Latest KFF Health News Stories
‘Obamacare Must Go’: Pence Draws Hard Line On Replacement At CPAC
The vice president promised those at the Conservative Political Action Conference that “America’s Obamacare nightmare is about to end.”
Kansas House Passes Medicaid Expansion Bill But Senate Action Is Uncertain
Gov. Sam Brownback opposes Medicaid expansion, and the margin in the House vote was three votes shy of a veto-proof majority.
8 Out Of 10 Americans Support Health Law’s Medicaid Expansion, Poll Finds
Both Republicans and Democrats wanted to preserve the funding that’s helped 11 million low-income people get health care coverage.
Governors, Who Hold Key Role In GOP’s Hopes To Revamp Medicaid, Bring Concerns To D.C.
The National Governors Association’s annual meeting begins in Washington this weekend, and the governors are expecting to raise their concerns about efforts to change Medicaid in discussions with members of Congress and President Donald Trump. Some states are already requesting waivers to make key alterations in that program, but many of the governors are nervous about how Republican efforts could shift financial responsibilities to the states.
Boehner: Repeal Won’t Happen Because ‘Republicans Never Ever Agree On Health Care’
The former House speaker says he should never have called it “repeal and replace” because most of the framework of the Affordable Care Act will probably remain.
All The Outrage At Town Halls Over Repeal Not Backed By Cold-Hard Cash
Health groups and advocacy organizations that once supported the health law haven’t returned with large financial efforts to save the legislation. So although supporters are making their voices heard at town halls, without money to back it up, they might be left fighting formidable foes without much punch.
But others point out the dangers of proceeding without clear cut methods to ensure the process doesn’t harm people who gained coverage. Meanwhile, a key House committee is hoping to begin the mark up for repeal and replace legislation next month.
First Edition: February 24, 2017
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
A selection of opinions on health care from around the country.
Longer Looks: The Alzheimer’s Hypothesis; For-Profit Med Schools; And A Reporter’s Brain Cancer
Each week, KHN’s Shefali Luthra finds interesting reads from around the Web.
Outlets report on news from New York, Texas, Arizona, Florida, California, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Louisiana, Connecticut, New Hampshire, Iowa and Ohio.
Atlanta-Area Hospital System To Take Over 27 Walgreens Retail Health Clinics In City
Also in Georgia, a turf war reignites among the state’s hospitals over a cancer center’s designation. And in Maryland, Johns Hopkins partners with a health real estate firm to explore future developments.
Mass. Nonprofit Financially Helps Patients To Get Treatment For Opioid Abuse
In other news on the painkiller epidemic, a Philadelphia doctor admits to making $5 million by pushing pills on patients. And a Minnesota sheriff’s office offers addicted inmates medication to lessen cravings.
Vitamin IVs: A Cure To Hangovers And Jet Lag Or Just The Latest Fad?
Like other supplements, IVs that pump vitamins and amino acids directly into the bloodstream are lacking robust scientific evidence to show that they actually work. Also in public health news: ALS, schizophrenia, ADHD, heart screenings and geriatricians.
With Abortion Potentially In Crosshairs, Oregon AG Readies For A Fight
Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum is concerned about the threats of federal government funds being cut off for Planned Parenthood.
Theranos’ Arizona Lab Hit With Some Of CMS’s Harshest Penalties
The startup is also facing federal civil and criminal probes, and lawsuits brought by former retail partner Walgreen Co., investors and patients, including some who had tests done at the Arizona facility.
On The Backs Of Devastating Failures, Biotech Pins Hopes On New Alzheimer’s Drug
It’s the disease that has befuddled drugmakers for decades, and a recent string of high-profile setbacks have rocked the industry. But one company is pushing forward in hopes of breaking into a market worth billions.
Democrats, Worried About Pricing, Beseech Army Not To Grant Exclusive Deal For Zika Vaccine
Lawmakers are concerned that even though taxpayers funded the vaccine’s development, they may be priced out of being able to afford it if Sanofi is given an exclusive license.
Kansas House Breathes Life Back Into Medicaid Expansion Bill
After the measure had been tabled and left for dead by a House committee Tuesday, the full House added Medicaid expansion to another bill and gave it preliminary approval.
ACA Effort To Fight Fraud Strips Thousands Of Doctors From Medicaid Approval List
Modern Healthcare analyzes efforts by states to validate reimbursement eligibility of doctors and estimates that as many as 65,000 may have fallen off the program. In other news, Medicaid advocates stress the expansion benefits in advance of the governors’ annual meeting this weekend.
