Morning Breakouts

Latest KFF Health News Stories

Bipartisan Efforts To Stabilize Marketplace Halted As Graham-Cassidy Gains Traction

Morning Briefing

Senate HELP Committee Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) says there’s not a path forward for the bipartisan work in a clear sign that Republicans are optimistic about the prospects of the Graham-Cassidy bill. Democrats call the move a political strategy to bolster the replacement bill.

Health Groups Join Opposition To Repeal-And-Replace Efforts

Morning Briefing

“This proposal would erode key protections for patients and consumers and does nothing to stabilize the insurance market now or in the long term,” said Rick Pollack, the American Hospital Association’s president and CEO.

Democrats Try To Rally As They’re Criticized For Having Celebrated Too Soon

Morning Briefing

Between the debt deal cut with President Donald Trump and the single-payer proposal by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) — which Sen. Lindsey Graham says is “a gift from the political gods” — some people are starting to wonder if the Democrats got ahead of themselves. Meanwhile, lawmakers are trying to get their base motivated one more time to stave off the latest round of repeal-and-replace efforts.

The ‘Losers’ Under Graham-Cassidy: States That Expanded Medicaid, Patients With Preexisting Conditions

Morning Briefing

Because of the way Medicaid would be restructured, the states that embraced expansion will face the largest cuts. Most of the states that did not expand Medicaid coverage under the Affordable Care Act would see an increase in federal funding.

Republicans Press Forward With Repeal Efforts Despite Governors’ Plea To Reject Measure

Morning Briefing

A group of bipartisan governors urges Congress to reject the last-ditch repeal-and-replace effort coming from Sens. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) and Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), but lawmakers are charging forward. It’s still unclear if they have the votes, but Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) says she’s considering the bill, touting the flexibility it gives to states.

Different Takes: A Repeal-Replace Redux?; Time To Take Graham-Cassidy’s ‘Zombie’ Bill Seriously

Morning Briefing

Editorial pages across the country are analyzing recent developments in the congressional GOP’s ongoing repeal-and-replace effort and taking notice of the latest — what some say is the last-ditch — measure to undo the Affordable Care Act.

Western States Have Disproportionately High Suicide Rates For Veterans

Morning Briefing

Epidemiologist Rajeev Ramchand, who has a background in studying suicide, said there could be several factors that led to the results, including gun ownership, difficulty accessing proper health care and isolation from communities. Meanwhile, after a series of disappointments from its supercomputer Watson, IBM is counting on Watson’s efforts with the VA health system.

Global Health Progress Has Been Made, But U.S. Aid Cuts Could Be Lethal To Millions

Morning Briefing

Bill and Melinda Gates release a report card assessing global health, and warn only the United States is rich enough and generous enough to lead the charge on foreign aid. In other public health news: MRIs, tattoos and infections.