Latest KFF Health News Stories
Conflict Brewing In Alaska Over Whether House GOP Can Continue Medicaid Expansion Fight
Republican legislators lost their effort to derail the governor’s order to expand Medicaid in a case that went to the state Supreme Court. The House wants to appeal but hasn’t secured consent from the Senate. Meanwhile in Wyoming, a poll by researchers at the University of Wyoming finds residents support Medicaid expansion if it will help the state budget.
Clinton Facing Pressure From Sanders To Support Calif. Initiative On Drug Prices
The ballot measure would give California health agencies the ability to negotiate with pharmaceutical companies to lower drug costs for 5 million people who are on Medicaid plans and those enrolled in the HIV/AIDS drug assistance program. Also, a look at how experts are parsing Clinton’s proposal to extend Medicare to people 55 and older.
A FEMA-Like Fund Exists To Fight Zika — But Congress Has Left That Piggy Bank Empty
The fund to help deal with public health disasters was created by Congress in 1983 with an initial appropriation of $30 million. But Congress only put money into it again twice: in 1987 and again in 1993, in response to the outbreak of hantavirus. Today the fund balance is $57,000. Meanwhile, both the surgeon general and Sen. March Rubio, R-Fla, warn about the lack of Zika prevention funding.
Obama: ‘Dismantling The VA System Would Be A Mistake’
The president says a move to privatize the veterans’ health care system would undercut the progress his administration has made in modernizing the department and bringing veterans timely care. Meanwhile, the VA proposes a rule change to allow veterans to apply for medical services to change their sex.
‘We Had To Define It, Before It Defined Us’: States Go All-In Against Opioid Epidemic
Cities and states across the country are realizing they can’t arrest their way out of the drug problem.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
A selection of opinions on health care from around the country.
Outlets report on health news from New York, Connecticut, Arizona, Hawaii, Tennessee, Missouri, Pennsylvania, Alabama, Minnesota and Massachusetts.
California Doctors Grappling With Ethical Burden Of Aid-In-Dying Law
The legislation goes into effect June 9, but the measure is voluntary and not all doctors are willing to participate in ending a patient’s life. How it plays could set the trend for the rest of the country.
Group: The People Who Could Fix NIH Are Being Used As Scapegoats For Its Safety Problems
An advisory group of patients and officials is asking the National Institutes of Health director to rethink his decision to demote top leaders at the hospital, saying the blame for its problem has been misplaced. In other news, officials say a California hospital broke the law by not reporting an outbreak caused by dirty scopes.
Research Roundup: Conflicts Of Interest; Drug Resistant Bacteria; Medicaid For Prisoners
Each week, KHN compiles a selection of recently released health policy studies and briefs.
Abortion Clinic Owners Challenge Location, Procedure Bans
Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley last month signed into law a ban on abortion clinics within 2,000 feet of public K-8 schools. He also approved a ban of a second-trimester abortion procedure known as dilation & evacuation. Elsewhere, abortion advocates and opponents debated in front of the Louisiana governor’s mansion and a clinic in Virginia remains under suspension.
Schemes By Md., Pa. Providers Defrauded Medicaid Of Millions Of Dollars: Courts
A Maryland couple has been sentenced to prison after being found guilty by a jury of fraudulent D.C. Medicaid claims of more than $80 million. In Pennsylvania, a former hospice manager pleads guilty to false Medicare and Medicaid billing.
North Carolina Medicaid Poised To Change With Reform Plan Pitched To Feds
Ahead of anticipated negotiations over the proposal, North Carolina Health News examines the state’s Medicaid budget surplus.
Gov’t Panel Urges Medicare To Find Ways To Make Hearing Loss Treatment More Affordable
A prestigious advisory panel recommended that other government agencies take steps to make better hearing more possible for older Americans.
DOJ Won’t Contest Fired VA Official’s Challenge, But Will Fight Against Her Reinstatement
Sharon Helman argues in court papers that a key portion of a 2014 law passed in response to the wait-time scandal is unconstitutional. Lawmakers are not pleased with the Department of Justice’s “reckless” decision not to defend that part of the law. In other news, the Department of Veterans Affairs’ proposal to expand nurses’ scope of practice could draw professionals to a sector that struggles with shortages.
StemExpress Accused Of ‘Systematic Violations’ By Head Of House’s Fetal Tissue Special Panel
The panel outlines its privacy and ethics charges in a letter to the Department of Health and Human Services, urging the feds to investigate the company’s fetal tissue transfers. In other news from Capitol Hill, lawmakers discuss adding the mental health bill to reconciliation on opioid legislation.
Fact Checker: Trump’s Mixed Up Obamacare Calendar
The Associated Press looks at Donald Trump’s claims that the administration plans to keep consumers in the dark about premium increases for 2017 until after the election.
Solicitor General Who Won Landmark Obamacare Case Stepping Down
Donald Verrilli Jr.’s two most important wins will most likely be remembered as the Supreme Court’s 2012 decision upholding the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act, and its decision last year declaring a constitutional right to same-sex marriage.
As Baby Boomers Age, Concerns About The Strain On Family Caregivers Deepen
About 40 million U.S. family caregivers provided unpaid care, valued at $470 billion, to an adult with limitations on daily activities in 2013. And those numbers are only going to increase. In other public health news, a needle-stealing scare highlights health system vulnerabilities and young people are not being tested for STDs.
