on technology developments at Vanderbilt University Medical Center and a merger between two New Hampshire facilities.
Men Who Rape Share Behaviors–But They Don’t Break Down Into Traditional Demographics
Understanding perpetrators can be a crucial key to preventing rape, but it’s also a hard topic to study. In other public health news: Medication to treat alcoholism, a look into the Las Vegas shooter’s mind, exercise and weight, drowsy driving, and more.
Stat gets an exclusive look at the plan that will be unveiled Wednesday. In other news, drugmakers are under pressure from a new coalition that’s seeking information on how these companies are responding to the increased business risks caused by the opioid crisis, researchers study what happens to those who have been revived by anti-overdose medication, and former President Bill Clinton speaks about the national epidemic.
