Latest KFF Health News Stories
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.
Court Grants HHS Time To Release Pregnant Girl So She Can Obtain An Abortion Outside Its Custody
The court blocked an earlier ruling to allow the girl to get an abortion immediately. Now the government has 11 days to release the girl into outside custody, or the matter will return to the courts.
Trump’s Promise Of Inexpensive Health Plans Comes With A Dark Underbelly
The plans President Donald Trump is touting have a long history of vulnerabilities to fraud and abuse. The problems are described in dozens of court cases and enforcement actions taken over more than a decade by federal and state officials who regulate those types of plans. Meanwhile, the case against Trump’s move to cut off subsidies goes to court on Monday.
Change In Auto-Enrollment Policy May Trap Millions Of Consumers Into Plans They Don’t Want
Under the Obama administration, consumers were auto-enrolled in their plans, but then sent a notice that they can and should shop around for better or cheaper coverage. This year, the auto-enrollment process won’t happen until it’s too late to make a change. Meanwhile, groups are launching outreach efforts as open enrollment season nears.
IRS Will Enforce Health Coverage Requirement Under ACA
Despite the individual mandate being a primary target for Republicans, the Trump administration says it will reject tax returns that do not have complete information about health care coverage filled in. Meanwhile, GOP lawmakers are trying to weaken the mandate through legislation.
McConnell Open To Vote On Health Plan, But Says ‘We Need A Bill The President Will Actually Sign’
Sens. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) and Patty Murray (D-Wash.) introduced legislation last week to stabilize the Affordable Care Act’s marketplaces, but despite support from a large number of lawmakers, President Donald Trump has run hot and cold on the measure.
