Latest KFF Health News Stories
Editorial and opinion writers examine how the health policies currently being debated will affect people who gained coverage under the Affordable Care Act as well as how forces within the health insurance marketplace would be altered by the Republicans’ plan and how vulnerable populations could be impacted.
Different Takes On The Politics Swirling Around The Senate GOP’s Health Plan
Opinion writers offer their thoughts on the high political stakes in play regarding the legislation that the Senate Republican leadership has named The Better Care Reconciliation Act of 2017. But will it be better?
State Perspectives: Counting The Reasons To Oppose Republican Plans For Medicaid
Editorial pages across the country detail how their states and jurisdictions would be hit by the proposed cuts to this program.
The Medicaid Debate: Does The Senate GOP Plan Mean Reform Or Is It Just Plain Mean
Editorial writers take hard-line positions on how the pending GOP repeal-and-replace plans would reduce funding for the low-income health insurance program and change its structure.
Research Roundup: AHCA’s Impact On Medicaid; Hearing Aids In Free Clinics
Each week, KHN compiles a selection of recently released health policy studies and briefs.
Media outlets report on news from Tennessee, California, Massachusetts, Texas, Connecticut, Virginia, Ohio, Florida, Wisconsin and Colorado.
For Those With Alzheimer’s, Coping With Other Symptoms Can Be Worse Than Memory Loss
“You don’t die of Alzheimer’s,” Greg O’Brien says. “You die of everything else. But first, you live with it all.” In other public health news: strokes, racial disparity in transplants, managing chronic diseases, toilet-training newborns, obesity and more.
While the problem isn’t new, the pace of reported incidents has certainly picked up — and it’s not clear why.
As More Rely On Gig Economy, The Idea Of Employee Benefits May Be Facing An Overhaul
“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
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.
California Pumps Brakes On ‘Woefully Incomplete’ Single-Payer Legislation
Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon cited the fact that the bill doesn’t address issues such as financing, delivery of care, cost controls, or the realities of needed action by the Trump administration.
Anger Over GOP Plan Reverberates In States
Media outlets report on reactions to the newly unveiled legislation.
There are fears that the Medicaid cuts proposed in the GOP bill will make the already raging opioid epidemic worse.
Koch-Backed Group Disappointed By GOP Plan: ‘We Were Caught Flat-Footed’ Over Lack Of Full Repeal
The conservative group, Americans for Prosperity, says the proposed measure doesn’t go far enough.
Secrecy, Juicy Scandals And Money, Money, Money: Why Efforts Against GOP Health Bill Have Foundered
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.
HHS Secretary Says Goal Of GOP Health Plan Is To Make Sure ‘Nobody Falls Through Cracks’
Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price talked about the plan this week and what can be done to woo the Republican hold-outs.
Trump Dips Toes Into Senate Negotiations After Weeks Of Sitting On Sidelines
“I cannot imagine that these very fine Republican Senators would allow the American people to suffer a broken ObamaCare any longer,” President Donald Trump tweeted.
Republicans Say Costs Will Be ‘Much Lower’ Under Their Bill — But Experts Disagree
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
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.
Beyond The Five: Other Republican Senators Have ‘Serious Concerns’ Over Proposed Bill
Although five Republicans have taken a formal stand against the legislation, there are others who aren’t sold on it either. A look at what GOP lawmakers are saying about the plan.
