Latest KFF Health News Stories
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Viewpoints: Reasons To Defend Medicaid; For Congress, Recess Isn’t The Problem… It’s The Games
Opinion writers offer their analysis of the ongoing debate on Capitol Hill and across the country over health care reforms and issues.
Perspectives: More Transparent Pricing System Would Help Untangle Confusion Around High Costs
Read recent commentaries about drug-cost issues.
Pharma’s Money-Back Guarantees Sound Nice, But Experts See Them As A Ploy
News outlets report on stories related to pharmaceutical pricing.
Media outlets report on news from California, Massachusetts, Michigan, Connecticut, Florida, Wisconsin and Missouri.
With Smoking In Movies On Rise, Experts Want All Films With Tobacco Use To Get An R-Rating
They say there’s evidence that strongly suggests that depictions of smoking in movies can lead to youth smoking.
Treatment Using Patient’s Own Immune Cells To Fight Cancer May Take Step Forward Wednesday
A Food and Drug Administration advisory committee will decide if it can recommend the “true living drug” that has shown impressive success in some patients to the full agency. In other public health news: syphilis rates, mental health, high-risk pregnancies, alcohol withdrawal and more.
Justice To Target Opioid Treatment Programs Exploiting Affordable Care Act Insurance Plans
Sources say arrests will be carried out in cities including Miami, Chicago, Detroit and Los Angeles. Meanwhile, the department has reached a settlement with a pharmaceutical company over its failure to report potential abuse of its drugs.
Home Health Agency Workers Get Extra Time To Prepare For New CMS Regulation
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services delays the rule by six months. In other news on the agency, its Hospital Value-Based Purchasing program awarded bonuses to some lower-rated facilities, the Government Accountability Offices finds.
Former CMS Administrators Press Senate To Delay Making Changes To Medicaid
Andy Slavitt, who worked for President Barack Obama, and Gail Wilensky, who worked for President George H.W. Bush, urge lawmakers to take a more deliberate review of Medicaid issues. “Congress can and should commit to improving and modernizing Medicaid, but the process will take time to develop bipartisan support for the changes that are needed and should not be rushed,” they wrote.
Oscar Teams Up With Humana In Pilot Project For Small-Business Insurance In Nashville
The partnership expands the startup insurer’s interests beyond plans sold to individual market.
Alaska To Set Up Reinsurance Program To Protect Consumers From Skyrocketing ACA Premiums
The state says the program will help save the government money in premium subsidies.
Ad Campaigns Urge Crucial Senators To Vote Against GOP Health Bill
The AARP, the Democratic National Committee and a trade group for safety-net health plans are launching campaigns targeting key Senate Republicans.
Nearly 70 Percent Of Republican Voters Want GOP To Continue Repeal Efforts
The poll also suggests that Republicans want Senate GOP leaders to shift gears and work with Democrats to pass a new health care bill. But a separate poll also finds that health care is not necessarily going to be the only deciding factor in the elections.
There’s No Real Buy-In From Republicans On Bill Making It Tough To Get To 50 Votes
The response has been tepid at best on the legislation, and lawmakers are struggling to get something they’ve been promising for seven years out the door. The New York Times offers a look at where they’re still divided, while the Los Angeles Times considers what a fix to Obamacare would like.
In Effort To Find A Way Forward, McConnell Contemplates Retaining Obamacare Taxes
The revised Senate health bill will likely retain certain taxes on wealthier Americans that helped finance the Affordable Care Act. This step would mark a big step back from a central GOP promise.
The Last Draft Of GOP’s Bill Failed — So What’s Different This Time?
Media outlets look at the changes leadership has made to try to woo senators, such as adding the option to let insurers sell cheaper, skinny plans. But one thing that hasn’t been touched? The unpopular Medicaid cuts.
Senate’s Recess Delayed So Lawmakers Can Tackle Health Care, Clear Legislative Backlog
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) announced Tuesday that lawmakers will stick around through the week of Aug. 7.
GOP To Unveil New Version Of Health Bill On Thursday
And the score from the Congressional Budget Office would follow early next week.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
