Latest KFF Health News Stories
Gov. LePage Accuses Maine Senators Of Being ‘Out Of Touch’ After Voting Against GOP Health Bill
Maine Republican Gov. Paul LePage wrote an op-ed chastising Republican Susan Collins and independent Angus King for their vote. But the senators defend themselves, saying they met with thousands of people to discuss improving the health care system, and concluded that the GOP proposals would’ve eliminated insurance for millions, raised premiums, hurt rural hospitals and shifted costs to states. Other lawmakers also face tough questions at home about the health care legislation.
The Courts May Have Just Checked Trump’s Ability To Sabotage Obamacare
In a ruling that states can sue the administration if insurer subsidies are cut off, the courts may have taken away a powerful negotiating tool President Donald Trump has been using during the health care debates. “We’re not going to wait to find out what Donald Trump wants to do,” says California Attorney General Xavier Becerra, who is helping steer the states’ involvement. “My team is ready to defend these subsidies in court.”
Getting Insurance Subsidy Bill Passed Will Be Herculean Task, But ‘Stranger Things Have Happened’
Senate HELP Chairman Lamar Alexander and ranking Democrat Patty Murray have a history of shepherding through seemingly impossible bipartisan bills, but the odds are against them when it comes to the first attempt at fixing the Affordable Care Act since repeal efforts failed. Meanwhile, both Democratic and Republican governors chime in urging the administration to pay the subsidies.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Viewpoints: Reversing The Opioid Epidemic; Vaccines Are A Tool In Stopping Antibiotic Resistance
Here’s a review of editorials and opinions on a range of public health issues.
Different Takes: Can The ‘Problem Solvers’ Solve The Obamacare Problem?; Time To Stop The Sabotage
Editorial writers take on a variety of issues related to the future of the Affordable Care Act, what needs to happen next and what’s going wrong and right.
Perspectives: The FDA Can Only Do So Much To Curb High Prices — It Needs Help
Read recent commentaries about drug-cost issues.
Generic Drug Marketplace Is A Fragile Place Where Competition Can Quickly Wither Into Monopolies
News outlets report on stories related to pharmaceutical pricing.
Media outlets report on news from California, Minnesota, Massachusetts, Florida, Ohio, Arizona and Texas.
‘Medicaid Messes And Nightmares’: Obstacles Abound In Treating Pregnant Women With Addictions
The bureaucratic labyrinth that is the American health care system does little to help moms-to-be who are addicted to opioids.
It Costs Nearly $1,000, But There’s No Evidence This DNA Test Can Help Women Conceive
Some warn that this and other tests are capitalizing on women’s fears about pregnancy and motherhood. In other public health news: maternal health, breast cancer, and heart attack patients.
Mass. Gov. Shelves Plan To Revamp Medicaid, Accepts New Taxes To Fund Health Care
Gov. Charlie Baker says he will sign a bill that will raise $200 million through new fees on businesses to help pay for health care for the poor, even though the bill does not include his plan to move 140,000 people from Medicaid into private plans. Also, officials in Georgia are weighing their options for changes to that state’s Medicaid program.
Senators Reported To Have Struck Deal To Allow Vote This Week On Key FDA Funding Bill
The bill sets user fees for drug and device makers.
Surgeon General Nominee Wants To Lead With Science, But In A ‘Sympathetic’ Way
Jerome Adams, Indiana’s state health commissioner and the nominee for surgeon general, defends his approach to health care at a Senate hearing on Tuesday.
Veterans Choice Bill Easily Clears Senate
The spending package provides $2.1 billion to continue funding the program, which allows veterans to receive private medical care at government expense.
30 Percent Rate Hikes Reflect Uncertainty In Affordable Care Act Marketplaces
The Department of Health and Human Services published preliminary rate requests on Tuesday, and many states showed steep increases. Media outlets look at the marketplaces in California, Alaska, Illinois, Maryland, Minnesota, Arizona, Connecticut and New Hampshire.
Governors Want To Step In With Health Care Ideas Where Congress Failed
Seven Democrats and six Republican governors from a wide range of states came together with proposals that aren’t all new, but may carry more weight considering the bipartisan push behind them.
Door Not Completely Slammed Shut On Repeal-And-Replace
One proposal in particular — a measure giving states more flexibility — is gaining traction with a few senators, but it faces long odds.
GOP Senators Shrug Off Trump’s Twitter Outrage As They Start To Distance Selves From President
The health care debate was a sharp blow to the relationship between President Donald Trump and Republican senators.
States Allowed To Intervene Over Federal Subsidy Payments Case, Court Of Appeals Rules
The case, which dates back to the Obama administration, was filed by the Republican-led House against the government in an effort to block the subsidy payments to insurers for the individual plans created by the Affordable Care Act. Sixteen attorneys general had filed to defend the subsidies.
