Morning Breakouts

Latest KFF Health News Stories

Different Visions: Are Republicans Trying ‘To Starve’ Obamacare To Death; Analyzing The State Of ACA Insurance Markets And Premiums

Morning Briefing

Opinion writers offer a variety of thoughts on health policy issues, including whether the health law is “collapsing under its own weight,” some ominous predictions about the individual insurance markets, the importance of the public option and a range of other ideas.

Patients Seeking Aid In Dying Driven More By Psychological Suffering Than Physical Pain, Study Finds

Morning Briefing

“It’s what I call existential distress. Their quality of life is not what they want.” says researcher Madeline Li, an associate professor at University of Toronto. Today’s other public health news stories cover so-called “conversion therapy,” Zika, tuberculosis, fitness trackers, knee arthritis and “high-intensity” drinking.

In Snapshot Of How Bad Opioid Crisis Has Become, Counselors Overseeing Halfway House Die Of Overdoses

Morning Briefing

“The staff members in charge of supervising recovering addicts succumbed to their own addiction and died of opioid overdoses. Opioids are a monster that is slowly consuming our population,” Pennsylvania’s Chester County District Attorney Tom Hogan said.

Mental Health ‘Czar’ Nominee Renews Debate Between Community And Hospital Care Models

Morning Briefing

Those on the medical side seek more hospital beds and involuntary drug treatment for people in need but the other side suggest medical treatment alone is not enough. Also, the Veterans Affairs secretary tells a House hearing that the VA wants to begin offering mental health services to former service members with less-than-honorable discharges.

Despite Budget Director’s Artful Evasiveness, Medicaid Is Most Definitely On The Chopping Block

Morning Briefing

Office of Management and Budget Director Mick Mulvaney went to Capitol Hill to sell President Donald Trump’s proposed budget, saying, “There are no Medicaid cuts in the terms of what ordinary human beings would refer to as a cut.” The Associated Press fact checks his claim.

Sole Marketplace Insurer In One-Fifth Of Mo.’s Counties Latest To Withdraw From ACA Exchanges

Morning Briefing

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City announced it has lost $100 million through 2016 selling plans under the Affordable Care Act, calling the losses “unsustainable.” Meanwhile, Anthem is saying it is still up in the air whether it will continue to participate in the individual marketplace next year.

Following Analysis, Hospitals Speak Out Against Republicans’ Health Plan

Morning Briefing

“We cannot support legislation that the Congressional Budget Office clearly indicates would jeopardize coverage for millions of Americans,” said Rick Pollack, president of the American Hospital Association. AARP is also against the legislation.