Latest KFF Health News Stories
Medicare Weighs Opening Website To Include Consumers’ Comments On Doctors
Medical groups oppose the move because it could unfairly damage a doctor’s reputation. In other Medicare news, beneficiaries are warned about protecting the new cards coming out next year, and federal officials relax some rules for people in Texas affected by Hurricane Harvey.
Eli Lilly, Facing Stiff Competition On Diabetes Products, Will Cut 3,500 Jobs
The company says the move will save about $500 million annually that it will use partly to support new drug development.
FDA Blasts EpiPen Maker For Not Investigating Complaints About Life-Threatening Device Flaws
The FDA cites troubling incidents where the failure to properly investigate and take action over defective products had led to patient deaths.
In Mostly Symbolic Gesture, Senate Panel Votes To Overturn Trump’s Mexico City Policy
The rule prevents federal family planning assistance from going to foreign nongovernmental organizations that promote or provide abortions. But it’s unlikely the measure will make it into the final funding bill.
Lawmakers Agree CHIP Needs To Be Funded, But Do Little To Work Through Partisan Differences
Delays from any partisan bickering could force many states, which soon will exhaust their federal allotments, to start winding down the popular Children’s Health Insurance Program over the next few weeks or months.
As Left-Wing Chases ‘Medicare For All’ Dream, This Senator Is Taking More Pragmatic Approach
Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) is giving Democratic lawmakers who don’t want to attach themselves to Sen. Bernie Sanders’ plan an alternative that gets them a step closer to universal health care coverage.
New York Opts To Extend Health Law Enrollment Period Despite Shorter Federal Deadline
“Our goal is to ensure that consumers have adequate time to shop for and enroll in the health plan that is best for their family,” Donna Frescatore, executive director of New York State of Health, says. In other news, Covered California announces premium increases for its small-business exchange.
Most Republicans Throwing Cold Water On Last-Ditch Plan To Gut Health Law
Despite support from President Donald Trump, the bill by Sens. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and Bill Cassidy (R-La.) isn’t getting a warm welcome from colleagues on the Hill.
Chairman Tells Governors: Funding Insurer Subsidies Is Easy Part, What Else Do You Want?
The governors, both Republicans and Democrats, weighed in on their thoughts about how to stabilize the marketplace at a hearing in front of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee. But when they brought up reinsurance, Chairman Lamar Alexander shot them down.
First Edition: September 8, 2017
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
A selection of opinions on health care from around the country.
Longer Looks: DACA And The Doctor Shortage; Cancer’s Invasion Equation & Obamacare Sabotage
Each week, KHN’s Shefali Luthra finds interesting reads from around the Web.
Media outlets report on news from Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Georgia, Connecticut, Wisconsin and Minnesota.
Calif. Startup Gambles On Development Of Alzheimer’s Treatment
Also in the news, lobbyists double down on efforts surrounding a California prescription drug pricing transparency bill.
Kentucky Could Become First State Without An Abortion Clinic, Depending On Trial
The fate of the clinic will be decided by a federal trial that kicked off on Wednesday.
After Puzzling Over Mumps Outbreaks, Scientists Recommend Extra Dose Of Vaccine
There have been cases recently where the vast majority of a population affected by an outbreak had received the two doses of vaccine, yet people still contracted the virus. In other public health news: a pen that detects cancer, overtreatment, mosquitoes, breast cancer, romantic attraction and more.
In Response To Epidemic, Senators Advance ‘Partial-Fill’ Approach To Opioid Prescriptions
Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) say the clause would let patients decide if they wanted less than the full prescription in their homes. In other news, the Food and Drug Administration issues a warning to a drugmaker for its marketing tactics, a task force releases recommendations on fighting the epidemic, a new study finds addiction medication has little impact on users, and more.
Evacuating A Hospital Isn’t An Easy Undertaking. Here’s How One Facility In Texas Managed It.
The New York Times takes a look at the intricate plan to remove patients from the Baptist Beaumont Hospital after Harvey hit. The lingering public health effects from the storm are also in the news.
Senate Panel Approves An Increase In Funding For NIH
The increase is part of the funding bill for the Departments of Health and Human Services, Education and Labor. House appropriators have a different plan. Also, senators today hold a hearing on the future of the Children’s Health Insurance Program.
Fallout From Rolling Back DACA Would Ripple Through Health Care Industry
Surveys of DACA beneficiaries reveal that about one-fifth of them work in the health care and educational sector, suggesting a potential loss of tens of thousands of workers from in-demand job categories like home health aide and nursing assistant.
