Latest KFF Health News Stories
Iowa Seeks To Change Medicaid’s Policy Of Covering Retroactive Expenses For New Enrollees
Health care providers say such a change could leave them with large uncompensated costs. In other news, The Washington Post Fact Checker looks at the claim that President Bill Clinton promoted capping the per person growth of Medicaid and Tennessee Democrats push again for a Medicaid expansion.
Ill. Governor To Allow Medicaid Funds Be Used For Abortions; Allies Fume Over ‘Absolute Betrayal’
Republican Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner’s decision came as a surprise to some, but he says, “No woman should be forced to make a different decision than another woman would based purely on her income.”
House Panel Next Week Will Take Up Bill On Children’s Insurance, Community Health Centers
Funding for the programs expires Sunday, but the legislative efforts to renew spending for them were stymied during the recent Senate debate on a GOP plan to replace the health law.
The Washington Post looks at the steps the Trump administration is taking that will impact enrollment, including shutting down Healthcare.gov for periods of time and slashing funding for ACA navigators.
Graham, Cassidy Maintain Enthusiasm Over Plan, Vow To Hold Hearings In the Upcoming Months
Sens. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and Bill Cassidy (R-La.) say they think the main contention with their proposal was the process, not the substance, so they will forge ahead with hearings on repealing and replacing the Affordable Care Act.
Lawmakers ‘On The Verge’ Of Striking Bipartisan Deal To Stabilize Marketplaces, Schumer Vows
Sens. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) and Patty Murray (D-Wash.), the chairman and ranking member of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, resume bipartisan talks that had been shucked to the side as the Graham-Cassidy bill gained traction. But they’re remaining more cautious than Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) in any promises they’re making.
Tom Price’s Use Of Military Planes Pushes Cost Of Taxpayer-Funded Travel To Over $1M Since May
Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price says he will personally pay back his share of the $500,000 spent on chartered jets for his trips, which tallies $51,887.31. New reports find Price also used military flights to Europe costing an additional $500,000.
First Edition: September 29, 2017
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Tom Price To Personally Pay Back $52K In His Share Of Private Jet Travel Cost
In his statement, Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price says, “I will take no more private charter flights as Secretary of HHS. No exceptions.” The announcement comes as Price’s use of a private planes — costing taxpayers more than $400,000 since May — has reportedly upset President Donald Trump and prompted a House Oversight Committee inquiry.
A selection of opinions on health care from around the country.
Tough Talk: ‘The Price’ Not Right For HHS Secretary; He Should Have To Repay Taxpayers These Funds
Opinion writers take a harsh look at the expenses Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price has racked up by flying chartered, rather than commercial, flights. But former HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt offers a defense.
Editorial pages continue parsing what happened earlier this week in the Senate when Graham-Cassidy, the most recent GOP repeal-and-replace legislation, failed to garner enough votes for Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) to bring it to the floor for a vote.
Longer Looks: The Future Of Repeal; Medical Marijuana & Lady Gaga
Each week, KHN’s Shefali Luthra finds interesting reads from around the Web.
Media outlets report on news from California, Florida, Massachusetts, Iowa, Tennessee, Minnesota, Texas, Colorado and Michigan.
Rural Hospital Ills Reflect Economic Troubles In Small Town USA
In other hospital-related news, an industry lawsuit becomes a stumbling block in Connecticut’s efforts to adopt a state budget; Brigham and Women’s struggle to control costs; and how a children’s hospital is focused on lowering the risk of HIV among young sexual assault victims.
Unsafe Abortions Persist Even In Developed Countries, Report Finds
A team led by researchers at the World Health Organization and the Guttmacher Institute looked at data from 61 countries and found that the places where abortions are safest are also where they are most rare.
Quick, Low-Cost Dipstick Test For Dengue And Zika Could Help Diagnose And Track Outbreaks
“You can go from a sample to an answer within about 15 minutes,” says one of the authors of the test. In today’s other public health news: food safety violations, the link between exercise and willpower, autism and health issues of women refugees.
‘Given The Scope Of This Crisis,’ PhRMA CEO Backs Guidelines Limiting Opioid Prescriptions
The move follows efforts by pharmacy benefit managers to restrict the supply of opioids to first-time users. The decision is creating some backlash for patients with chronic pain who are worried they can no longer get the treatment they and their doctors feel they need.
Mass. Officials Ask For Federal Permission To Trim Medicaid Rolls And Expenses
The state, facing a budget crunch on the program, is asking to move childless, non-disabled adults with incomes above the federal poverty level into insurance plans on the Affordable Care Act’s marketplace. In other news, Montana officials say the Medicaid expansion is saving some correction department expenses, and Kansas finalizes a new system for Medicaid enrollment.
Despite Recent $2.1B Boost, VA Choice Program May Need More Funding By December
But the House Veterans Affairs Committee was already anticipating that the emergency funding approved in August may not last the full six months.
