Morning Breakouts

Latest KFF Health News Stories

Maryland Is First State To Take Steps To Protect Planned Parenthood Funding

Morning Briefing

The measure would direct $2 million from Maryland’s Medicaid budget and $700,000 for the state’s general fund to family-planning services. Meanwhile, California becomes latest state to support Planned Parenthood of Ohio in its suit against a state law excluding abortion providers from participating in publicly funded programs, and Shonda Rhimes joins the board of the organization.

FDA’s Process Dinged For Being ‘Burdensome And Slow,’ But It’s Faster Than Its European Counterpart

Morning Briefing

Dr. Scott Gottlieb, President Donald Trump’s pick to head the Food and Drug Administration, has been focused on what he’ll do to speed up the drug approval process to make it more like Europe. But the FDA is actually faster already. Meanwhile, a Medicare advisory panel backs a plan that could save $5 billion over five years in drug costs. And taxpayers fund pharmaceutical research but then have to pay exorbitant prices on those drugs — but if the U.S. government doesn’t do it, no one will.

Striking Three Things From Health Bill Would Win Over Freedom Caucus

Morning Briefing

Rep. Mark Meadows (R- N.C.) said the caucus would support the legislation if it did away with essential health benefits; community rating, which says insurers can’t charge sick people more for insurance; and guaranteed issue, which says insurers must cover people with pre-existing conditions.

Last-Minute Tweak To GOP Health Bill Does Little To Ease Intraparty Standoff

Morning Briefing

Republicans add language to create a risk-sharing fund, but both sides that have been fighting over the legislation say the change is not enough. Yet, House leadership tells members that they could be called back from recess early if a health plan deal is reached.

Hospice Workers Face History Of Neglect In Trying To Overcome African-American Distrust

Morning Briefing

Stat looks at efforts to tackle the issue of minority access to hospice care as a matter of social justice. In related news stories, former Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius urges doctors to allow patients to drive end-of-life care decisions while researchers study how diet might help ward off Alzheimer’s.

Mass. Medical Society Mulls Supporting Supervised Injection Sites For Drug Users

Morning Briefing

The facilities have a doctor or nurse on duty to monitor those who are using drugs so that it creates an environment where they have a better chance at surviving the experience. Outlets report on news on the crisis out of New Hampshire and Michigan as well.

Louisiana Republicans Decry Increases In Medicaid Spending After Expansion

Morning Briefing

As state officials announce that Louisiana’s spending on Medicaid will likely make up about half the budget in 2018, state Rep. John Schroder says, “This is growing uncontrollably.” And other Medicaid developments from Iowa, Wisconsin and Kentucky make news.

It’s ‘Like Some Nightmare We Couldn’t Have Conceived’: Abortion Opponents Shaken As Defunding Plans Falter

Morning Briefing

Defunding for Planned Parenthood was tied into the Republicans’ health care bill, and now that talks around it are collapsing, abortion opponents are left scrambling. Meanwhile, Politico looks at Ivanka Trump’s quiet attempts to reach out to the organization.