Morning Breakouts

Latest KFF Health News Stories

As More Rely On Gig Economy, The Idea Of Employee Benefits May Be Facing An Overhaul

Morning Briefing

“I think we also want to start imagining the next era of a safety net, where people can do the work they enjoy and need to do, and can get the benefits that they need,” says Sara Horowitz, executive director of the Freelancers Union.

Congressional HIV Panel Sends Trump Bipartisan Request For Explanation Of Policies

Morning Briefing

The letter from the Congressional HIV/AIDS Caucus follows the resignation of the six members of a presidential advisory group and concerns about administration policies to fight the disease and help people with it. Also in the news, President Donald Trump signed a law to make it easier to remove employees at the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Secrecy, Juicy Scandals And Money, Money, Money: Why Efforts Against GOP Health Bill Have Foundered

Morning Briefing

The Democrats have been trying to get their message across, but they haven’t been able to gain as much traction as the efforts against the Affordable Care Act seemed to. Meanwhile, a look at what one of the top officials involved in running the ACA thinks about the Republicans’ plans.

Republicans Say Costs Will Be ‘Much Lower’ Under Their Bill — But Experts Disagree

Morning Briefing

They say millions of Americans will pay more for an insurance policy that comes with a much steeper deductible, and it could also make it much harder to find a comprehensive plan covering various conditions ranging from heart disease to depression that would not be prohibitively expensive. Media outlets look at what else is in the measure, and how it will affect consumers and the industry.

GOP’s Politically Volatile Move To Cut Medicaid Spending Would Impact Consumers, States

Morning Briefing

The Associated Press and New York Times offer analyses of how the fundamental changes in the Medicaid program being considered by Congress could impact average Americans. The Wall Street Journal also delves into a new controversy about the disparity in Medicaid funding for hospitals in the Senate plan. Kaiser Health News takes note of the large number of seniors that use Medicaid to help pay for their long-term care services. And other outlets explore state-specific concerns.

Parsing The Key Issues: Who Wins And Loses; Impact On The Opioid Crisis

Morning Briefing

Opinion writers focus on certain hot-button issues that are brought to the fore by the Senate Republicans’ health proposal, especially those related to cost and coverage. In the background, there’s also discussion of the current insurance marketplace and how it needs to be fixed.

Tough Talk On GOP Plans For Medicaid

Morning Briefing

After the release of the Senate Republican health plan, opinion writers look at what would become of people who benefited from the Affordable Care Act’s Medicaid expansion and the proposals to change the program.