Latest KFF Health News Stories
Texas Uninsured Rate Falls, But State Now Has Largest Number Of People Without Coverage
Meanwhile, Kentucky saw the largest drop in percentage of residents without health insurance between 2013 and 2014. News outlets across the country examine how their states fared in regard to the Census Bureau’s data on income and health coverage.
Census: More People Have Health Coverage Even As Poverty Persists
The annual Census Bureau report, which provided 2014 numbers, is considered the gold standard for explaining how the nation is faring in terms of prosperity. The section on insurance coverage points to the effects of the Affordable Care Act, the new insurance marketplaces and expansion of Medicaid that year.
First Edition: September 17, 2015
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Viewpoints: Toss Out The House GOP Lawsuit Against Health Law; Sanders’ Expensive Plans
A selection of opinions on health care from around the country.
Health care stories are reported from California, Alabama, Virginia, Missouri, Kansas, Illinois, Texas and North Carolina.
Calif. Doctor Charged In $150M Insurance Scam
Also in the news, the Justice Department reached a $69.5 million settlement with a South Florida hospital district accused in a lawsuit of forming financial relationships with doctors who in turn referred patients to the district’s facilities. News outlets also report developments in West Virginia related to another fraud settlement and in Massachusetts regarding state charges about a nursing home’s misleading advertisements.
Louisiana Again Notifies Planned Parenthood That Medicaid Funds Will Be Terminated
This time the state is citing a $4.3 million whistleblower settlement in Texas as the reason. Other news outlets report on Planned Parenthood funding developments in Wisconsin, North Carolina and Ohio.
CDC Asks Nursing Homes To Take Steps To Thwart ‘Superbugs’
Federal officials say lowering improper use of antibiotics may help slow the spread of drug-resistant microbes. Elsewhere, groups ask the Senate to intervene to release records on opioid use and financial ties between the drug industry and pain-management groups.
Memoir Explores Black Doctor, Black Patient Experience
Elsewhere, the issue of how America trains doctors — and who pays for this education — is set for debate in a House subcommittee. And, Kaiser Health News examines the gender gap in academic medicine as well as hospitals pushing to improve doctor bedside manner.
Google Health Care Investments Expand To Insurance Startup Oscar And Neuroscientist Hire
The Internet company is making a $32.5 million investment in Oscar Health Insurance Corp., a new company that wants to compete with established providers by using data and technology to modernize the insurance business. Google also hires the director of the National Institute of Mental Health to join a team researching mental illness.
Obama Picks Cardiologist Robert Califf As Nominee For FDA Commissioner
Califf joined the Food & Drug Administration as a deputy commissioner last February following years as a researcher and administrator at Duke University and was considered a likely candidate for the top job.
Reid, McConnell ‘On Same Page’ In Push To Prevent A Government Shutdown
Congress has just 15 days left in September to reach a budget agreement and avoid a temporary government shutdown. The process has become complicated by the Planned Parenthood controversy, which has triggered a flurry of activity of its own — including a House government oversight panel subpoena for unedited videos about Planned Parenthood’s provision of fetal tissue for research.
Obamacare High On List Of Targets For GOP Presidential Candidates
As Republican presidential hopefuls vie for the attention of dissatisfied voters, the health law is a talking point they frequently use on the campaign trail.
Insurance Co-Ops Set Up By Health Law Face Economic Challenges
Three of the 23 insurance startups have failed, despite initial funding from the federal government. Also in news about the health law, an examination of which states are getting the bulk of premium subsidies, the most recent auditor report on the problems that hobbled the launch of the healthcare.gov website, and a study looking at the penalties being levied on hospitals.
First Edition: September 16, 2015
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Republican Leaders Focus On Avoiding A Government Shutdown
In hopes of avoiding this outcome, Republican congressional leadership is trying to quiet conservative anger over Planned Parenthood funding and related abortion issues. Backers of John Boehner, R-Ohio, who faces discord within his caucus over these issues, say the House Speaker is being “blackmailed” by hard-liners into supporting a shutdown.
Study: Readmissions Penalties Felt Most By Hospitals Treating Sickest, Poorest Patients
Harvard Medical School researchers examined Medicare readmission rates and found variables such as patients’ education, income and ability to complete activities of daily living explain the difference between the hospitals with the best and worst rates.
Viewpoints: Don’t Wage ‘Stupid Fight’ On Budget; Protecting Small Businesses From Health Law
A selection of opinions on health care from around the country.
Health care stories are reported from California, Kansas, Montana, Michigan, Oregon, and Massachusetts.
Judge Sets Thursday Hearing On Ark. Decision To Cut Off Medicaid Funding For Planned Parenthood
A federal judge has scheduled arguments for 2 p.m. Thursday regarding the reproductive health organization’s request for an injunction to prevent the state from terminating its Medicaid contract.
