Latest KFF Health News Stories
Meanwhile, in other news related to the health law and the insurance market, despite efforts to enroll young adults in health plans, they still face challenges. In addition, graduate students’ health insurance subsidies may be in jeopardy.
Critics: Letting Generic Drugmaker Join PhRMA Akin To Allowing A Spy Into The Fold
Teva Pharmaceutical Industries’ request to join the powerful trade association has caused alarm in the industry. Teva and some of PhRMA’s longtime members, like Eli Lilly, are on opposite sides of court cases involving patents and other important issues for the future of brand-name drug companies. In other news, a California initiative to curb high drug prices concerns patient advocacy groups, and states are lifting Medicaid restrictions on an expensive hepatitis C treatment.
Democrats’ Draft Platform Includes Nod To Public Option, New Abortion Goal
The Democrats, for the first time, want to attempt to repeal the Hyde amendment , a congressional mandate that cuts off federal funds for most kinds of abortion.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
A selection of opinions on health care from around the country.
Research Roundup: Local Health Resources; Plan Losses; Medicare Advantage Networks
Each week, KHN compiles a selection of recently released health policy studies and briefs.
Outlets report on health news from New Jersey, New York, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Georgia, California, Texas, Ohio and Wyoming.
New Mexico Supreme Court Overturns Law Allowing Doctors To Help End Patients’ Lives
The justices rule 5-0 against a law that says doctors cannot be prosecuted for helping terminally ill patients end their lives. Elsewhere, an Iowa woman with two terminal conditions becomes too sick to continue her fight to obtain a doctor’s aid in dying.
Texas Lawmakers, Home Health Therapists Make Last-Ditch Attempts To Stop Medicaid Cuts
The state is slated to cut $350 million in spending on in-home therapy for children on July 15.
In other public health news, a leading gun-violence researcher answers California Healthline’s questions, KQED explores the field of epigenetics and a small Belgian town welcomes “guests” with mental disorders.
Stem Cell Clinics Crop Up Across The Country — But Regulation Is Almost Non-Existent
Stem cell procedures offer a lot of promise, but also carry a lot of risk. So as more clinics open, researchers are calling for additional oversight of the potentially dangerous field.
Even With Hundreds More Cases In U.S., Zika Scares Americans Less Than Ebola
Two-thirds of Americans say they are “not too” or “not at all” worried about Zika. Meanwhile, Senate Democrats say Congress shouldn’t take August recess without reaching a Zika funding deal, three more babies in the U.S. are born with Zika-linked birth defects, a look at where the mosquitoes are in California and an expert talks Zika and the Olympics.
Under New Rule, Penalties For Health Care Fraud Would Likely Double
The rule, published Thursday in the Federal Register, would increase the minimum penalty to $10,781 for a false claim submitted for Medicare and other federal programs. Also, CBS News examines the backlog in Medicare appeals.
Doctors, Hospitals Received $6.49B From Pharmaceutical Industry, Device Makers Last Year
Physicians and teaching hospitals in the U.S. took in fees, educational services, meals and other services worth billions, according to required annual disclosures available through a Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ database. Nearly 2.3 percent of the transactions between doctors and drugmakers were related to opioids.
Embattled Zenefits Cuts Deals With Investors In Effort To Reset Reputation
The move cuts the once-celebrated company’s valuation to about $2 billion.
Possible Collapse Of Anthem-Cigna Deal Could Create Opportunities For Smaller Health Plans
The Justice Department has expressed skepticism that the companies can properly address its competition concerns. But if the merger falls apart, the two may go after smaller companies. In other news, Connecticut’s insurance commissioner is being urged to recuse herself from the review of the merger.
Dems To GOP On Funding For Opioid Bill: ‘You’ve Got To Walk The Walk, Not Just Talk The Talk’
Republicans are trying to wrap up legislation to address the opioid epidemic, but Democrats are demanding the GOP lawmakers include new funding for the legislation’s initiatives, not just authorize such funding.
After High Court Ruling, Abortion Advocates Target Potentially Vulnerable Laws In 8 States
There are laws on the books in Arizona, Florida, Michigan, Missouri, Pennsylvania, Tennessee and Virginia with measures similar to the ones struck down this week by the Supreme Court. The campaign will also go after Texas provisions that weren’t included in the ruling. Meanwhile judges in Indiana and Florida block abortion laws that were set to go into effect in those states. And in Missouri, officials say they won’t immediately cut off funds to Planned Parenthood.
Federal Medicaid Officials Give Tenn. Two-Month Waiver While Talks Continue On Funding
The sticking point is federal funding for hospitals that have high levels of uncompensated care. Federal officials want to discontinue that funding and say states can overcome that problem by expanding their Medicaid programs.
More Than 233,000 Louisiana Residents Gain Medicaid Coverage Today As Expansion Goes Into Effect
Louisiana is the first state in the Deep South to overcome Republican resistance and implement the health law’s Medicaid expansion for low-income residents. Meanwhile officials in Kentucky, which expanded Medicaid early on, say the new governor’s efforts to curb that program is likely to win federal approval.
