Latest KFF Health News Stories
After All That Turmoil, House May Have To Vote On Health Plan Again
In an “abundance of caution,” House leaders are refraining from sending the legislation to the Senate until the CBO score comes back.
Not Satisfied With What They’re Seeing In Congress, Governors Start Drafting Own Health Plan
Governors will have more influence over the final legislation to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, because they’re the ones who will be implementing the vision in their states. Meanwhile, lobbying groups are hoping they’ll have better luck in the Senate than they did the House.
‘There Are No Hands On The Wheel’: Insurers Heap Blame On Administration For Next Year’s Rate Hikes
The finger-pointing toward the Trump administration undermines GOP arguments that the marketplaces are collapsing under their own weight. Meanwhile, Republicans are seizing on the increases to drum up support for their repeal-and-replace push.
Democratic Attorneys General Seek Role In ACA Subsidy Case: ‘Lives Are At Stake’
The subsidies that are paid to insurance companies under the Affordable Care Act have been a threatened negotiation tool by President Donald Trump and have long been targeted by congressional Republicans. But not paying them would wreak havoc on the marketplaces, insurers and Democrats say.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
A selection of public health opinions from around the country.
Editorial writers examine different aspects of the current debate surround the GOP repeal-and-replace measure in Congress and the status of Obamacare’s marketplaces.
Read recent commentaries about drug-cost issues.
Drugmakers Deploy Lobbyists As Battle Over High Prices Moves To State Level
News outlets report on stories related to pharmaceutical pricing.
Media outlets report on news from New York, Georgia, Massachusetts, Texas, Florida, Illinois, Maryland, California, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Oregon.
Researchers say in vitro gametogenesis — creating babies from skin cells — is only a couple decades away from being possible. That means a gay couple could have a child genetically related to both parents, but it also means someone could for all intents and purposes clone themselves. In other public health news: teens and mental health, maternal age, superbugs in hospitals, knee pain and more.
Test Strips Allow People Using Opioids To Test Their Supply For Fentanyl
The synthetic drug is extremely powerful and is contributing to the high number of overdoses across the country. These kits could help people determine if what they are about to take is stronger than they thought it was. Meanwhile, IBM and MAP Health Management are teaming up to create software to help identify and treat addiction.
Taking Abortion Pills At Home Just As Safe As In A Clinic, Study Finds
Researchers studied the outcomes of people who turned to Women on Web — a website that provides counseling and abortion pills online — for help.
Administration Reportedly ‘Encouraged” Texas To Pursue Millions In Withheld Medicaid Funds
State officials will ask the Trump administration to hand over millions of dollars that the Obama administration withheld because the state cut Planned Parenthood centers from a family planning program.
Some States See Opening For Key Medicaid Changes With Trump Administration
At least six states have submitted waiver requests to make significant revisions to their Medicaid programs. Meanwhile, Pennsylvania announced it will expand Medicaid coverage for hepatitis C, and Oregon says it is checking to see if some enrollees got benefits without meeting income requirements for the program.
Hundreds Of Doctors Ask Administration To Let Displaced Haitians Stay In U.S.
They came to the United States following the 2010 earthquake. “Haiti reports some of the world’s worst health indicators, which continue to inhibit the country’s development,” the doctors wrote. “These deadly health threats jeopardize the safety and well-being of 50,000 Haitians.”
Health Care Providers Ask Congress To Expand Telemedicine Coverage In Medicare
The group is also seeking permission for Medicare Advantage plans to tailor coverage for some patients with special needs by offering services such as meal delivery for people with diabetes, rides to doctors’ appointments and home modifications. Under current law, any add-ons in Medicare Advantage have to be available to all plan members.
Troops Who Have Been Wounded Are Being Discharged For Misconduct At Increasingly High Rate
A Government Accountability Office report finds that the Army often failed to conduct required screenings for post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injuries before discharging soldiers.
Montana’s Special Election May Be Early Litmus Test For Potential Fallout From Health Care Turmoil
President Donald Trump won the state by 20 points, but will all the shake-up over Republicans’ attempts to dismantle the Affordable Care Act sway voters?
6.3M People With Preexisting Conditions Could Face Higher Premiums Under GOP Health Plan
Republicans say the provision would not affect many people because insurers could only charge patients more if their coverage lapsed for 63 consecutive days. It turns out that’s not as rare as it may seem. Meanwhile, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) refuses to promise he’ll keep the House’s tax cuts in the upper chamber’s bill, the idea of more generous subsidies is in play, and a look at why Maine’s high-risk pool was actually successful while others have failed.
