Latest KFF Health News Stories
First Edition: October 23, 2017
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Viewpoints: Doctors Facing Racism In The Exam Room; Medication’s Role In Curbing Addiction
A selection of opinions on health care from around the country.
Opinion writers offer their thoughts on the outlook for the Obamacare fix advanced by Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) and Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.) as well as on President Donald Trump’s recent executive order loosening some restrictions on health insurance and how Medicare prices can help advance efforts at reform.
Research Roundup: Hospital Readmissions; HPV Vaccine; Housing And Asthma
Each week, KHN compiles a selection of recently released health policy studies and briefs.
Media outlets report on news from Minnesota, Massachusetts, Texas, New Hampshire, Kansas, Arizona, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Georgia and Ohio.
Pollution Kills More People Than AIDS, Tuberculosis And Malaria Combined
A recent study has found just how dangerous pollution is to the world’s health. In other public health news: high blood pressure, obesity and cholesterol, tobacco, adult-onset ADHD, broken hearts and concussions.
Prices For Cancer Drugs Creeping Up Much Higher Than Inflation Warrants
“Some [increases] exceeded inflation drastically and some increased at a slower rate,” said Dr. Daniel Goldstein, the author of the study. “But overall, we’re seeing a gradual creep each year.”
As Medicaid Enrollment Stabilizes, States Seeing Modest Rise In Spending
The Kaiser Family Foundation’s annual survey of 50 states looks at changes expected in Medicaid programs. In other Medicaid news, Pennsylvania’s governor vetoes a bill that would impose work requirements for enrollees, Louisiana lawmakers weigh new contracts for managed care companies and New Hampshire approves coverage of gender reassignment surgeries.
Medicare Agency May Have ‘Overcorrected’ When Canceling Cardiac Pay Models
Also in the news from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, the agency will begin evaluating some of the changes put in place by MACRA to reduce Medicare spending.
Court Of Appeals Stays Ruling To Allow Undocumented Girl’s Abortion; Hearing Set For Friday
The court did, however, allow for the girl to see a counselor — which Texas law requires before obtaining an abortion. If the stay is lifted, she could decide to seek the procedure later today or tomorrow.
In Mostly Symbolic Gesture, Democrats Introduce Bill To Stop Rollback Of Contraception Mandate
“President Trump wants to make birth control about ideology, but let’s be clear: for women and their families in the 21st century, birth control is about being healthy and financially secure,” said Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.).
Forget Political Upheaval: For Insurers ‘Job No. 1’ Is Easing Confusion For Consumers
As uncertainty reigns in Washington, D.C., insurers are more focused on the rest of America and making sure people know what to do when enrollment kicks off. In other marketplace news: middle-class Americans are upset about insurer subsidies being cut off; a look at the way this enrollment season will be different; uninsured numbers are expected to rise; and more.
“They are not ready for this,” a public health advocate said of an emergency declaration after talking to Health and Human Services officials enlisted in the effort. Meanwhile, states have been quietly taking matters into their own hands.
Trump’s Support Contingent On Deal Including ACA Rollbacks, White House Says
Many of the changes President Donald Trump wants to see in the legislation are ones that couldn’t get through Congress this summer.
‘Do The Math, Baby’: Senators Seem To Have Secured 60 Votes For Bipartisan Health Bill
Sens. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) and Patty Murray (D-Wash.) have an unusually high number of sponsors on their legislation — 12 lawmakers from each party — and Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) promises that every Democrat will vote for it, meaning it seems to have the 60 votes necessary to overcome a fillibuster.
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.
