Latest KFF Health News Stories
Experts Race To Patch Vulnerable Health Networks Following Massive International Cyberattack
Some medical devices were infected, but primarily the latest attack reinforced the need to correct any weaknesses in medical cybersecurity systems.
Texas May Become Litmus Test For Banning Medicaid Funds For Planned Parenthood
After refusing federal Medicaid money so that it could ban Planned Parenthood from its family planning program, Texas is asking for the money back. If it’s granted, it could be a green light for other states to do the same.
Drugmakers Would Be Required To Notify HHS, Justify Price Hikes Under New Bill
The companies would have to provide manufacturing, R&D, marketing costs, as well as net profits associated with the drugs. In other pharmaceutical news, consolidation and how it’s led to higher drug prices; direct-to-consumer ads and their role in pushing drugs; and what happens when a patient’s body turns against the drugs trying to save them.
For Medicaid Enrollees In Maine, Concerns Grow About Possible Cuts In Funding
Families that depend on the federal-state health care program for low-income residents fear that changes championed by congressional Republicans could undermine coverage, especially for people with disabilities and seniors who need long-term care. Also, Illinois officials are preparing to shake up which companies provide managed care services for the state’s Medicaid program.
Former Insurance Executive Details How Companies ‘Rigged’ Medicare Payments
In an interview with The New York Times, former UnitedHealthcare official Benjamin Poehling talks about his allegations that Medicare Advantage plans would list patients as very sick to get better federal payments. In other Medicare news, some groups representing health care providers are asking federal officials to give more consideration to the process of removing Social Security numbers from Medicare ID cards and John Oliver uses his show to skewer a dialysis provider.
Credentials Of Trump’s Anticipated Choice To Be USDA ‘Chief Scientist’ Questioned
ProPublica reports that Sam Clovis, who is expected to be named undersecretary of the agency’s department that manages research on everything from climate change to nutrition, has never taken a graduate course in science. In other Trump administration news, the Cleveland Clinic plans to continue to hold its annual Florida fundraiser at Mar-A-Lago, despite some complaints.
Trump’s Abortion ‘Gag Rule’ Will Block $8.8B In Aid To Fight Malaria, AIDS And Other Diseases
With the rule in place, any foreign nongovernmental group that wants American money for any of its health activities must promise not to “promote abortion as a method of family planning.”
In Latest Move To Roll Back Health Law, Administration Dismantles Small-Business Marketplace
Relatively few people will actually be affected by the decision, but it shows the direction in which the administration wants to go.
Health Industry, Shunted To Sidelines In House Negotiations, Eager For A Chance At The Senate
Meanwhile, under the reconcilliation process that Republican lawmakers are using to dismantle the Affordable Care Act, each provision they change has to be directly related to the budget. But Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Rand Paul (R-Ky.) argue that the rules aren’t set in stone.
Preexisting Conditions Took Spotlight In House Debates, But Medicaid Moves To Center Stage In Senate
Senators are searching for trade-offs in an effort to save the health law’s Medicaid expansion.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
A selection of public health opinions from around the country.
Editorial writers examine various issues involved in the Republican efforts to change the federal-state low-income insurance program.
Different Takes: Look Past Capitol Hill To See Real Reform; GOP Health Plan ‘Insults’ Women
Opinion pages nationwide highlight some of the key elements of the current repeal-and-replace debate.
Media outlets report on news from New Jersey, Missouri, Texas, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Alaska, Colorado, Oregon, Virginia, California and Georgia.
Now That Hep C Is Curable, Surgeons Want To Use Organs That Otherwise Would Have Been Thrown Out
As many as 1,000 kidneys are discarded each year because they’re infected with hepatitis C, but some think those could be going to needy patients. In other public health news: suicide at a young age, ADHD and car crashes, sunscreen at school, yawning, second-hand smoke, and more.
Significant Racial, Ethnic Gaps Still Remain Despite Efforts To Broadly Reduce Sudden Infant Deaths
It’s not clear why American Indian and Alaska Native infants experience a higher rate of SIDS than others. Meanwhile, the trend of having babies sleep in a box to reduce risk is spreading to the U.S., and air mattresses pose a danger to infants.
The Implants Used To Rebuild Her Chest After She Had Her Breasts Removed Gave Her Cancer
The Food and Drug Administration first reported a link between the implants and cancer in 2011, and information was added to the products’ labeling. But the warnings were deeply embedded in a dense list of complications, and no implants have been recalled.
Federal Tough-On-Crime Drug Policy Sparks Criticism In State Hit Hard By Opioid Epidemic
“We should treat our nation’s drug epidemic as a health crisis and less as a ‘lock ‘em up and throw away the key’ problem,” says Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.). Meanwhile, after HHS Secretary Tom Price angered advocates last week, Stat offers a look at the effectiveness of medication-assisted treatment.
Oregon Officials May Be Nearing Budget Deal That Would Avert Cuts In Medicaid
Last month, Democrats in the legislature said that a budget shortfall could mean they would need to drop 350,000 people from the Medicaid program. News outlets also report on Medicaid news in Nebraska, Virginia and California.
