Morning Breakouts

Latest KFF Health News Stories

Women Who Drink Just One Glass Of Alcohol A Day Face Increased Breast Cancer Risk

Morning Briefing

Researchers also, for the first time, concluded evidence is strong that vigorous exercise reduces that risk. In other public health news: sun damage, opioid addiction medication, baby boxes, intelligence genes, gender-confirmation surgeries, and more.

New Hampshire Governor Supports Moving State To High-Risk Pool Model

Morning Briefing

Meanwhile, the state’s conservatives speak out against reported rate increases for next year. “The latest premium increases under Obamacare will break many families’ budgets,” says New Hampshire Republican State Committee Chairman Jeanie Forrester.

Head Of CMS Accused Of Offering Insurers Quid Pro Quo For Support Of GOP Health Bill

Morning Briefing

According to a Los Angeles Times investigation, during a meeting with industry officials, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services head Seema Verma linked payment of the insurers’ subsidies to providers’ support of the American Health Care Act.

Administration Asks For More Time In Insurer Subsidy Case, Keeping Destabilized Marketplace In Limbo

Morning Briefing

House Republicans, who filed the suit against the Obama administration, say the subsidies paid to insurers for reducing deductibles and other out-of-pocket costs for low-income consumers are unconstitutional because Congress did not specifically authorize the payments.

Trump’s Struggle With Syntax, Sentence Structure Could Signal Cognitive Decline, Experts Say

Morning Briefing

Stat talked with experts in neurolinguistics and cognitive assessment, as well as psychologists and psychiatrists, to analyze President Donald Trump’s changing speech patterns and what they might mean about the health of his brain.

Medical Research, Disease Prevention Programs Would Be Casualties Of Trump’s ‘Skinny Budget’

Morning Briefing

The budget for the Health and Human Services Department, which was briefly posted online and then removed, shows deep cuts to a variety of health care programs. The National Institutes of Health and the Food and Drug Administration would also be strongly impacted.

Dwindling Supply Of Vital But Simple Drug Setting Hospitals On Edge

Morning Briefing

Because of the shortage, doctors are having to make tough decisions on how they treat their patients. “Does the immediate need of a patient outweigh the expected need of a patient?” one asked. “It’s a medical and ethical question that goes beyond anything I’ve had to experience before.” In other public health news: infertility, pumping breast milk, services for deaf patients, neuroscience, probiotics and more.

Texas Lawmakers Pass Strict Abortion Bill, Shifting Priority From Protecting Mother To Protecting Fetus

Morning Briefing

The legislation bans a commonly used procedure for second-trimester abortions, similar to laws that courts have blocked in other states. And Missouri asks an appellate court to step in over a judge’s decision to block the state’s abortion restrictions.

Georgia Appears To Dodge A Bullet As Blue Cross Doesn’t Signal Plans To Pull Back Operations

Morning Briefing

In its initial filings with the state, the company says it will continue to sell individual policies in all 159 counties. In other news, a New Hampshire paper reports indications that premiums could go up significantly and California Healthline examines which companies are enticing customers on that exchange.