Latest KFF Health News Stories
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Viewpoints: The GOP’s Disparate Strategies To Repeal, Replace And Repair The Health law
Opinion writers offer their thoughts and advice regarding how to move forward on health policy in terms of the Affordable Care Act as well as Medicaid and Medicare.
A selection of opinions from around the country.
Longer Looks: John Oliver; Replacing Obamacare; And Birth Control In The Military
Each week, KHN’s Shefali Luthra finds interesting reads from around the Web.
Outlets report on news from California, Florida, Kansas, Texas, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Illinois, Iowa and Georgia.
Breakthrough Opens Possibility Of Cryogenically Preserving Organs
Before, researchers always had to contend with damage from re-warming frozen organs. In other public health news: sickle cell disease; bird flu; embryo research; syphilis; eczema; and bone marrow.
Opioid State Of Emergency Declared In Maryland In Face Of Growing Number Of Fatal Overdoses
Gov. Larry Hogan announces that the state will spend $10 million a year on prevention and treatment services as well as increased law enforcement efforts. And news outlets report on other stories on the epidemic from Pennsylvania and Virginia.
Facebook To Bolster Its Suicide Prevention Tools
In response to recent episodes in which deeply troubling moments play out in real time, this social media platform hopes to play a role in curbing suicide attempts.
Failure Rates For Contraception Falling
It’s not clear what the reason for the better rates are, but the study’s author suggests major public health efforts in recent years to improve public knowledge about contraception may have helped.
After Patients’ Deaths, Company Pumps Brakes On Cutting Edge Cancer Treatment
Juno Therapeutics is shifting its focus, but will be playing from behind in a hot field after having to abandon the treatment.
When The Patient Voice Is Speaking With A Pharma Accent
A new study finds that 80 percent of patient advocacy groups get money from the industry. “I think that is not well known — I think that is a shock,” says Dr. Ezekiel J. Emanuel, one of the study’s authors.
Other States Watch Closely As Vermont Implements Ambitious ‘Pay For Performance’ Plan
The concept of paying doctors and hospitals based on how well they care for their patients and contain costs isn’t new, but no one has tried it on a scale of this size before.
Former Health Policy Adviser For Pence Tapped For CMS Position
Brian Neale worked with both Seema Verma — the Trump administration’s nominee to head the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services — and Vice President Mike Pence to create the Healthy Indiana Plan, the state’s Medicaid expansion plan also known as known as HIP 2.0. Meanwhile, the Senate continues to consider Verma’s nomination.
As Republicans coalesce around a plan to dismantle the health law and replace it with a system that relies more on tax credits, an analysis by the Kaiser Family Foundation finds that people with low- or moderate-incomes would get less financial assistance then they do currently. (KHN is an editorially independent program of the foundation.)
Selling Insurance Across State Lines Relies On Faulty Premise, Experts Say
Although the idea is appealing to Americans who favor market competition, when it comes to health insurance that competition really needs to be happening among hospitals and doctors. In other health law news: a Tennessee town is left with no options; repeal could be a boon for tax dodgers; community clinics worry about funding; the vice president is headed to Ohio to talk health; and more.
Kentucky A Messaging Battleground In War Over Health Care
The state has been held up as an example of how the Affordable Care Act should work. But the new governor says it shows how the law can fail. These very different visions were under the national spotlight Tuesday when former Gov. Steve Beshear offered the Democrats’ rebuttal to the president’s speech to Congress. Meanwhile, lawmakers in Indiana are warning about the pitfalls of repeal. “It’s reality hitting home,” GOP Senate leader David Long said.
Republicans Fiercely Guarding New Draft Of Repeal Plan
The leaders are trying to avoid a repeat of a draft being leaked. Meanwhile, House lawmakers are expected to vote on a repeal bill next week.
Trump’s Nod Toward Tax Credits Does Little To Ease Intra-Party Tensions Over Repeal
How to help Americans afford health care is one of the most divisive parts of the Republicans’ plan to dismantle and replace the health law. And, although President Donald Trump mentioned tax credits in his address to Congress on Tuesday, those who are in opposition to this approach don’t see the battle as being over.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Perspectives: Gouging Patients Has Never Been Industry’s Goal — But Everyone Still Ends Up Suffering
Read recent commentaries about drug-cost issues.
