Latest KFF Health News Stories
GOP’s Plan To Roll Back Medicaid Would Slash Safety Net For Kids In Deep Trump Country
“Without the health insurance, kids aren’t going to get the immunizations and the checkups. There are going to be more lost days of school. More trips to the emergency room,” said Dr. Traci Acklin, who grew up in Fayette County, West Virginia. “It would be food or healthcare for a lot of these families.”
It Feels Like ‘A Broken Promise’: GOP Activists Warn Republicans To Get Act Together On Health Care
“If the Republican Party cannot show they can deliver on a basic campaign promise like Obamacare, I’m very concerned about the ability to keep the House and Senate next year,” said Noah Wall, the national director of campaigns at the conservative group FreedomWorks. Meanwhile, Republicans home on recess face concerned constituents.
Cruz’s Amendment To Let Insurers Sell Cheap ‘Junk’ Plans Could Sway Conservatives
But moderates and experts warn that while allowing insurance companies to sell non-compliant plans would benefit young, healthy patients, it would hit others in the marketplace hard.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Viewpoints: Opioid Attack In Ohio; Iowa’s Lack Of Credible Information On Medicaid Changes
A selection of opinions on health care from around the country.
Reflections On Replacing Later: Trump’s Tweet Renews ‘Terrible’ Idea And Upends GOP Efforts
Opinion writers take aim at the surprise suggestion from the president on Friday that if Congress can’t come up with a health plan, it should just repeal Obamacare first and work on replacement later.
Parsing The Politics: How Will Cruz’s Amendment Play?; Republicans’ ‘Moment Of Truth’
Analysts offer their views of the tough strategic choices in the congressional debate on health care.
Perspectives About What’s At Stake: Preexisting Conditions Guarantees, Medicaid And More
The fears of patients with existing health issues prompts some opinions while other writers look at important coverage issues that could be changed by Republican efforts on the health law.
Perspectives: The Obvious Solution For Cutting Drug Prices Could Squeeze Out Innovation
Read recent commentaries about drug-cost issues.
When Risk Isn’t Worth It For Pharma Companies To Fund Experimental Drugs Families Step In
News outlets report on stories related to pharmaceutical pricing.
Media outlets report on news from California, New York, Virginia, Michigan, Texas, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Washington, North Carolina and Ohio.
Other news stories cover developments related to allergies, infusions, weapons against bacteria, cancer studies, therapy animals, hepatitis C, urban heat islands and smoking.
At-Home Detox Often Fails Without Medical Support
With recovery treatment limited and expensive, some turn to do-it-yourself detox methods, but success is low. Meanwhile, law enforcement tries to keep up with street drug identification while others try to tackle the crisis through the courts. And in other news on the national drug crisis, news outlets look at exposure to fetuses and the dangers of fentanyl contact to first responders.
Mass. Governor Suggests Changes To State’s Medicaid Program, Angering Advocates
Outlets report on Medicaid news from Massachusetts, Washington, D.C., Illinois and Iowa.
Kasich Vetoes Ohio Medicaid Expansion Freeze, Bucking State Republican Lawmakers
The proposal would have halted new expansion enrollment starting July 1, 2018, and prevented people who drop off from re-enrolling. The Ohio Legislature could override Gov. John Kasich’s veto, but it’s unclear if there are enough votes to do so.
More Than A Thousand Counties Could Be Left With Only One ACA Insurer Option Next Year
And 40 could have none at all.
Republicans Use Spending Bill To Target Individual Mandate
The House Committee on Appropriations, in a separate effort from the repeal-and-replace proposal, drafts a provision to stop the IRS from enforcing the mandate.
Health Bill Could Undercut Rural Hospitals Already In Financial Distress
Hospitals in Colorado, Georgia and Oklahoma are highlighted as examples of facilities that would be hit hard by Republicans’ proposed changes, especially the cuts to Medicaid.
‘Junk Insurance’ Plans, Banned Under ACA, Could Be Back If Cruz Gets His Way
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) offers an amendment to the Senate health care legislation that would allow individual insurers to offer the cheaper, less-comprehensive plans if they also sell plans that comply with the ACA’s coverage requirements.
Republicans Want To Give States Wiggle Room On Essential Benefits. So What Does That Look Like?
The Affordable Care Act insurers can’t charge more for certain coverage like maternal care. But under the Republicans’ plans it could be up to the states to maintain that requirement. In more news on the proposed health legislation: insurance rebates, taxes, and uncertainty in states.
