Latest KFF Health News Stories
Ideas For Tackling Prescription Drug Costs Gain Traction With White House, Lawmakers
White House budget director Mick Mulvaney says that the administration is looking at ways to make drugmakers pay for mandatory rebates on medications bought through Medicare, as done with Medicaid. And Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price will hold listening sessions on the issue in the coming weeks.
Vulnerable Senators, Trying To Walk Fine Line On Abortion, Draw Fire From Both Sides
With the issue expected to be a lightning rod in the 2018 elections, lawmakers are trying to find the right balance. It isn’t easy.
Ryan Says He Continues To Seek To Revamp Medicare To Help Control Federal Spending
The House speaker says in a radio interview that he is seeking “comprehensive Medicare legislation because that is the biggest one of all the unfunded liabilities.” Also, a new Commonwealth Fund study looks at the out-of-pocket health costs facing Medicare beneficiaries, and federal officials make an adjustment on new payment rules for doctors.
Amid News Of Firms Fleeing From Exchanges, Largest Kansas Insurer Says It Will Stay
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas filed its preliminary decision, but it may change depending on what happens with the American Health Care Act in Congress. Meanwhile, Tennessee’s insurance chief is frustrated by the lack of answers on insurer subsidies.
School Districts Sound The Alarm Over Medicaid Cuts In GOP’s Health Plan
They say they won’t be able to absorb any cuts to the estimated $4 billion schools receive in annual Medicaid reimbursements, and that something will have to give. Meanwhile, families who rely on other Medicaid programs and the Children’s Health Insurance Program are also worried about their future under the Republican health care plan.
Selling GOP Health Plan To Public May Make Herculean Effort To Get It Through House Seem Easy
After a brutal few months of negotiations, Republican lawmakers managed to eke out a victory in the House. But now they have to convey to their voters, who are terrified of losing health care, why that was a good thing.
Flickers Of Bipartisanship May Light Way For Plan B In Senate If GOP Legislation Fails
There are signs that moderates are reaching across the aisle to talk about health care. Meanwhile, a controversial provision in the Republican legislation was predicted to die in the upper chamber, but now experts aren’t so sure. And The Washington Post fact checks claims about rising premiums — under both Obamacare and the Republican bill.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
A selection of public health opinions from around the country.
Perspectives On Insurance Markets And Mergers; Preexisting Conditions; Medicaid Reform
Opinion writers explore a variety of health policy issues in play as lawmakers continue to debate changes to the health care system.
Research Roundup: Wait Times; Telemedicine For Mental Health; Medicaid Waivers
Each week, KHN compiles a selection of recently released health policy studies and briefs.
Media outlets report on news from Ohio, Wisconsin, California, Colorado, Louisiana, Florida, Illinois, Massachusetts, Texas, Missouri and Georgia.
Medical Attention On Infant At Childbirth Can Sometimes Be At Expense Of Mother’s Health
The U.S. has the worst rate of maternal deaths in the developed world, and ProPublica and NPR report that 60 percent are preventable. In other public health news: the “gravity blanket” health claim retracted; bird flu surges; Brazil declares end to Zika emergency; self-checking for skin cancer; and more.
Debunking A 19th Century Myth: Humans Actually Have A Great Sense Of Smell
Researchers find that humans’ sense of smell is no less than any other mammal.
Fueled By The Opioid Crisis, Hepatitis C Cases Skyrocketing
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says access to clean syringes and a limit on Medicaid barriers to curative treatments for hepatitis C can reduce rates of death from the disease and transmission of the virus to others.
Experts Chide Price For Saying Addiction Medications Don’t ‘Move The Dial Much’
Using buprenorphine or methadone to treat opioid addiction is considered the standard of care. Meanwhile, Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price is touring states to talk about the epidemic that’s raging through the country, and senators warn President Donald Trump that cutting funding to the drug office will hamper efforts to curb that crisis.
Texas Lawmakers Want Abortion Clinics To Be Required To Report Complications To Health Department
Opponents argue that the procedure has a low complication rate.
Non-Sterile Equipment And Missing Tools Halt Surgeries At VA Hospital In Washington
In other veterans’ health news, lawmakers move forward with stalled Veterans Affairs legislation while the significant costs of private health care for vets concerns Senate appropriators.
Judge Gives Cigna Permission To Pull Out Of Proposed Merger With Anthem
The merger had been blocked after federal officials raised objections, but Anthem had sought court approval to keep Cigna from walking away from the proposal.
As 2018 Marketplace Premiums Appear To Be Heading Up, Trump Suggests He Might Cut Subsidies
The early indications from insurers suggest that premiums for plans sold on the health law’s marketplaces will rise on average again next year. Meanwhile, in an interview with the Economist, President Donald Trump talks about the cost-sharing subsidies that the federal government pays insurers to help cover expenses of low-income customers, saying “we don’t have to subsidize” Obamacare. “You know if I ever stop wanting to pay the subsidies, which I will,” Trump said. “Anytime I want.”
