Latest KFF Health News Stories
Alexander-Murray Bill Would Reduce Deficit By Nearly $4B, Have Little Effect On Number Of Insured
The projections from the Congressional Budget Office bolster the bill’s chances, said authors Sens. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) and Patty Murray (D-Wash.). But President Donald Trump has sent mixed messages about the legislation, and Republican leaders are waiting to move on the measure until the president says he favors it. Meanwhile, House Speaker Paul Ryan said that health care is something that should be looked at next year, instead of in the remaining months of this one.
The window shopping period for open enrollment kicked off Wednesday on healthcare.gov. While many consumers will find high premium increases for 2018, there are cheaper coverage options too. Meanwhile, the Trump administration says it will not release a projection for how many people it expects to sign up for coverage. Enrollment begins Nov. 1.
Judge Rules Against States In Insurer Subsidies Case, Saying They’ve Found Good Workarounds
“The emergency relief sought by the states would be counterproductive,” U.S. District Judge Vince Chhabria said in the ruling. “State regulators have been working for months to prepare for the termination of these payments.”
First Edition: October 26, 2017
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Judge Rules Against Bid By 18 State A.G.s To Block Trump’s Order To End Some ACA Subsidies
The subsidies in question are those made to insurers under the Affordable Care Act to hold down the out-of-pocket costs of some lower-income people. President Donald Trump announced Oct. 12 that he would stop these payments.
Viewpoints: Take Another Look At Opioid ‘Conspiracy;’ Qualities HHS Secretary Needs
A selection of opinions on health care from around the country.
Perspectives: Drug Development Doesn’t Come Cheap, But Does It Really Justify Those Sky-High Prices?
Read recent commentaries about drug-cost issues.
Pharma Trade Groups On Track For Record Lobbying Year, But They Weren’t Talking About Health Bill
News outlets report on stories related to pharmaceutical pricing.
Media outlets report on news from Massachusetts, New York, New Mexico, Puerto Rico, Tennessee, Kansas and Arizona.
Single-Payer Is Hot-Button Topic In Otherwise Agreeable Calif. Gubernatorial Race
The four candidates are divided over universal health care, much like the national Democratic Party.
With Dress Rehearsals, World Leaders Aim To Counter Chaos Of Previous Pandemics
The World Bank hosted a practice scenario for participants that included finance, health and tourism ministers from about a dozen countries, and officials from organizations including the World Health Organization, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the International Air Transport Association. In other public health news: selling dead bodies; arsenic in drinking water; the backstories of seven diseases; a flu vaccine patch; and more.
Five-Year-Old Campaign To Curb Low-Value Care Shows Disappointing Results
The Choosing Wisely campaign, started by the American Board of Internal Medicine Foundation, hasn’t gained traction with physicians.
Lawmakers Face Deadline To Extend Private Health Care Access For Vets
Funding for the program is projected to run out in two months. In other news, a Massachusetts senator calls for the Veterans Affairs secretary to investigate a Vietnam veteran’s death at a VA medical center in Bedford, Mass.
Texas And Federal Medicaid Responses To Hurricane Harvey Less Generous Than Katrina
Since Harvey hit in August, the state has not extended a special disaster benefit to storm victims, loosened financial eligibility guidelines or created a funding pool to help health care providers, according to the Dallas Morning News. In other Medicaid news, officials in both Texas and Virginia warn about the consequences of running out of federal funding for the Children’s Health Insurance Program, and Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker announces a plan to offer higher reimbursements to mental health professionals.
The Trump administration plans to officially declare a national emergency for the opioid crisis months after President Donald Trump said he would. But experts are worried there won’t be any money to back it up. In other news on the crisis: the challenges of curbing the spread of fentanyl; how the epidemic is affecting older Americans; a special legislative task force is address opioid’s impact in New York; and more.
Undocumented Pregnant Girl Allowed To Get Abortion After Full Court Overturns Panel’s Decision
A three-judge panel of the appeals court had earlier ruled that the government has 11 days to find a sponsor for the girl so that she could obtain an abortion outside the government’s care. The full court, however, said its decision “rights a grave constitutional wrong by the government.”
Massachusetts is just the latest state to effectively be denied a waiver. Some say it’s the administration’s attempt to sabotage the Affordable Care Act, but others see the rejection as something else.
Top GOP Lawmakers Try To Chip Away At ACA With Alternative Plan To Bipartisan Health Bill
Senate Finance Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) and House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Kevin Brady (R-Texas) introduce a measure they say would get rid of the individual mandate and offer unspecified “pro-life protections.”
Trump Praises Bipartisan Efforts, But Doesn’t Offer Actual Guidance On Health Bill Stalled In Senate
President Donald Trump joined Republican senators for their weekly lunch on Tuesday. They’ve been anxiously awaiting direction from the president — who has given mixed signals on where he stands on the Alexander-Murray health bill — but Trump didn’t provide concrete guidance.
First Edition: October 25, 2017
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
