Latest KFF Health News Stories
GOP’s Proposed Cuts To Medicaid Would Ripple Across The Country
From nursing homes to mental health services to private coverage, the changes proposed by Republicans to Medicaid would have wide-ranging effects.
The Wall Street Journal offers a deep dive on Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. Meanwhile, he says he’s considering a bipartisan solution if Republicans can’t get enough votes.
Will Republicans Switch From An Obamacare Repeal To An Obamacare Bailout?
With the Better Care Reconciliation Act’s prospects appearing dim, are there next steps? In other news on repeal efforts: what Americans want for health care is murky; a look at how the proposed bill would affect you; subsidies to help pay for coverage; the number of uninsured in the U.S. is climbing; and more.
Senator From Deep Red West Virginia Promises To Be Vote That Torpedoes Plan If Need Be
Sen. Shelley Moore Capito’s state of West Virginia relies heavily on Medicaid funding and has been hard hit by the opioid epidemic, both issues which would face threats from the Republican health care bill. Other senators over the past few days have spoken about the proposed bill as well. Media outlets offer a look at where they stand.
After The Recess, Doubts Over Health Plan Only Continue To Grow
The holiday break did little to shore up support for the Republican health care plan.
Senators Return From Break To Try To Tackle Health Care Before August Recess
They have three weeks before they’re scheduled to leave town again.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Viewpoints: Let Free Market Sort Out Health Care; GOP Should Start Again From Scratch
A selection of opinions on health care from around the country.
Research Roundup: Safety-Net Hospitals, Spending Implications Of BCRA, End-Of-Life Care
Each week, KHN compiles a selection of recently released health policy studies and briefs.
Media outlets report on news from Virginia, Oregon, Missouri, Washington, Minnesota, Illinois, California, North Carolina, Georgia, Texas and New Hampshire.
AnMed Health, a not-for-profit hospital system, agrees to pay $1.3 million to settle a federal lawsuit charging that the facility did not provide required treatment for patients with unstable psychiatric conditions in its emergency departments. Elsewhere, hospital news from Maryland, Texas and New York makes headlines.
It’s Becoming Harder To Treat Gonorrhea With Antibiotics As Bacteria Evolves
Today’s other public health stories cover cancer death rates in rural areas, dementia, tobacco use in movies, mental health of the homeless and traveler stress.
N.Y. Hospital Offers To Treat British Baby At Center Of Life-Support Battle In Europe
New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center says it would admit Charlie Gard, an 11-month-old infant with a rare and fatal genetic disease, if allowed by law and if he can be transferred safely. European courts ruled that the baby could be removed from life support against the wishes of his parents.
Amount Of Opioids Prescribed In U.S. Is Falling, But That’s Where The Good News Ends
Scientists say there are still “too many people getting medicine at too high a level and for too long.”
Opana ER Maker To Withdraw Controversial Opioid Following Rare FDA Request
Pharmaceutical company Endo will voluntarily pull the painkiller, which is about twice as powerful as OxyContin, based on Food and Drug Administration concerns that the drug was too easy to abuse. Other news on the opioid public health crisis comes out of North Carolina, Tennessee and Pennsylvania.
Medicare Beneficiaries In Observation Care May Face Surprise Hospital, Nursing Home Bills
A Modesto Bee article examines the costs for one woman. Also, KHN reports on problems with a Medicare program designed to help poorly performing nursing homes.
Generic Drug Trade Group: Md. Price Gouging Law Is Unconstitutional, Will Harm Patients
The Association for Accessible Medicines is suing the state, saying the legislation grants Maryland power to regulate sales outside its borders.
Limited Supply Of Cancer Drug May Force Doctors To Have To Choose Who To Save
The therapy known as CAR-T can’t be stockpiled. “God, it’s awful,’’ said Carl June from the University of Pennsylvania. “I can’t tell you how bad.’’ In other pharmaceutical news, rare-disease drugmakers speak out against the Republican health care bill, a study finds that risks for drugs are not prominent and accessible on smartphones, and a conservative group pushes for House Energy and Commerce Chairman Greg Walden’s support on right-to-try legislation.
Georgia’s Public Health Commissioner Tapped To Replace Frieden As CDC Director
Dr. Brenda Fitzgerald may prove to be a controversial pick. In 2014 during the West African Ebola crisis, Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal stated that water destroys Ebola viruses and attributed the false notion to Fitzgerald.
Tired Of Waiting For State Payments, Aetna Plans To Quit Illinois Medicaid Managed Care Program
The insurer says the state owes it nearly $700 million but it hopes an accommodation can be reached.
