Latest KFF Health News Stories
News outlets report on health care developments in Florida, California, Texas, Ohio, New York and Utah.
Md. Task Force Unveils Recommendations To Address State’s Growing Opioid Addiction Rate
Also, in New Hampshire, during a special legislative session on heroin and opioid misuse, the manager of the state’s prescription drug monitoring program told lawmakers the system would do better with more funding.
WellStar To Buy Tenet Healthcare’s Five Atlanta-Area Hospitals
Also in the news, the 2015 Florida Health Market Review details the state’s most profitable hospital and examines how mergers, acquisitions and other dynamics are changing the market.
Health Law Penalties May Be Skewing Hospital Readmission Rates For Medicare Patients
The Wall Street Journal analyzes Medicare billing data for information on a drop in return visits. And The Washington Post reports on how the impact of rewards for hospitals are impacting patient safety.
Consumers’ Dread Of Shopping For Health Insurance Must Be Tackled, Experts Say
Improving “insurance literacy” will help shoppers make suitable choices and lead to overall improvement of health, experts said at a symposium. Meanwhile, The Wall Street Journal decodes the QUALY — Quality-Adjusted Life Year — metric.
UnitedHealth CEO Tells Investors That Insurer Should Have Stayed Out Of Exchanges Longer
It was a “bad decision” for the company to join two dozen state-based exchanges for 2015, UnitedHealth CEO Stephen Hemsley said at an investor meeting. The insurance giant only sold coverage on four exchanges in 2014.
Though a presidential veto is all but certain, getting the bill to Barack Obama’s desk would be a victory for a group of Republicans. Yet some Democrats see the legislation as an opportunity to attack Republicans in tight 2016 races for voting to drop insurance for thousands of people. Elsewhere, news outlets cover Medicaid and health exchange developments in Montana, Kentucky, Texas and Ohio.
Pelosi, Ryan Talk About The Budget — Is This A New Phase In Capitol Hill Budget Sagas?
In other congressional news, Senate Democrats say Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., is blocking progress on a bill to help 9/11 first responders with health care.
Senate Report Says Hep C Drug Maker Sought To Maximize Profits Despite Costs To Patients
Officials at Gilead Sciences, which makes the drugs Sovaldi and Harvoni that can cure hepatitis C infections, opted for a higher price tag even though they knew it would put the medications out of the reach of some patients and government programs, according to a Senate Finance Committee investigation.
After Colo. Shooting, GOP Eyes Action On Mental Health Overhaul
Comments by House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., appear to add momentum to ambitious mental health system reform legislation by Rep. Tim Murphy, R-Penn.
GOP Faces Constraints In Effort To Repeal Health Law, Defund Planned Parenthood
The Senate vote is scheduled for Thursday and, unlike the many earlier votes to undo the health law, this one is expected to send legislation to the president’s desk.
Viewpoints: The Debate On Planned Parenthood Rhetoric; Bailing Out Insurers
A selection of opinions on health care from around the country.
News outlets report on health care developments in the District of Columbia, Illinois, Virginia, New Jersey, California, Kentucky, North Carolina, Minnesota, Missouri and Florida.
New York City To Announce Plans To Boost HIV Prevention And Health Care Funding
The announcement of an extra $23 million annually is scheduled for later today — World AIDS Day. Meanwhile, The Pioneer Press reports that the number of cases in Minnesota isn’t dropping.
Two Democratic Senators Question Iowa Gov.’s Plan To Move Ahead With Medicaid Privatization
Gov. Terry Branstad remains committed to proceeding with the privatization plan, even after an administrative law judge recommended that one out of the four awarded contracts be dismissed.
Connecticut Hospitals Ready Legal Action To Fight State Provider Tax
Also in Connecticut, state regulators OK the sale of Johnson Memorial Hospital. Meanwhile, an estimated $6 million in equipment is missing from a Louisiana hospital.
In addition, Florida investigators found no evidence that the Planned Parenthood clinics there purchased or sold human tissue.
First Sustained Drop Of New Diabetes Cases Reported In 25 Years, According To CDC
Researchers found that the rate of new diagnoses fell by about a fifth from 2008 to 2014. Experts don’t know if the decline is due to diabetes prevention efforts taking hold or if the disease has peaked in the population. In other public health news, government officials reevaluate the influential health survey while scientists and ethicists hold a summit on gene editing.
Despite Voters’ Drug Price Concerns, GOP Candidates Offer Few Options On The Issue
Politico examines how the Republican presidential candidates are dealing with consumers’ unhappiness over rapidly rising drug costs. Also, STAT analyzes investments in health care companies by members of Congress.
UnitedHealth Projects Revenue In 2016 Will Be Lower Than Analysts’ Estimates
Last month the insurer said that its participation in the health law exchanges would cut into profits. In other marketplace news, Arizona regulators found “deficiencies” during inspections of blood-testing startup Theranos’ labs. And AppDynamics, a firm that helps customers find bugs in computer code, raises $158 million in funding.
