Latest KFF Health News Stories
Ohio To Pay Primary Care Doctors A Bonus To Keep Medicaid Patients Healthy
Under the new program, primary care doctors will receive an extra $4 on average for each Medicaid patient every month to help defray some of the costs of coordinating health care and extending their office hours. News outlets also report on Medicaid developments in Kentucky, Indiana, Connecticut and North Carolina.
Idaho Publishes List Of Places Women Can Receive Free Ultrasounds
Most of the facilities on the list are crisis pregnancy centers, which discourage women from getting abortions and often are run by religiously affiliated groups. In other news, Planned Parenthood is awarded legal fees after winning a court battle against Missouri.
Fla.’s Mental Health Agencies Brace For Long-Lasting Fallout From Pulse Shooting
“The biggest volume of calls is going to come at about three months,” psychologist Deborah Beidel says. “That’s when people figure out they’re not getting better.”
Defendants Judged ‘Guilty But Mentally Ill’ Still Face Harsh Legal Penalties
NPR’s Shots continues its report on the use of the “not guilty by reason of insanity” plea.
Seniors Shy Away From Using Internet To Diagnose Health Problems
A new report shows that less than 20 percent of the age group turn to the internet when they have a question about their ailments or health. In other news, the technology behind reading functional MRIs has had a long, bumpy road.
Medicare Disappoints Hospitals With Large Cut To Recoup Past Overpayments
In a rule released Tuesday, federal officials said they are going forward with the 1.5 percent cut to hospital reimbursement that they proposed earlier. It is expected to recoup $11 billion in past overpayments. Hospitals had lobbied to keep the cut at 0.8 percent. Also in the rule were the new penalties for hospitals that readmit too many Medicare patients.
CHIP: The Silver Lining To One Of Clinton’s Most High-Profile Failures
The Children’s Health Insurance Program, which rose out of Hillary Clinton’s attempts at moving universal health care in the 1990s, has proven to be even more beneficial to the country’s economic growth than originally thought.
Suitors Sniff Around Biogen In Sign Of Pharma’s Hunger For New Growth Sources
The pipeline for pharmaceutical companies has been depleted for years, and there’s a desire in the industry for potential takeover deals. In other news, Pfizer’s profits dropped by 23 percent in its latest quarter, an antidepressant drug draws fire and an executive for GlaxoSmithKline speaks with Stat about the company’s new venture with Alphabet.
Anthem Seeks Speedy, Separate Trial In Feds’ Mega-Merger Legal Challenge
Meanwhile, Virginia’s Bureau of Insurance takes a position against the Anthem-Cigna Merger, saying that it would be bad for consumers. Also in the news, the Des Moines Register reports on the growing trend in which insurers are hiring more doctors.
CDC Doles Out Another $16M For Zika Battle From Rapidly Depleting Funds
“These awards are a stopgap diverted from other public health resources until Zika funds are provided by Congress,” the CDC said in a statement.
Aetna’s Second Thoughts On Exchange Expansion Latest Blow To Health Law
The insurer’s decision to reverse course and not expand its Obamacare exchange plans casts doubts on the marketplace’s sustainability. The company also announced it would sell some of its Medicare Advantage plans to help avoid concerns about its proposed merger with Humana.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Viewpoints: Presidential Politics And The Vaccine Issue; CDC Issues Strong Zika Warning
A selection of opinions on health care from around the country.
Outlets report on health news from Minnesota, Massachusetts, Colorado, Kansas, Pennsylvania, Georgia, Florida and Missouri.
Alabama Governor, A Long-Time Critic Of Gambling, Seeks A Lottery To Fund Medicaid
Since officials don’t want to raise taxes, “it’s our only real choice right now,” says Gov. Robert Bentley. News outlets also report on Medicaid news from Pennsylvania and New Hampshire.
Scant Evidence Exists That Flossing Is Actually Medically Beneficial
However, some experts still say that because it has very low risk and some possible reward, Americans should still floss. Meanwhile, WBUR offers a look at a new technique to remove plaque.
Bed Shortages, Budget Cuts Create Lethal Crisis For Mentally Ill Across U.S.
Patients are being held in emergency rooms, hospitals and jails for weeks before receiving proper treatment. In other news, researchers have identified 15 locations in DNA that are associated with depression, a woman finds help with her PTSD through eye movement therapy and a look at mental health laws 50 years after the University of Texas shooting.
Trump: Building A Wall Will Curb Opioid Epidemic In U.S.
The Republican presidential nominee says blocking the border with Mexico will “cut off the source” of opioids that are ravaging the U.S. In other news, an advocacy group says shell companies are contributing to the epidemic, families speak out frankly about loved ones who have died of overdoses and medical schools scramble to offer future doctors more addiction training.
Turbocharging The Body’s Immune System To Make It ‘Work Better Than Nature Made It’
Researchers have found a way to make a patient’s own blood cells become tumor assassins.
Texas Fetal Remains Regulation Likely To Be Disputed In Court, Lawyers Warn
Elsewhere, a federal judge will hear arguments about an injunction that is currently blocking an Ohio law that would divert funding from Planned Parenthood.
