Latest KFF Health News Stories
Key Republican Lawmaker Says Georgia Should Consider Medicaid Expansion
State Sen. Renee Unterman, who heads the Health and Human Services Committee, says she has changed her views on the prospect because of hospital closings in the state and problems that residents are having getting to see a doctor. But Georgia’s Republican governor is believed to still oppose any expansion. News outlets also report on developments in Arkansas and Louisiana.
Calif. Lawmakers Rush To Try To Get Insurance For Immigrants Before Obama Leaves Office
Some members of the legislature are pushing to allow immigrants who are in the country illegally to buy insurance coverage on the health law’s marketplaces. Also in the news are reports on insurance from Illinois, West Virginia, Connecticut and Indiana.
New York Insurers Seek To Raise Obamacare Premiums
The health insurers are proposing premium increases on the state exchange by an average of 17 percent for individual plans next year. The increases, however, will be considered by the N.Y. Department of Financial Services.
House Passes $622M For Zika Funding, But CDC Says ‘It’s Just Not Enough’
On Tuesday the Senate passed its own $1.1 billion bill, and the two chambers are now facing tough negotiations in an effort to find a compromise. Meanwhile, the man who led the White House response to Ebola says Congress has failed to learn its lesson and is now failing Americans in the face of a slow-motion public-health disaster.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
A selection of opinions on health care from around the country.
A selection of opinions on drug costs from around the country.
The Deceptive Generosity Of Drug Coupons
News outlets from across the country report on the pharmaceutical drug industry.
Valeant’s Top Brass To Get Millions In Bonuses
The retention and equity bonuses come at critical juncture for the embattled pharmaceutical company.
Outlets report on health news in California, New York, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Wisconsin, Massachusetts and Ohio.
Judge Knocks Down Beverage Industry’s Attempt To Stop Warnings On Ads For Sugary Drinks
A new law in San Francisco — set to go into effect July 25 — will require billboards and other advertisements for sugary drinks to include language warning about their link to obesity, tooth decay and diabetes. The American Beverage Association filed a complaint to stop the legislation, but a federal judge denied the request for a preliminary injunction.
Boston Medical Center To Become First In State To Offer Gender Reassignment Surgery
“The demand for care from the transgender community is significant and has not been met,’’ says Dr. Joshua Safer, an endocrinologist and medical director of Boston Medical Center’s new Center for Transgender Medicine and Surgery. “It’s a community that has been neglected for years and years.’’
Stigma Surrounding Medication-Based Treatments Hurts Efforts To Curb Opioid Addiction
Although there’s a misconception that providing opioids as treatment to those struggling with addiction is simply exchanging one drug for another, doctors and scientists say that is not how it works. Researchers have found that when combined with counseling, they significantly reduce opioid use and keep people in treatment longer.
As Baby Boomers Age, Alzheimer’s Looms As A Devastating Threat
The Alzheimer’s Association projects that 10 million baby boomers will develop Alzheimer’s, while some studies have projected nearly three times that number. In other news, research suggests that loneliness plays a key part to seniors’ well-being.
Many Loved Ones Cling To Hope Over Reason In End-Of-Life Talks With Doctors, Study Finds
According to the new report, families and friends frequently hold beliefs that would prompt them to demand aggressive and often futile treatments for their loved one.
Experts: U.S. Chasing Counterproductive Cure To Mass Shootings By Focusing On Mental Health System
Most of the people who commit mass murders do not have an illness that can be treated by the mental health system, experts say, so it is “ridiculous” to believe reforming that system could fix the problem. In other public health news, The Washington Post breaks down what men need to know about the gene linked to breast cancer, and on the new focus with organ transplants on improving lives instead of just saving them.
South Carolina Bill Banning Abortions After 19 Weeks Heads To Governor
Gov. Nikki Haley is expected to sign the measure into law after it passed the South Carolina House by a 79-29 vote. The Senate approved it in March. The legislation includes no exceptions for rape or incest. Elsewhere, Kansas delays cutting off funds to Planned Parenthood for a third time and Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey signs two abortion-related laws.
Novartis Exec To Depart As Pharmaceutical Company Undergoes Restructuring
In other news, a new asthma drug by AstraZeneca shows positive results in late-stage studies and federal regulators are eyeing the Humira regimen.
Demand For Transparency Rises As Nonprofit Hospitals Start To Resemble Big Business
Investors want more disclosure of nonprofit hospitals’ increasing reliance on loans from private banks, the terms of which aren’t public but could trigger defaults for municipal bonds.
Republican Congressman Begins To Lay Plans For Medicaid Overhaul
Rep. Brett Guthrie, R-Ky., who chairs the Energy and Commerce Committee’s task force on Medicaid, says the current system needs to be fixed and he is looking for ideas that can draw Democratic support. Also, news outlets report that Kansas officials are considering a cut in Medicaid reimbursement rates and Wisconsin falls to the bottom of the pack on nursing home payments.
