Morning Breakouts

Latest KFF Health News Stories

GOP’s Replacement Plan Does Little To Inch Toward Ever-Elusive Balanced Budget

Morning Briefing

The legislation put forth by the usually budget-conscious party doesn’t do much in terms of overall government savings. In other news on the American Health Care Act: Moody’s Investors Service reports it will squeeze states’ finances; a simple fix no one wants to make; “gig workers” get nervous; Planned Parenthood zeroes in on moderate Republicans; selling insurance across state lines; and more.

Changes To GOP Plan Will Provide Relief To Older Americans, Ryan Promises

Morning Briefing

House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) spoke about the tweaks they would make to the American Health Care Act after the Congressional Budget Office predicted older, rural Americans would be negatively affected under the legislation.

Policy Perspectives: Examining The Issues And Answers In The Health Law Repeal-And-Replace Debate

Morning Briefing

Opinion writers across the country detail some of the key issues, winners and losers that are emerging as Republicans attempt to undo the Affordable Care Act and replace it with the House GOP’s American Health Care Act.

For Those Addicted To Opioids, Injuries Often Go Far Beyond Drugs Themselves

Morning Briefing

“I would say at least 75 percent, every three of four patients who comes in after an overdose has some sort of associated injury, whether it’s a minor injury or major injury from that overdose,” says Dr. Ali Raja, the vice chair of emergency medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital.

Jury Deliberates On Fungal Meningitis Outbreak Case Caused By Compounding Pharmacy

Morning Briefing

Barry Cadden, co-founder and former president of the New England Compounding Center, faces second-degree murder charges, as well as fraud and other allegations. The contamination killed 64 with another 700 sickened across 20 states.

Kansas Lawmakers Begin Efforts To Reverse Brownback’s Cuts To Medicaid

Morning Briefing

The governor last summer reduced funding for KanCare by $56 million. Also, some Iowa residents with disabilities say the new Medicaid managed care plans are cutting the amount of assistance they get, and an effort by Texas to change Medicaid payment rules helps lower the number of early elective births.

A General Found A Way To Reduce Veteran Suicide — But The Army Isn’t Adopting It

Morning Briefing

Major General Dana Pittard implemented a strategy at Fort Bliss in Texas so that it had the lowest suicide rate of any major Army installation in the world. But despite it being acknowledged as a model of success, the Army as a whole hasn’t implemented it.