Latest KFF Health News Stories
Health Law Plans Will Be Rated On Provider Network Size
New rules, scheduled for publication Tuesday, will allow insurers to sell health plans with narrow provider networks, but it will rate plans so that consumers know what they are getting. News outlets also report on how the health law is not erasing unpaid hospital expenses and, as a result of the Affordable Care Act, some states are giving physician assistants more autonomy.
GOP Health Policy Experts Despair Over Trump Plan, See Chance Of Reshaping Landscape Slipping Away
Republicans experts are lobbing insults at Donald Trump’s health care plan, which he released last week. “I think it really makes you want to scratch your head and possibly bounce it off a table once or twice,” said Paul Howard, director of health policy at the Manhattan Institute.
Clinton, Sanders Unite Over Flint Water Crisis At Debate
During the seventh Democratic debate, which was held in Flint, Mich., the candidates’ focus turned to the city’s public health crisis, with Hillary Clinton joining Bernie Sanders’ call for Gov. Rick Snyder to resign or to face a recall election.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Viewpoints: Is Anything New In Trump’s Health Plan?; Clinton’s Public Option Revival
A selection of opinions from around the country.
Research Roundup: Marketplace Enrollees; Fighting Infections; Unintended Pregnancies
Here is a selection of news coverage of recent health research.
State Highlights: Va. Deregulation Bill Advances; Puerto Rico’s Financial Problems Hit Health Care
News outlets report on health issues in Virginia, Puerto Rico, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Utah, New York and Pennsylvania.
Conn. Payments To Hospitals ‘On Hold’ Because Of Budget Problems
In other hospital news, the Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services will likely reduce the number of treatment beds available. Also, a series of reports from the Washington state Auditor’s Office continue to point out problems with the management of Western State Hospital.
California Assembly Approves Measure Raising Smoking Age To 21
The bill, which also includes restrictions on electronic cigarettes, would make California one of the first states to adopt the higher legal smoking age. But Massachusetts lawmakers are considering a similar measure.
Administration Extends Medicaid To 15,000 Pregnant Women, Children In Flint
“This Medicaid expansion is critical to ensuring that Flint families exposed to high lead levels get the care and support they need, including blood lead level monitoring and comprehensive health services,” Rep. Dan Kildee, D-Mich., said.
Florida House Approves Bill To Give Some Immigrant Children Subsidized Health Care
The bill would allow immigrant children living legally in the state to bypass a five-year waiting period and get immediate eligibility for coverage. Also, Arkansas officials announce that they will soon close a backlog on Medicaid applications for infants.
The Health Care Issues Involved In Human Trafficking
Marketplace reports with a series of stories on how health care professionals play a key role in efforts to curb human trafficking.
CDC Poised To Release Guidelines To Combat Opioid Crisis
States are also taking steps to fight the deadliest drug epidemic in U.S. history. On Capitol Hill, the Senate is aiming to finish its work on a bipartisan opioid bill next week, lawmakers say the pharmaceutical industry needs to take some responsibility in the crisis, and Sen. Robert Casey calls on the Government Accountability Office to investigate what states and the administration are doing to protect babies born to drug-dependent women.
Trump Plan Sticks To Pillars Of Conservative Health Policy
One of the few areas where GOP presidential hopeful Donald Trump deviates from Republican mainstays in his health care proposal is his call to allow for drugs to be imported to cut down on costs.
At Debate, Trump Pressed On Plan To Allow Medicare To Negotiate Drug Prices
The front-runner for the Republican nomination was asked how he would save $300 million by allowing Medicare to negotiate drug costs when the program only spent $78 million on them in 2014. The Washington Post and The Associated Press fact check his claims.
HHS Says It Hit Goal Ahead Of Schedule For Tying Medicare Payments To Quality
The Obama administration had expected to reach the 30 percent goal at the end of this year. The changes in how doctors and hospitals are paid is part of an effort to get away from reimbursements based on quantity of services.
Obama Announces Health Law Enrollment Hits 20 Million
The president travels to Milwaukee to congratulate the city for winning a contest on insurance enrollment, and he touts the health law’s success in bringing coverage to millions of people.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
A selection of opinions from around the country.
Abortion Arguments Have Another Day In Court
Opinions and editorials from around the country parse the arguments involved in the Texas abortion case currently pending at the Supreme Court, and examine related issues.
