Latest KFF Health News Stories
Media outlets report on news from California, Connecticut, Colorado, Nevada, Georgia, Tennessee, Ohio, Virginia, Texas, Arizona, Oregon and Florida.
Search Warrants Filed As Police Investigation Progresses In Deaths At Florida Nursing Home
Eleven residents eventually died after Hurricane Irma knocked out the air conditioning at the nursing home. Also, a look at the disruption hurricanes can cause to critical dialysis treatments and a look at the tough conditions for hospitals in Puerto Rico.
‘1 In 8 Women Get Breast Cancer. Today, I’m The One,’ Veep Actress Julia Louis-Dreyfus Announces
Julia Louis-Dreyfus took the opportunity to also throw her support behind the idea of universal health care coverage. In more public health care news: a typhoid vaccine, malaria, the flu shot, sexual trauma in female soldiers, pain treatments and more.
A Possible Prescription For The Opioid Epidemic? One Doctor Wonders If Marijuana Holds The Key
Dr. Chinazo Cunningham is conducting a study funded by the National Institutes of Health to figure out the harms associated with marijuana use versus those of opioids. Media outlets report on news about the crisis out of Washington, Pennsylvania and Massachusetts as well.
Genetic Sleuths Pinpoint Moment Zika Turned So Deadly
It used to be a relatively harmless pathogen.
Massachusetts Asks To Be Able To Limit Which Drugs Medicaid Has To Cover
The somewhat controversial move would shift the state toward what is known in the insurance world as a closed formulary. This allows an insurer to provide coverage for only certain drugs that are made available on favorable terms. Meanwhile, Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-Md.) takes to Twitter to demand President Donald Trump take action on high prices, and a new study finds a promising drug’s costs is limiting the number of people who can take it.
Iowa Seeks To Change Medicaid’s Policy Of Covering Retroactive Expenses For New Enrollees
Health care providers say such a change could leave them with large uncompensated costs. In other news, The Washington Post Fact Checker looks at the claim that President Bill Clinton promoted capping the per person growth of Medicaid and Tennessee Democrats push again for a Medicaid expansion.
Ill. Governor To Allow Medicaid Funds Be Used For Abortions; Allies Fume Over ‘Absolute Betrayal’
Republican Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner’s decision came as a surprise to some, but he says, “No woman should be forced to make a different decision than another woman would based purely on her income.”
House Panel Next Week Will Take Up Bill On Children’s Insurance, Community Health Centers
Funding for the programs expires Sunday, but the legislative efforts to renew spending for them were stymied during the recent Senate debate on a GOP plan to replace the health law.
The Washington Post looks at the steps the Trump administration is taking that will impact enrollment, including shutting down Healthcare.gov for periods of time and slashing funding for ACA navigators.
Graham, Cassidy Maintain Enthusiasm Over Plan, Vow To Hold Hearings In the Upcoming Months
Sens. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and Bill Cassidy (R-La.) say they think the main contention with their proposal was the process, not the substance, so they will forge ahead with hearings on repealing and replacing the Affordable Care Act.
Lawmakers ‘On The Verge’ Of Striking Bipartisan Deal To Stabilize Marketplaces, Schumer Vows
Sens. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) and Patty Murray (D-Wash.), the chairman and ranking member of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, resume bipartisan talks that had been shucked to the side as the Graham-Cassidy bill gained traction. But they’re remaining more cautious than Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) in any promises they’re making.
Tom Price’s Use Of Military Planes Pushes Cost Of Taxpayer-Funded Travel To Over $1M Since May
Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price says he will personally pay back his share of the $500,000 spent on chartered jets for his trips, which tallies $51,887.31. New reports find Price also used military flights to Europe costing an additional $500,000.
First Edition: September 29, 2017
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Tom Price To Personally Pay Back $52K In His Share Of Private Jet Travel Cost
In his statement, Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price says, “I will take no more private charter flights as Secretary of HHS. No exceptions.” The announcement comes as Price’s use of a private planes — costing taxpayers more than $400,000 since May — has reportedly upset President Donald Trump and prompted a House Oversight Committee inquiry.
A selection of opinions on health care from around the country.
Tough Talk: ‘The Price’ Not Right For HHS Secretary; He Should Have To Repay Taxpayers These Funds
Opinion writers take a harsh look at the expenses Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price has racked up by flying chartered, rather than commercial, flights. But former HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt offers a defense.
Editorial pages continue parsing what happened earlier this week in the Senate when Graham-Cassidy, the most recent GOP repeal-and-replace legislation, failed to garner enough votes for Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) to bring it to the floor for a vote.
Longer Looks: The Future Of Repeal; Medical Marijuana & Lady Gaga
Each week, KHN’s Shefali Luthra finds interesting reads from around the Web.
Media outlets report on news from California, Florida, Massachusetts, Iowa, Tennessee, Minnesota, Texas, Colorado and Michigan.
