Latest KFF Health News Stories
CDC: Doctors Should Screen All Pregnant Women For Zika At Every Checkup
Previously, Zika testing was only recommended for pregnant women if they or their sexual partner had traveled to an area where the virus was actively spreading, and if they showed symptoms.
Zenefits Settles With Tennessee In First Of Multiple Investigations Into Its Practices
Officials in several states are looking into the San Francisco-based company after it failed to get the necessary licenses for its sales staff to broker health insurance benefits. “Under the company’s past leadership, compliance with insurance laws and regulations was almost an afterthought,” said Julie Mix McPeak, commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance.
Arizona’s Proposal To Restart Children’s Health Program Wins Federal Approval
The state froze its participation in the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) in the midst of the recession in 2009. Officials say as many as 40,000 children from low- and middle-income families may gain coverage. Also, Kansas Health Institute examines Medicaid payment problems for nursing homes.
With Federal Grants Largely Gone, 13 State-Run Marketplaces Face Financial Constraints
States are weighing how to raise enough money to keep the exchanges operating. In other health law news, an analysis of insurance premium rates and a new ACO launches in Topeka, Kansas.
CMS Proposes Set Price For Treating Heart Attacks To Curb Spending, Boost Quality
If implemented, Medicare would set a fixed payment for all services provided during the treatment of a heart attack, instead of letting the hospital bill for each separately.
Sanders Emphasizes Clinton’s Health Care Concessions In Convention Speech
In his endorsement at the Democratic National Convention, Bernie Sanders touted his efforts to pull Hillary Clinton toward his stances on health care, including proposals to let people join Medicare early and increase funding for community health centers.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Viewpoints: Insurers, Mergers And Obamacare; Doctors Should Talk To Patients About Guns
A selection of opinions on health care from around the country.
Outlets report on health news from Colorado, Minnesota, Georgia, Kansas, California, Ohio and Pennsylvania.
Hospitals in Texas, Georgia, Florida, Minnesota, Kansas and Maryland make news.
Precision Medicine Initiative Seeks Partners In Research, Not Just ‘Human Subjects’
The government wants millions of volunteers to become a part of a “precision medicine cohort,” with the goal of more fully understanding the causes and cures of disease. But it doesn’t just want “human subjects,” it wants the participants to play an active role in the long-term study.
Inexpensive Visual Training Cuts Likelihood Of Dementia Nearly In Half, Study Finds
The computerized training is designed to increase the speed at which the brain picks up and processes cues in a person’s field of vision. In other news, experts say a personality change can be an early indicator of dementia, and new research is helping doctors understand why amyloid beta isn’t properly cleared from the brain.
How Philadelphia Became A ‘Mecca’ For Those Addicted To Heroin
Veteran narcotics agents describe the neighborhood a few miles from where Democrats will convene Monday as among the most flagrant open-air drug markets on the East Coast.
‘The Babies Cannot Stop Crying’: Treating Zika’s Smallest Patients
Although much of the focus has been on prevention and vaccines, experts are scrambling to help doctors and families understand the lifelong ramifications of microcephaly and other Zika-related developmental disorders.
Hospitals Ask PokemonGo Users To Master Their Monsters Elsewhere
The hospitals are citing physical safety, patient privacy, player privacy, computer security and personal safety as concerns. In other news, inventors design technology with a focus on helping people with disabilities and doctors are optimistic about organ donor apps.
In Marketing Effort, Planned Parenthood Uses Tumblr To Tackle ‘Elephant In The Room’
The organization launches a campaign, that includes personal stories of abortion, in an effort to reach a younger audience.
A Game Of Whac-A-Mole: Regulators’ Effort To Stop Insurers’ Mega-Mergers Could Backfire
Even if federal officials are able to stop the two big mergers proposed by Anthem and Aetna, insurers would likely look for other ways to bolster their competitive edge, such as buying smaller insurers.
Federal Judge In Missouri Says Individuals Can Challenge Health Law Contraception Mandate
The case was brought by a Missouri lawmaker who argued that birth control coverage in his state-provided health insurance violated his religious beliefs. In the ruling, U.S. District Judge Jean Hamilton says federal law requires that the government shall not “substantially burden” a person’s exercise of religion. Also in health law news, Humana, which announced earlier that it is leaving many state insurance marketplaces, says it will continue to sell plans in Tennessee, and Covered California gets ready for a new rule requiring enrollees have a primary care provider.
Medicare Safeguard Leaves Taxpayers Pouring Billions Into Pharma’s Pockets
Medicare’s catastrophic coverage was originally designed to protect seniors with multiple chronic conditions from the cumulatively high costs of taking many different pills, with the government paying 80 percent of the cost of drugs above a catastrophic threshold. But pricey drugs are stressing the system to its limits.
$1B Fraud Case Shines Light On Lucrative Medicare Black Market
Three people have been charged in the largest single criminal health care fraud case ever brought against individuals by the Department of Justice. “Medicare fraud has infected every facet of our health care system,” Wifredo A. Ferrer, the United States attorney in Miami, said Friday in announcing the indictments.
