Latest KFF Health News Stories
N.C. Republicans Offer Medicaid Expansion Bill
The proposal, offered by four Republican members including a former hospital executive, includes a premium of about 2 percent of enrollees’ household income and protocols for routine physicals and screenings. Media outlets also look at concerns in Oklahoma that new federal policies will cut Medicaid funding for hospitals, a large increase in Medicaid enrollees in Virginia and Florida’s plan to change Medicaid eligibility.
‘It’s Already Too Fast’: Critics Warn That Speeding Up FDA Approval Process Dangerous For Patients
President Donald Trump’s nominee to head the Food and Drug Administration has pushed the idea that the process is “cumbersome” and slow, but some challenge that it’s actually the opposite.
Gorsuch Evades Firm Answers On Aid-In-Dying, But Past Writings Offer Detailed Look At Views
Newly minted Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch in his book “The Future of Assisted Suicide and Euthanasia” built a legal and moral case against the practice. Meanwhile, aid-in-dying has seen a steady, yearly increase since it has been enacted.
Administration’s Global Health Cuts Could Lead To ‘Catastrophic Loss Of Life’
The White House proposes reducing funding to major programs including the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, help for aid organizations that provide family planning and other health services and contributions to the United Nations Population Fund. Meanwhile, experts are “very concerned” that the Trump administration is not prepared to deal with a pandemic outbreak, and an idea that all research should serve a national purpose sparks debate.
Job Growth In Health Care Sector Stumbles Amid Health Law Uncertainty
In the first three months of this year, health care added an average of 20,000 jobs per month, compared with an average monthly gain of 32,000 in 2016. In other news, hospitals and health systems fear loss of reimbursements, and the Iowa Hospital Association says insurers should be doing more to protect gains made under Obamacare.
Analysis Undercuts Popular Warning That ACA Marketplace Is In Death Spiral
After years in which many insurers lost money “we are seeing the first signs in 2016 that this market could be manageable for most health insurers,” Standard & Poor’s analysts said.
The Health Law’s Unlikely Defenders: Republicans
As Republican efforts to dismantle and replace the Affordable Care Act continue, some in the party are speaking out for provisions in the legislation, such as coverage for people with pre-existing conditions. Meanwhile, a left-leaning group will launch attack ads just in time for congressional recess, media outlets look at the ramifications of the GOP health plan and what’s next for the resistance movement that helped bring about the collapse of the Republicans’ bill.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Viewpoints: The GOP’s ‘Art Of Repeal’; Revisions In Resident Work Hours
A collection of opinions on health care from around the country.
Research Roundup: Maternal ‘Churn’; The ACA And Hospitals’ Bottom Lines
Each week, KHN compiles a selection of recently released health policy studies and briefs.
Outlets report on news from Georgia, California, Illinois, Texas, Massachusetts, Virginia, Iowa and New Hampshire.
Cities, States Seeking To Break Crime Cycles Look At New Mental Health Options For Prisoners
“If you took drugs and alcohol and mental illness out of my jail, my jail would be empty,” Sheriff Mark Wasylyshyn of Wood County, Ohio, tells Stateline. Also, a federal judge in New York says state officials are subverting a court order to help mentally ill residents, and a new mental health program for teens is launched in Palo Alto, Calif.
A Year After Prince’s Death Put A Spotlight On Opioid Crisis, Questions Still Remain
Investigators are still trying to figure out how the singer got the fentanyl. Meanwhile, military leaders are calling for more ships to be able to police the drug flow into the U.S. from China, and a look at the “smart use” rules people are coming up with in the era of powerful opioids.
Scientists Try To Map Architecture Of ‘Happy, Healthy Cells’ To Better Understand Diseases
Scientists have been limited in their ability to assess the structure of healthy cells but a new tool may help to see inside of them. In other news, a look at giant, cell-like viruses that have confounded researchers.
These Arkansas Residents Pay Taxes But Won’t Ever Be Able To Qualify For Medicaid, Medicare
There is a large community of people in northwest Arkansas that live in the United States under a treaty that came about when the Marshall Islands declared independence. Although they contribute to taxes and everything else that comes with living in America, they don’t have access to safety-net health programs like anyone else would.
Texas Plan To Cut Medicaid Services For People With Disabilities Draws Opposition
About 50 people spoke out against the proposal during a hearing. Also, Florida lawmakers are considering adding a work requirement for Medicaid there.
Maryland Is First State To Take Steps To Protect Planned Parenthood Funding
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.
In Turnaround, FDA To Allow Genetic Tests To Be Sold To Consumers
The decision to let 23andMe sell saliva-testing kits that report on markers for 10 diseases is expected to open the floodgates for more at-home tests for disease risks.
FDA’s Process Dinged For Being ‘Burdensome And Slow,’ But It’s Faster Than Its European Counterpart
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.
Aetna Exits Iowa’s Health Law Exchanges, Saying Moves To Stabilize Marketplace Not Enough
The decision comes on the heels of Iowa’s other major insurer — Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield — announcing it will no longer sell plans on the health law marketplace.
