Latest KFF Health News Stories
Hospitals Tapping Into Lucrative Concierge Medicine Trend
While they’re not providing the kind of services patients could get at high-end independent practices, they are offering options such as same-day appointments or access to doctors via text for those who can afford it.
J&J Scores Back-To-Back Victories As Courts Overturn Massive Awards For Consumers In Talcum Cases
The science on the potential link between talcum powder and ovarian cancer is still being fiercely debated.
Hospitals Are Feeling The Pinch From Hurricane’s Devastating Effect On Puerto Rico
Hospital pharmacists across the country are racing to find an alternative to a product called a Mini-Bag, which dilutes intravenous drugs for patients. But that’s just the first of what providers and officials fear will be many shortages of drugs and devices following in the wake of the hurricane.
CHIP Funding Bill Could Get House Vote This Week, But Democrats Object To How It’s Paid For
Democrats say the five-year renewal would cut the Affordable Care Act’s public health prevention fund and raise Medicare rates for wealthy seniors.
Iowa Yanks Far-Reaching ‘Stop Gap’ Proposal That Would Have Eroded ACA’s Protections
With enrollment season only a little more than a week away, state officials made the decision to withdraw their waiver request to opt out of the Affordable Care Act exchanges.
Trump’s Move To Slash Outreach Budget May Have Drastic Effect On Enrollment, Analysts Project
Josh Peck, the author of the analysis, estimates that 1.1 million fewer people will sign up for coverage in 2018. Peck calls the findings a “best case scenario” because he didn’t take into account any of the administration’s other actions.
Senate Republicans On Bipartisan Health Plan: The Ball Is In President’s Court
Conflicting statements from President Donald Trump have made it hard for lawmakers to know exactly where he stands on the measure proposed by Sens. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) and Patty Murray (D-Wash.) to shore up the Obamacare marketplaces.
Judge In Insurer Subsidies Case Points To Steps States Have Taken In Anticipation Of Payment Cut Off
Attorneys general from 18 states and D.C. asked the court for an immediate order halting President Donald Trump’s decision to cut off federal payments to health insurers. The judge seemed skeptical of their arguments, but aims to issue a ruling Tuesday.
First Edition: October 24, 2017
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Viewpoints: Administration’s ‘Brazen’ Argument On Abortion; Bolster The Fight Against Opioids
A selection of opinions on health care from around the country.
Perspectives On Health Debate: What Changed On Subsidies? The Need For Stability Now
Opinion writers take a look at some of the health law issues that are front and center today.
Media outlets report on news from California, Puerto Rico, California, Florida, Maryland and Kansas.
Raising Taxes On Cigarettes Is Working, Which Is Why Industry Is Swarming On State Capitols
“I’d never seen this amount of money being poured into a session in my 17 years here,” says the American Cancer Society’s Kristin Page-Nei of the failed effort in Montana to increase the state’s cigarette tax. In other public health news: peanut allergies, labor, memory training, ankle replacements, UTIs, and more.
Fertility Industry Is Booming, But With It Comes Tricky Ethical, Legal Questions
It’s an era where people can have a checklist for their perfect baby, and companies can charge high prices to give them just that. But despite the ethical and legal morass the promise of all that brings, the industry remains largely self-regulated.
Georgia State Rep. Betty Price (R) made the comments during a meeting about her state’s high rate of HIV cases.
In Wake Of Opioid Crisis, An HIV Epidemic Is Brewing — In Trump Country
And officials say they’re not prepared to handle it. In other news, lawmakers want information on a newly controversial law that undermined the DEA’s power amid the opioid crisis and health insurers get a slap on the wrist for their role in the epidemic.
Lawmakers Mull Making VA Choice Program Permanent
The legislation, which the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee will discuss Tuesday, would also simplify the program. VA Choice allows veterans to seek care outside the VA system and was created in the wake of the wait-time scandal that plagued the agency.
As Medicaid Director Announces Departure, Kansas Delays Details On New Program
Gov. Sam Brownback had promised that state officials would release plans for a new version of the privatized Medicaid program last Friday but that was delayed, and officials surprised reporters with news that the medicaid director was leaving. In other news, Oklahoma doctors likely to feel the pinch of the state budget crisis and Michigan next spring will institute a wellness program.
States Fret As Congress Dilly Dallies Over CHIP Funding Renewal
Politico takes a look at where things stand and what will happen if funding for the popular program dries up.
Top EPA Official’s Industry-Friendly Moves Undermine Regulations To Protect Public Health
Nancy Beck’s efforts to roll back certain rules is part of a broad initiative by the Trump administration to change the way the federal government evaluates health and environmental risks associated with hazardous chemicals.
