Latest KFF Health News Stories
First Edition: October 20, 2017
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
A selection of opinions on health care from around the country.
Some Tips To Help Decide Whether Popular Medicare Advantage Plans Are Right For You
These private insurance plan take the place of traditional Medicare and vary in coverage and cost.
Opinion writers offer a variety of takes on the deal announced this week by Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) and Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.) as well as what it can and cannot accomplish. They also take a tough inventory of the politics in play and examine other health policy issues, such as Medicare Advantage networks and the status of the Children’s Health Insurance Program reauthorization.
Longer Looks: PTSD Or Hate?; In The Wake Of Hurricanes; And Male Fertility
Each week, KHN’s Shefali Luthra finds interesting reads from around the Web.
Media outlets report on news from Maryland, New York, Colorado, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Ohio and Minnesota.
Despite Growing Trend, Doctors Warn Against Women Eating Their Placenta
Proponents have said eating placenta reduces pain, improves mood and energy level, increases milk production, but scientists find any evidence to support those claims lacking. In other public health news: diabetes during pregnancy, other viruses to look out for this flu season, concussions in teenagers, infectious diseases, and postpartum depression.
Rumor Mill Churning About Who Next Drug Czar Will Be After Original Pick Bows Out
Rep. Tom Marino (R-Pa.) withdrew his name from consideration after reports tying him to legislation that undermined the Drug Enforcement Administration’s power during the opioid crisis.
Second Version Of Groundbreaking Immunotherapy Treatment Approved By FDA
The therapy is part of a hot new field that uses a patient’s own immune system to turn the cells into a “living drug” that attacks disease.
Anthem, Spurning Express Scripts, Will Join With CVS To Start A Drug Plan Business
The new business, which will start in 2020, will be a new pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) company. PBMs serve as intermediaries between drug companies and the prescription plans, but they have come under increasing pressure for not being transparent about how much money they save and how much is passed along to consumers.
Federal Judge Rules Undocumented Pregnant Girl Can Get An Abortion
Judge Tanya Chutkan ordered the government to move “promptly and without delay.” The administration is appealing the ruling.
Americans Grappling With Confusion As Enrollment Season Nears
The sign-up period for coverage under the Affordable Care Act begins Nov. 1, but uncertainty only continues to mount.
Cutting Off Insurer Payments Increases Number Of People Who Get Help Through Other Subsidies
Stopping insurer subsidies is like pushing down on one end of a see-saw only to see the other end go up because another of the health law’s subsidies would rise for people with low-to-moderate incomes. Meanwhile, a look at how Illinois raced to get ahead of President Donald Trump’s move to cut off payments.
Media outlets fact check some of the rhetoric swirling around the health care debate.
State AGs Ask For Emergency Court Order To Keep Trump From Cutting Off Insurer Subsidies
“It’s long past time President Donald Trump learn that he doesn’t get to pick and choose which laws he follows,” says California Attorney General Xavier Becerra, who is leading the charge in the fight.
Alexander Optimistic About Health Deal Despite Trump’s Zig-Zagging And GOP Leaders’ Opposition
It was a roller coaster in Washington after Sens. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) and Patty Murray (D-Wash.) released their bipartisan plan to stabilize the Affordable Care Act marketplaces. There are some who are writing off the bill as dead, but Alexander still thinks it will pass in some form by the end of the year.
First Edition: October 19, 2017
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Viewpoints: In Defense Of Sanctuary Hospitals; Medicare, Medicaid Funding Fairness For Puerto Rico
A selection of opinions on health care from around the country.
Opinion writers continue to examine the government’s role in the opioid crisis and strategies to curb it.
Editorial pages examine the agreement announced yesterday to stabilize the Affordable Care Act’s marketplaces after President Donald Trump announced last week that he would end federal payments to fund the law’s cost-sharing reductions.
