Latest KFF Health News Stories
Viewpoints: GOP Candidates And The Health Law; Voters Paying Attention To Drug Costs
A selection of opinions on health care from around the country.
Health care stories are reported from Iowa, Florida, Georgia, California, Missouri, Oregon, Kansas, Utah, North Carolina, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and Illinois.
N.C. Closer To Changing How Medicaid Pays Doctors
Legislation may soon pass there that would give Medicaid providers a set amount of money per patient per month instead of the traditional fee-for-service model. Elsewhere, questions are raised in Texas around who will take the heat for impending cuts to Medicaid.
Calif. Website Will Help Consumers With Health Care Comparison Shopping
The site, created by UC-San Francisco researchers and Consumer Reports for the state insurance agency, provides information on average costs for common conditions and procedures, as well as quality scores for providers.
FDA To Review Birth Control Implant Safety
And, a blood test to screen for Down syndrome grows in popularity, but also sparks a debate about abortion.
Most Medicare Advantage Plans Will Not Increase Premiums In 2016, HHS Announces
It is the sixth year of stable prices for these private plans, that seniors can choose as an alternative to traditional Medicare. However, the Chicago Tribune notes that a popular plan in Illinois will increase premiums.
Forum: Insurance, Healthy Behavior Key To Beating Chronic Disease
Also, USA Today examines what a consumer is to do when prices for health care vary wildly.
Nonprofit Buys Back Rights To Tuberculosis Drug, Lowers Cost
But, a pharmaceutical CEO at another company is defending why he bought the rights to an AIDS drug and then upped the price from $13.50 to $750 overnight. Also, the makers of Tylenol push to fend off tough new restrictions on acetaminophen.
Senate To Hear Testimony On Planned Aetna-Humana And Anthem-Cigna Megamergers
The merger trend among insurers, hospitals and medical practices have raised concerns that consumers will face fewer choices and higher costs when shopping for coverage and care. In related industry news, a court considers reviving a lawsuit filed by the American Psychiatric Association against Anthem, and DaVita acquires 20 new clinics.
Wyo. Spends More Than Half Of Its Fund To Subsidize Hospitals In Three Months
State officials set up the $2 million fund in July to help hospitals treating uninsured patients after the state opted not to accept the health law’s Medicaid expansion. Also, in Virginia, hospitals are concerned about the legislature’s refusal to expand Medicaid.
Question Remains: Will New Obamacare Tax Force Employers To Drop Coverage?
The so-called “Cadillac tax” may leave some employers unwilling to provide health coverage to employees. And, Republicans eye allowing states to choose their own experiments on expanding health coverage as a means to getting rid of Obamacare.
Fiorina Repeats Statistic On Veteran Deaths First Mischaracterized By The Media
The Washington Post fact-checks the claim that Carly Fiorina cited twice during the last Republican debate. And Politico deconstructs the fast fall of the Scott Walker campaign.
Clinton Maps Out Health Care Agenda To ‘Build On The Progress’ Of Obamacare
The Democratic presidential candidate is rolling out her plan during a series of campaign stops this week. Hillary Clinton says she would defend the health law against Republican efforts to repeal: “I’m not going to let them tear up that law, kick 16 million people off their health coverage.” She is expected, however, to call for changes to the so-called “Cadillac tax.”
Senate Poised To Vote On 20-Week Abortion Ban
The chamber’s vote on this legislation — which is viewed as mostly symbolic — is also considered to be the first step in avoiding a government shutdown. But tension over Planned Parenthood funding continues to cast questions about Congress’ ability to pass a short-term spending bill that will keep the federal government open.
Clinton Unveiling Plan To Curb Rising Drug Prices With Rules For Pharmaceutical Makers
The Democratic candidate is proposing efforts to force drug makers to spend more of their profits on research and development and add new restrictions to their consumer advertising.
First Edition: September 22, 2015
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Viewpoints: Reducing Medicare Drug Costs; Keep OxyContin From Kids; Fiorina Should Apologize
A selection of opinions on health care from around the country.
Health care stories are reported from Massachusetts, Mississippi, Pennsylvania, California, Maryland, Minnesota, Washington, D.C., Nevada, Colorado, Arizona, Illinois and Michigan.
$30M Initiative Will Give Mental Health Training To NYC Social Service Agencies’ Staffers
The employees will be “prepared to screen people for possible psychological problems, provide information and try to motivate them to make changes in their lives,” The Associated Press reports. In other news, a look at the lack of mental health treatment options in California’s Bay Area, the rising suicide rate in Louisville, Ky., and the federal government’s plan to change rules on treatment options for opioid drug use.
Iowa Democrats Urge Federal Government To Halt State’s Medicaid Privatization
Meanwhile, the Des Moines Register reports that some of the companies bidding to take over management of Iowa’s health program for low-income residents have been sanctioned and fined in other states for serious service and administrative errors.
