Latest KFF Health News Stories
States Nervously Consider Possible Impact As Washington Debates Medicaid Changes
In places like Iowa and Maryland, Medicaid expansion has significantly reduced the number of uninsured patients and helped hospitals. Republican efforts to revamp the health law and President Donald Trump’s proposed budget could push more Medicaid costs back to states, who say they likely can’t pay for the current programs.
Single-Payer Movement Provides Outlet For Stymied Liberals’ Sweeping Health Care Agendas
Despite being in an era where Republicans want to move health care toward conservative-backed policies, there’s a new energy infusing the single-payer movement in the states.
Trump’s Ambivalence On Insurers’ Payments Hobbles States’ Efforts To Maintain Marketplaces
State officials are working to calm insurers’ fears so that they will stay in the health law’s marketplaces in 2018, but the administration’s refusal to say how it will handle some payments to the companies is hurting the effort.
Insurers Say They’re Staying ‘Above The Fray’ In Health Care Fight So As Not To ‘Add To The Noise’
But some wonder if the reason they’re so quiet is because their influence has been weakened.
From ‘Subsidy Cliffs’ To Empty Marketplaces: How States’ Unique Circumstances Are Shaping The Debate
Media outlets offer looks at how the Affordable Care Act is playing out in Maine and Iowa, and why the senators from those states are fighting the fights they are. Meanwhile, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo is taking preemptive steps to protect the legislation from Republicans’ efforts to dismantle it.
Republican Senators Planting Seeds Of Doubt On Repeal And Replace Prospects
The lawmakers are returning from recess and sounding a more pessimistic tone about their health care legislation efforts. Meanwhile, Vice President Mike Pence is pressing them to finish up a plan by the end of the summer.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Perspectives: Taking Stock Of The Health Reform Policy Paths Taken So Far And What Could Happen Next
Opinion writers also offer their thoughts on Medicaid spending, universal care and issues related to how long-term care can be financed.
A selection of opinions on health care from around the country.
Research Roundup: Deaths In Teaching Hospitals; Medicaid and Opioids
Each week, KHN compiles a selection of recently released health policy studies and briefs.
Media outlets report on news out of Minnesota, New York, Kansas, Missouri, Florida, Ohio and New Hampshire.
Hospital’s Acquisition Binges Have Left Doctors With Sour Taste In Their Mouths
The physicians say Community Health Systems’ quality has suffered greatly.
For First Time, Majority Of Physicians Don’t Own Their Practice
The changing economics of the health care industry in the country has shifted doctors toward joining larger practices or health systems.
Louisiana Gambles On Experimental Cancer Proton Therapy In Hopes Of Becoming Medical Tourism Hub
The state promises $10.6 million to two companies to help subsidize the construction of centers in Baton Rouge and New Orleans. In other cancer treatment news, KHN reports on a substantial decline in research supported by the National Institutes of Health.
Scientists May Have Cracked The Code On How We’re So Good At Recognizing Faces
The researchers studied the parts of the brain that are triggered by aspects of a face, and were able to map out a predicted picture of the person based on just looking at those cells that lit up.
Using Stem Cells To Reverse Death: Cruel Quackery Or A Glimmer Of Hope For The Hopeless?
One company wants to pursue research on such a treatment for patients who are declared brain dead, but legal and ethical questions abound. In other public health news: music and grammar, strokes in young adults, brain stimulation, Ebola, Zika and more.
Recovery Coaches Tap Into Own Experience To Help Those With Opioid Addictions
Several states are implementing programs centered around counselors who have been through the experience themselves. “My job is to open myself up and be like a toolbox for them,” Tarik Arafat says. In other news, a son’s final letter to his parents reveals the painful struggle of getting sober, and Ohio’s lieutenant governor talks about how the epidemic has hit close to home for him.
Public Health Experts Dismayed At Trump’s ‘Reckless’ Decision To Pull Out Of Paris Accord
A warmer planet will bring more air pollution, fuel the spread of infectious diseases and increase the incidence of certain cancers, among many other things, they warn. “Climate change is perhaps the most important public health issue of our time,” said Mary Pittman, the president and CEO of the Public Health Institute.
Price, Who Owned Drug Stocks, Allegedly Pushed Australians On Policies To Benefit Drugmakers
A congressional aide tells ProPublica that Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price, while still in Congress in 2016 and visiting Australia, put pressure on officials there to change their position so that drugmakers could keep their data protected for 12 years instead of five.
Single-Payer Marches Forward In California, But Sky-High Price Tag Threatens To Trip It Up
The proposal passed the state Senate and now heads to the Assembly, but with few details on how to foot the $400-billion-a-year cost for the plan, the prospects don’t look too sunny.
