Latest KFF Health News Stories
For Lessons On Dangers Of Relaxing FDA Regulations, Look No Further Than This $94K Cancer Drug
In an era where officials speak of deregulating and “streamlining” the Food and Drug Administration, a story of a blockbuster drug demonstrates the possible pitfalls of removing thorough vetting of experimental treatments. Meanwhile, the CEOs who met with the president reveal what happened behind closed doors, a California lawmaker takes aim at drug coupons, spiking insulin prices make diabetes one of the country’s most expensive diseases and more pharmaceutical news.
Health Law Supporters Take Page Out Of Opponents’ Playbook By Flooding Meetings
In an echo of the fervent turnout to lawmakers’ town hall meetings in 2009, protesters are now showing up to urge Republicans not to overturn the health law. Meanwhile, Modern Healthcare takes a look at how the first “replacement” hearing went, and The Hill explains the health law taxes that could be on the chopping block.
Hospitals Lost Billions In Funding When ACA Passed — Now They’re Fighting To Get It Back
The health law cut two types of hospital funding: charity care money and annual raises in Medicare reimbursement. But as Republicans take aim at dismantling the legislation, hospitals say they’re going to need those cuts repealed too. Meanwhile, insurers don’t want to go back to pre-health law days when they were seen as the bad guys.
Price, Who Has Opposed The Health Law Since Its Passage, Nears The Opportunity To Change It
The Senate appears likely to vote this week on the nomination of Rep. Tom Price, R-Ga., to head the Department of Health and Human Services.
Citing Complicated Nature Of Replacement, Trump Walks Back Promised Deadline
After vowing to move quickly on replacing the health law, the president now says there should be a plan ready by the end of this year or in 2018.
ACA Enrollment Slips Slightly As Confusion Swirls Around Future Of Health Law
This year, 9.2 million people signed up for coverage under the Affordable Care Act, a 4 percent decrease from last year.
First Edition: February 6, 2017
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
A selection of opinions on health care from around the country.
Health Policy Perspectives: Is It Best To Repeal, Replace Or Repair?
Opinion writers across country offer thought on the current next-step strategies for Obamacare.
Research Roundup: Unease Among ACA Insurers; Medical Device Monitoring
Each week, KHN compiles a selection of recently released health policy studies and briefs.
Outlets report on news from Kansas, Iowa, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Virginia, Texas, California, Pennsylvania and Florida.
Officials Struggle To Overcome Parents’ Reluctance Over HPV Vaccinations
Because the virus is sexually transmitted, many shy away from getting their pre-teen children vaccinated, but officials say that’s not the right way to think about it. In other public health news, pregnant women and marijuana, restaurant menus, the purpose of sleep, heart defects and Zika.
Medicare Patients Of Foreign-Educated Doctors More Likely To Survive
The study’s authors theorize that the reason for the better rates could be that the U.S. attracts the best and brightest from other nations.
Merck, Reporting Higher Profits But Lower Revenues, Says Expectations For 2017 Are Good
Also, drugmaker Amgen says tests of its controversial cholesterol drug show it performs well. But the company has not yet released the study’s data.
Federal Officials Ask 3 States To Continue Pilot Projects For People On Medicaid And Medicare
The states are testing efforts to better coordinate care for people eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid. News outlets also report on Medicaid developments in Georgia, Kansas, Alaska and Iowa.
California’s Republican Lawmakers Feeling The Heat On Party’s Vow To Repeal Health Law
Four members of Congress from Republican strongholds in California’s inland area have among the highest ratios of constituents who are receiving direct assistance from the Affordable Care Act. Concerns among residents in Texas and Massachusetts are also growing, while the new Missouri governor explains his view that the law is hurting the state.
Cigna Weighing Its Participation In Health Marketplaces As GOP Moves To Overhaul
The insurer, which reported a drop in profits for the fourth quarter of 2016, says it is losing money on its Affordable Care Act business.
Immigration Ban Jeopardizes Health Of Rural, Underserved Areas Dependent On Foreign-Born Doctors
Foreign-born doctors often are willing to work in the isolated rural areas, small towns and blighted urban centers that many American-born doctors shun, but many worry the executive order on immigration will affect those professionals’ decision to practice in the U.S. Meanwhile, hundreds of health care providers are protesting the Cleveland Clinic to show support for one of their colleagues who was detained under the ban.
Rep. Tom Price, R-Ga., the Trump administration pick to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, introduced the Patient Access to Durable Medical Equipment Act on May 12, 2016, a week after McKesson said in its annual report to stockholders that its profits were at risk because of cuts faced in Medicare payments.
House Moves To Scrap Rule Banning Guns From Mentally Disabled Americans
The regulation was issued by the Obama administration and applied to people with a mental disorder so severe they cannot work or handle their own benefit checks.
