Morning Breakouts

Latest KFF Health News Stories

Supreme Court Seems Split After Oral Arguments In Contraception Case

Morning Briefing

Justice Anthony Kennedy — seen as the possible swing vote in the challenge on the health law’s contraception mandate case — asked whether the accommodation is making the groups “complicit in a moral wrong” by hijacking their insurance plans.

A Glass (Or Two) Of Wine A Day May Not Keep The Doctor Away

Morning Briefing

A new analysis of the best research studies on alcohol’s effects pokes holes in the logic that a certain amount can lead to better health, including that moderate drinkers tend to be healthier anyway. In other public health news, mindfulness can work better than pain medication in fighting lower back pain, and a new study shows that less than 3 percent of Americans are living a healthy lifestyle.

Jails Train Inmates On Naloxone, Aiming To Empower Overdose-Vulnerable Population To ‘Save A Life’

Morning Briefing

Although proponents acknowledge the “antidote” isn’t a permanent fix, they say providing it to soon-to-be released inmates could save the lives of a group of people that is particularly hard hit by overdose deaths. In other news, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that fentanyl is responsible for nearly 1,000 deaths in Ohio over a 17-month time frame and a hearing focuses on a section in Social Security Act that some say is standing in the way of addiction treatment.

Business Gears Up To Provide Services To Retired NFL Players With Dementia

Morning Briefing

One company plans to build 33 facilities over five years in or near N.F.L. cities across the country. That move comes as businesses look to meet the needs of aging population. Modern Healthcare looks at the move to build units specifically for dementia patients.

Insurers’ Bargaining Muscle Gains Strength

Morning Briefing

As major insurers are set for some big mergers, Anthem files suit against the pharmacy-benefit-management company Express Scripts, a move that could bring insurers even more clout. In other insurance industry news, America’s Health Insurance Plans — the health insurance trade association — plans to figure out more efficient ways to update provider directories.

FDA To Institute Safety Warning Labels For Opioids

Morning Briefing

They will include messages about the serious risk of misuse, abuse, addiction, overdose and death from the medications, and the Food and Drug Administration expects to warn doctors that the immediate-release opioids should be limited to cases of severe pain where there are inadequate treatment alternatives.

N.H. Senate Begins Debate On Continuing Medicaid Expansion

Morning Briefing

State lawmakers are considering whether to keep the expansion of the health program for low-income residents that was implemented under the federal health law. Other outlets look at Medicaid expansion news in Montana and Kentucky.

Medicare To Target Diabetes With Proposed Plan To Pay For ‘Lifestyle Change Programs’

Morning Briefing

Sylvia Mathews Burwell will announce the proposal in which trained counselors would help adults with prediabetes make healthier decisions on the sixth anniversary of the health law that made the program possible.

Mass. Community Hospitals Struggle With Low Payments

Morning Briefing

In other Massachusetts hospital news, a heated debate is taking place in the statehouse regarding how hospitals can press insurers to cover virtual visits. Elsewhere, Marketplace reports that hospital mergers within state borders may drive up treatment prices and the CEO of Chicago’s Presence has diagnosed the hospital chain’s financial ills. In Dallas, Parkland Hospital is experimenting with how patients with complex conditions can care for themselves at home.