Morning Breakouts

Latest KFF Health News Stories

As Doctors Continue To Work Later In Life, Some Hospitals Are Screening For Age-Related Decline

Morning Briefing

Some doctors say it’s age discrimination while other acknowledge it’s a safety issue for patients. In other public health news: fats and carbs, acid reflux, squid ink and the dentist, sex education programs and the children who lived through 9/11.

New Mexico Joins Growing Cadre Of States Suing Drugmakers Over Opioid Crisis

Morning Briefing

However, while many states are focusing on pharmaceutical companies alone, New Mexico is also going after distributors. Media outlets report on news about the epidemic out of Arizona, Florida and Ohio, as well.

Medicare Weighs Opening Website To Include Consumers’ Comments On Doctors

Morning Briefing

Medical groups oppose the move because it could unfairly damage a doctor’s reputation. In other Medicare news, beneficiaries are warned about protecting the new cards coming out next year, and federal officials relax some rules for people in Texas affected by Hurricane Harvey.

In Mostly Symbolic Gesture, Senate Panel Votes To Overturn Trump’s Mexico City Policy

Morning Briefing

The rule prevents federal family planning assistance from going to foreign nongovernmental organizations that promote or provide abortions. But it’s unlikely the measure will make it into the final funding bill.

Lawmakers Agree CHIP Needs To Be Funded, But Do Little To Work Through Partisan Differences

Morning Briefing

Delays from any partisan bickering could force many states, which soon will exhaust their federal allotments, to start winding down the popular Children’s Health Insurance Program over the next few weeks or months.

New York Opts To Extend Health Law Enrollment Period Despite Shorter Federal Deadline

Morning Briefing

“Our goal is to ensure that consumers have adequate time to shop for and enroll in the health plan that is best for their family,” Donna Frescatore, executive director of New York State of Health, says. In other news, Covered California announces premium increases for its small-business exchange.

Chairman Tells Governors: Funding Insurer Subsidies Is Easy Part, What Else Do You Want?

Morning Briefing

The governors, both Republicans and Democrats, weighed in on their thoughts about how to stabilize the marketplace at a hearing in front of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee. But when they brought up reinsurance, Chairman Lamar Alexander shot them down.