Latest KFF Health News Stories
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.
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.
