Latest KFF Health News Stories
Under the World Health Organization’s sweeping new recommendations, anyone who tests positive for HIV should begin treatment with HIV anti-retrovirals, rather than waiting until a patient’s viral load reached a certain point. The change would mean that all 37 million people infected with HIV worldwide should receive treatment. Last year, only 15 million did.
Auditor Find Issues With Medicare Payments To Nursing Homes, Oversight Of Advantage Plans
In different reports, the HHS inspector general says Medicare could save billions of dollars by closer monitoring of nursing home services that may not be necessary and questioned if federal officials are making sure that the private Medicare Advantage plans offer adequate networks of doctors and other health care providers.
A Medical Code For Every Condition… Really!
Health providers start today to use the ICD-10, a vast new set of alphanumeric codes for describing diseases and injuries in unprecedented detail.
Sanders’ Plans For Health Care, Other Social Programs Boost Federal Control
The Vermont senator and presidential candidate, who describes himself as a Democratic socialist, favors approaches to health reform education and child care that would convert these industries from the current public-private mix to operations run mainly with federal money.
Employers Seeking Ways To Prepare For Tax On Worker’s Health Benefits
The 2010 health law sets a 40 percent tax in 2018 on coverage that costs more than $10,200 for single plans and $27,500 for family insurance. Also in related health law news, The Hill examines whether a quiet bipartisan effort is developing to revamp some parts of the law.
Sept. 11 Responders’ Health Act Expires After Congress Fails To Extend
The program provides medical care and monitoring for the emergency personnel who became sick after working at the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001. Though it is funded through part of 2016, New York House members wrote in an editorial that allowing the program to formally expire would send a signal that “‘never forget 9/11’ is just a slogan on a bumper sticker.”
Congress OKs Stop-Gap Funding Measure But Leaves Unresolved Issues On The Table
The measure, which was signed by President Barack Obama just hours before the federal government’s funding expired, extending government operations until Dec. 11. Lots of issues remain in play for a long-term spending bill.
First Edition: October 1, 2015
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Viewpoints: Clinton And The ‘Cadillac Tax’; GOP’s Planned Parenthood Strategy Shows Little Gains
A selection of opinions on health care from around the country.
Embattled El Paso Clinic To Reopen; Abortion Rights Group Hopes To Block Okla. Law
A roundup of news regarding state abortion-related news.
Rhode Island’s Medicaid Director Resigns
In other Medicaid news, Texas’ Medicaid fraud detection system faces scrutiny.
Federal Employees’ Health Premiums To Rise An Average 7.4%
The increase is the largest in five years. Some state government employees are also seeing increases, according to reports from Kansas and Connecticut. Fueling a big part of those increases is the rising cost of drugs.
GAO Report Says More Medicare Advantage Network Oversight Needed
In other Medicare news, Part D drug prices are set to rise in 2016, some by a lot. Elsewhere, a new poll finds wide support for Medicare paying for end-of-life conversations, and another report finds nursing homes get much more in Medicare payments than it costs them to provide care.
Republican Legislators In Utah Get Briefing On Medicaid Expansion Plan
The proposal, hammered out between legislative leaders and the governor, is unveiled to Republicans, but the public will have to wait until next week to get details. Also in the news, an aide to the South Dakota governor says his meeting with federal officials on a plan to expand Medicaid went well.
CMS Awards Nearly $700 Million In Innovation Grants Aimed At Improving Patient Care
The money is part of a government effort to increase collaboration between doctors and other medical providers. Among the dozens of recipients are the Mayo Clinic, which will get $9 million, and Arizona Health-e Connection, a nonprofit that will receive $3.6 million.
Fiorina And Cruz’s Planned Parenthood Positions Make Waves In Republican Race
The Washington Post reports that Carly Fiorina’s increased campaign momentum can be credited in part to her fierce condemnation of the reproductive health organization. And Politico writes on the political prospects for Ted Cruz in the Senate following his failed attempts to derail the budget process over Planned Parenthood funding, which fellow Sen. Rand Paul says are not good.
Hillary Clinton Supports Scrapping The Health Law’s ‘Cadillac Tax’
She has described her support for repealing the tax, which news outlets report as a step that could help her claim more labor-union backing, as a change that would strengthen the health law.
Insurance Execs Again In Congressional Hot Seat As House Panel Examines Proposed Acquisitions
The CEOs from Aetna and Anthem testified before the House Judiciary Committee, arguing that the proposed Aetna-Humana and Anthem-Cigna megamergers will not hurt consumers. In recent weeks, lawmakers have been heavily lobbied by hospital and doctor associations that oppose the deals.
Republicans Advance Bill To Repeal Obamacare Under Expedited Procedure
By using the budgetary tool of reconciliation to target the health law’s taxes and insurance mandate, Congress seeks to fast track the legislation to President Barack Obama’s desk — for an expected veto.
White House, GOP Leaders Discuss Ways Forward On Long-Term Budget
The preliminary talks are geared to setting up a longer discussion on how to reach agreement for a two-year deal on federal spending. Meanwhile, as a stopgap funding measure seems assured, news outlets examine Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s relations with Republican conservatives, including Sen. Ted Cruz, and the conservatives’ efforts to find a like-minded candidate to run for House speaker.
