Latest KFF Health News Stories
Alabama Trims Medicaid Payments To Doctors Because Of Budget Shortfall
Alabama had left a short-term health law program in effect that bumped up Medicaid’s payments to doctors so that they matched Medicare’s payments. But state officials said the new cuts were necessary because of an $85 million budget gap. Meanwhile, the third hearing on proposed revisions to Kentucky’s Medicaid expansion draws protests, and Texas is denying children with autism Medicaid coverage for expensive behavioral therapy.
Medicare Proposes Changes In Pain Questions, Cuts In Payments To Hospitals’ Off-Site Facilities
The changes are part of the proposed hospital payment rule, which was released Wednesday. Also in Medicare news, a House committee is calling for funding for a consumer assistance program that a Senate committee rejected, Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, questions plans for possible changes in cancer drug payments and some Medigap rates are rising in Michigan.
Expensive Specialty Drugs Are Driving Increased Spending By Insurers, Study Finds
Researchers see the trend as a foreshadow of what’s to come as more and more high-priced treatments are released onto the market.
White House Announces New Precision Medicine Measures
The Precision Medicine Initiative’s goal is to modernize and accelerate biomedical discoveries, bringing new treatments to patients faster. Some of the new steps include plans to speed the development of tests used to identify genetic mutations and the development of tools to make data collection easier for researchers.
Both Parties Seize Upon Administration’s Slow Pace In Redirecting Ebola Funding To Combat Zika
The Obama administration has only distributed about one-sixth of the Ebola funding that it’s using to fight the virus. Republicans say that proves their point that Congress has some breathing room before it becomes absolutely necessary to pass legislation for it. Democrats, however, say moving money out the door takes time, which is all the more reason to act quickly on Zika. Outlets also report on developments out of Florida, Puerto Rico and Kansas.
House Republicans Release Their 2017 Health Spending Bill
The measure includes increases to help combat opioid abuse and the Zika virus as well as a funding boost for the National Institutes of Health, which is lower than what the Senate OK’d last month. In addition, it also targets Obamacare by rescinding some of its existing funding.
House Overwhelmingly Passes Bill To Revamp Mental Health System
The bill, introduced by Rep. Tim Murphy, R-Pa., has been stalled for years. But House leaders scaled back some of the more controversial elements to get the legislation through. Plans for Senate action are unclear.
Opioid Bill’s Fate In Peril As Republicans Rebuff Dems’ $920M Funding Proposal
What started out as bipartisan legislation has devolved into party politics as Democrats try to add funding to the bill. Without the money, the measure’s future in getting through the full Senate is uncertain.
House GOP Report Finds Administration Spent Billions On Health Law Without Authority
The report by two House committees is expected to be released Thursday. Also in the news, a study finds that the health law’s insurance surcharges for tobacco users were not effective, more concerns are raised about co-ops set up under Obamacare and a new plan comes into the marketplace in Wisconsin.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
A selection of opinions on health care from around the country.
Bill Gates Defends Drug Pricing System, Saying The Companies Are ‘Turning Out Miracles’
News outlets report on the pharmaceutical drug industry.
Outlets report on health news from Maryland, California, Texas, New Hampshire, New Jersey and Minnesota.
Stem Cells Could Usher In A New Era For Treating Cavities; 20 Years Post-Dolly And No Human Clones
In other public health news, a new study finds that child-centric marketing techniques are contributing the obesity epidemic, experts worry about the slow disappearance of playtime, a woman talks about her experience with bipolar disorder and researchers find that few people want doctors to help them speed up the dying process.
Struck By Steve Jobs’ ‘Excruciating’ Wait, Apple CEO Aims At Organ Shortage With New Software
A new button will allow users to sign up to be organ donors and will come installed on every smartphone the company makes.
Judge Blocks Kansas’ Efforts To Strip Planned Parenthood Funding
The federal judge ruled that Medicaid patients have the right to seek care from a qualified provider of their choice.
Missouri Governor Vetoes Bill That Would Charge Medicaid Patients For Missed Appointments
The bill, passed by the legislature in May, would allow doctors and other health care providers to charge Medicaid patients who don’t give 24-hour notice that they won’t make their appointments. News outlets also look at Medicaid developments in Pennsylvania, Louisiana and Colorado.
Ruling From Federal Appeals Court Upholds Broad Use Of Biotech Patents
The case involved freezing and thawing a type of liver cell, and the appeals court said that a lower court was wrong to suggest that the method couldn’t be patented because it covered a law of nature. In the ruling Tuesday, the judges said the process involves putting steps together in a way that “was itself far from routine and conventional.”
A New Chapter Or Same Old Tricks?: Valeant’s CEO Promise Of Change Sparks Skepticism
When Joseph Papa took over the helm as the troubled company’s CEO, he said things would be different. But a look at how he ran Perrigo shows similar tactics to the ones that got Valeant in trouble in the first place. In other pharmaceutical news, Bristol-Myers acquires a Swedish firm in an effort to expand into the immunotherapy field, Insys Therapeutics says the Food and Drug Administration approved its oral solution for treating conditions related to AIDS and companies are pursuing drugs to boost sexual interest.
Investigation: Nation Is Looking The Other Way When It Is Doctors Who Are Sexually Abusive
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution conducted an investigation into doctors who have either admitted to or been accused of sexual abuse. The investigative team found physician-dominated medical boards gave these doctors second chances. Prosecutors dismissed or reduced charges, so doctors could keep practicing and stay off sex offender registries. And communities rallied around them.
