Latest KFF Health News Stories
Gilead Documents Provide Rare Glimpse Into Drug Pricing Decision Making
In other pharmaceutical news, Bayer may have five new cancer drugs on the market by 2020 and AstraZeneca targets the so-called secretome — proteins secreted by cells — in the hunt for next-generation biotech medicines. Meanwhile, the FDA is starting to scrutinize the largely unregulated lab-developed test industry.
In Turnaround, Maine’s Health Insurance Co-Op Goes From Profits To Losing Millions
Also, news outlets report on other health exchange developments from Connecticut, Ohio and Illinois.
Poll: Kentuckians Overwhelmingly Support State’s Medicaid Expansion
And Pennsylvania hits the half-million mark with Medicaid sign-ups after Gov. Tom Wolf abandoned his predecessor’s hybrid model and expanded the program when he took office. In Florida, lawmakers have little hope for the expansion.
More Hospitals Dinged By Medicare For Safety Issues Than Last Year
Of the 758 facilities penalized, more than half were also punished last year. The fines are based on the government’s assessment of the frequency of several kinds of infections, sepsis, hip fractures and other complications. In other hospital news, Kaiser Health News reports on emergency room overcrowding.
U.S. Budget Deficit Widens In November
The deficit growth was, in part, driven by an uptick in spending on Medicare and Social Security, due to the burgeoning baby boomer population, and Medicaid, as a result of the health law’s expansion of the low-income health care program.
As Pressure Mounts, Lawmakers Still Scrambling Over 9/11 Responders Bill Cost
The New York Police Department commissioner joins a chorus of lawmakers, advocates and public figures demanding Congress to continue to fully fund health care benefits for 9/11 first responders. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has promised to make it happen, but one problem remains: the price tag.
Congress Moves To OK Short-Term Spending Bill To Avert Government Shutdown
The Senate agreed to extend the deadline for action on an omnibus spending bill until Wednesday, Dec. 16. Meanwhile, as these negotiations continue, a proposal to delay the health law’s so-called Cadillac tax, which is scheduled to take effect in 2018, is among the policy provisions still very much in play.
Johnson & Johnson And Google Team Up To Build Better Surgical Robots
Verb Surgical Inc — an independent company formed by J&J and Verily Life Sciences (formerly known as Google Life Sciences) — aims to produce “disruptive” alternatives to existing robotic technology used in operating rooms.
Viewpoints: Rubio’s Effort On Insurance ‘Bailout’ Undermines Market; Pharma’s ‘Gimmicks’
A selection of opinions on health care from around the country.
Longer Looks: Curing Cancer; NIH Funding; The Return of Syphilis
Each week, KHN’s Shefali Luthra finds interesting reads from around the Web.
News outlets report on health care developments in Maryland, Alaska, Texas, Florida, Illinois, Wisconsin and California.
As Iowa Transitions To Medicaid Managed Care, Focus Shifts To Signing Up Providers
State officials say United Healthcare, one of four companies hired to run the Medicaid program, has signed up the highest percentage of doctors and hospitals to be part of its network.
Health Rankings Find Positive Trend Even As Sicker States Slip
Many of the sickest states have remained low on America’s Health Rankings, a scorecard which looks at access to medical care, prevention and treatment of disease, avoidable hospital use and cost, healthy lives and health equity. But some states have shown dramatic improvement.
In Case ‘Cadillac Tax’ Hits, Autoworkers Union Contracts Leave Open Possibility Of New Deductibles
New four-year labor agreements between auto makers and the United Auto Workers Union allow for a change to health insurance that would add annual deductibles on plans that could trigger the 2010 health law’s so-called Cadillac tax. And in other marketplace news, Theranos CEO Elizabeth Holmes battles to save her blood-testing startup.
Rubio Touts His Anti-Obamacare Credentials In Field Of Republicans
Sen. Marco Rubio also plans to talk about troubles at the VA while stumping in Iowa with his brother, who is a veteran. In other Republican presidential campaign news, Ben Carson offers a fuller look at his national health care plan, which, in addition to repealing the 2010 health law, would overhaul Medicare and Medicaid and introduce tax-sheltered “Health Empowerment Accounts” to help consumers save for medical costs.
Puerto Rico Fiscal Relief Bill Proposes To Tap $12B Public Health Fund
The Republican measure would help Puerto Rico avoid a bond default on Jan. 1, but to get to the $3 billion price tag, the bill would use money for research and preventive medicine programs nationwide. The bill summary says the money was as yet “unobligated” and could be “repurposed.”
Senate Panel Slams Drug Companies For Skyrocketing Prices
In the first of a series of hearings to examine the cost increases for prescription drugs that are no longer protected by patents, the Senate Special Committee on Aging blasts four pharmaceutical companies for their price spikes.
Congress Continues To Wrestle With Budget Bill, ACA Funding Provisions In Play
The House will vote Friday on a short-term funding measure. Meanwhile, a proposed delay of the health law’s so-called Cadillac tax is emerging as a point of contention in the negotiations.
Calif.’s Three Largest Health Insurers Report Profits In Marketplace Business
The companies are among a select few yet to make money on this business, the Los Angeles Times reports. Also, health marketplace news reports from New Hampshire and Connecticut.
Federal Officials Detail State Obamacare Enrollment Numbers
News outlets report on state-specific sign-up tallies and remind consumers that the health law’s first deadline this open season is fast approaching.
