Latest KFF Health News Stories
N.M. Officials To Brief Lawmakers Today On Plans To Curb Medicaid Spending
Proposals to cut state spending have included requiring enrollees to pay monthly premiums and copayments. In other Medicaid news, a look at Louisiana’s program, a managed care contract controversy in Mississippi and record backlogs in Oregon.
Grassley Presses For Public Disclosure Of Hospital Inspections
The Wall Street Journal reports that Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) is calling for more transparency regarding hospital inspection reports.
HHS Secretary Price Eschews Commercial Flights For Private Jet
Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price is a frequent critic of federal spending who has been developing a plan for department-wide cost savings.
Despite the uncertainty and wild price spikes that plague the individual market, the employer-based one, from which most people get their health coverage, is relatively stable.
Insurers Breathe Sigh Of Relief For Another Month As Trump Makes Subsidy Payments For September
The companies are looking for a longer-term guarantee, but as of now the Trump administration has decided to make the call on a month-to-month basis.
Bipartisan Efforts To Stabilize Marketplace Halted As Graham-Cassidy Gains Traction
Senate HELP Committee Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) says there’s not a path forward for the bipartisan work in a clear sign that Republicans are optimistic about the prospects of the Graham-Cassidy bill. Democrats call the move a political strategy to bolster the replacement bill.
Jimmy Kimmel made headlines during the Republicans’ summer push to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act with his story about what his son has gone through with his medical treatment.
Health Groups Join Opposition To Repeal-And-Replace Efforts
“This proposal would erode key protections for patients and consumers and does nothing to stabilize the insurance market now or in the long term,” said Rick Pollack, the American Hospital Association’s president and CEO.
Democrats Try To Rally As They’re Criticized For Having Celebrated Too Soon
Between the debt deal cut with President Donald Trump and the single-payer proposal by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) — which Sen. Lindsey Graham says is “a gift from the political gods” — some people are starting to wonder if the Democrats got ahead of themselves. Meanwhile, lawmakers are trying to get their base motivated one more time to stave off the latest round of repeal-and-replace efforts.
‘You Pass It There, We’ll Pass It Here’: Ryan Promises To Shepherd Graham-Cassidy Bill Through House
Despite having passed their version with just a single vote to spare, Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) and Republican House leaders are optimistic that if the bill gets to them, they’ll get members to fall in line.
Because of the way Medicaid would be restructured, the states that embraced expansion will face the largest cuts. Most of the states that did not expand Medicaid coverage under the Affordable Care Act would see an increase in federal funding.
What Would New Bill Do? Get Rid Of Subsidies, Drastically Alter Medicaid And More
Media outlets take a look at what’s being proposed — including a major rethinking of federal health care funding — in the Graham-Cassidy bill.
Republicans Press Forward With Repeal Efforts Despite Governors’ Plea To Reject Measure
A group of bipartisan governors urges Congress to reject the last-ditch repeal-and-replace effort coming from Sens. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) and Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), but lawmakers are charging forward. It’s still unclear if they have the votes, but Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) says she’s considering the bill, touting the flexibility it gives to states.
First Edition: September 20, 2017
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
A selection of opinions on health care from around the country.
Medicaid Meanderings: Thoughts On Privatization, Expansion And Attending To The Program
Kansas’ Medicaid program offers a lens through which one can view various aspects of the ongoing debate over revamping this state-federal program.
Single-Payer Perspectives: ‘A Growing Moment’ Or ‘No Miracle Cure’
Opinion writers offer a variety of thoughts on single-payer health care systems in general and the current proposal put forth by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) in specific.
Different Takes: A Repeal-Replace Redux?; Time To Take Graham-Cassidy’s ‘Zombie’ Bill Seriously
Editorial pages across the country are analyzing recent developments in the congressional GOP’s ongoing repeal-and-replace effort and taking notice of the latest — what some say is the last-ditch — measure to undo the Affordable Care Act.
Media outlets report on news from California, Indiana, Pennsylvania, Colorado, Minnesota, Oregon, Maryland, Iowa and New Hampshire.
Western States Have Disproportionately High Suicide Rates For Veterans
Epidemiologist Rajeev Ramchand, who has a background in studying suicide, said there could be several factors that led to the results, including gun ownership, difficulty accessing proper health care and isolation from communities. Meanwhile, after a series of disappointments from its supercomputer Watson, IBM is counting on Watson’s efforts with the VA health system.
