Latest KFF Health News Stories
Longer Looks: Helping Alzheimer’s Patients; Getting Kids Dental Care; Birth Control Primer
Each week, KHN’s Shefali Luthra finds interesting reads from around the Web.
Health care stories are reported from Oklahoma, Florida, California and Illinois.
Florida To Give Medicaid Insurers 7.7% Rate Increase
Elsewhere, officials in Texas are reviewing proposed cuts to Medicaid, but are likely to keep them. The move would affect therapy for children. In other Medicaid news, Iowa and Minnesota consider bids to run parts of their Medicaid programs, and Illinois cuts heroin addiction treatment in Medicaid from a bill to address the problem.
After Katrina Destroyed Charity Hospital, New Orleans Opens Doors To Its Replacement
Many are thrilled with the new medical center, a decade in the making and costing in excess of $1 billion, while others fear that it does not share the mission of serving patients no matter the cost. Meanwhile, other hospital news includes changes to night-shift pharmacies in Charlotte, N.C., a funding grant for psychiatry training at Carolinas Medical Center and a $6.6 million cost-cutting bonus for the Delaware Valley ACO.
News outlets report on what candidates are saying on the issues, including those related to health care and public health.
Public Health Advocates Press White House To Help Expand Use Of Costly Hepatitis Drugs
Also in the news, NPR examines the role of the prescription drug Fentanyl in the current opioid epidemic and a new strategy for some patients to control their diabetes.
Protests Seek To Attract Attention To Medicare’s Prosthetics Policy Change
Amputee groups, practitioners who work with them and prosthetic limb makers are rallying against a Medicare proposal they say will limit access to some artificial limbs.
Budget Issues Top Congressional To-Do List When Lawmakers Return To Capitol Hill
Other hot topics include efforts to resuscitate a provision regarding care for medically complex kids that was dropped from the House-passed Cures bill. Patent issues are also emerging.
Support For Health Law Grows To 62% In California, Survey Finds
According to the annual Field Poll, while most Republicans still oppose the law, nearly half say that Obamacare has met key goals like lowering the uninsured rate. Statewide, 58 percent approve of the way California runs its health services.
Judge Rules Ariz. Hospital Fee To Pay For Medicaid Expansion Is Legal
Lawmakers in Arizona approved the plan, but opponents said the vote required a supermajority, which a judge rejected. In Alaska, lawmakers that have taken Gov. Bill Walker to court over a proposed Medicaid expansion there get their day in court.
Some States’ Big Premium Hikes May Be Talking Point During Enrollment Season, Campaigns
The Wall Street Journal reports that some insurers are winning approval by state regulators of hefty increases in health insurance premiums. Meanwhile, Florida news outlets report on what the numbers look like in that state.
Long Island Hospital Puts Quality Rankings Of Its Doctors Online
Meanwhile, Politico Pro reports on a Health Affairs blog post that questions Medicare’s penalties for hospitals that have high readmission rates, while the Connecticut Mirror notes that almost all of the hospitals within the state took such a hit.
First Edition: August 27, 2015
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Viewpoints: GOP Health Plans And Pre-Existing Conditions; The Cadillac Tax
A selection of opinions on health care from around the country.
Health care stories are reported from South Carolina, Florida, California, Maryland, Oregon, Nevada, Illinois, Minnesota, Kansas and Texas.
New York, Texas Take Steps To Tackle Synthetic Marijuana
Meanwhile, Maryland launches its efforts to counter the state’s heroin epidemic.
Calif. Lawmakers Reject Proposed Audit Of Planned Parenthood
Also, in Missouri, a GOP-led committee questions legality of the University of Missouri Health Care granting privileges to a local Planned Parenthood doctor. News outlets in Florida and Wisconsin report on related news.
Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, also a GOP presidential hopeful, announced plans earlier this month to cut off Medicaid funding from Planned Parenthood’s clinics in Baton Rouge and New Orleans.
Jeb Bush: Planned Parenthood ‘Not Actually Doing Women’s Health Issues’
News organizations fact-check the Republican’s comments at a town hall meeting — and find fault. In the meantime, the battle over Planned Parenthood deepens as Ted Cruz draws a line in the sand over funding for the group. Also, Politico profiles the man behind the covert videos that began the latest fight, even as the group releases an eighth video.
Injured Patients And Families Push For Cameras In Operating Rooms
When something goes wrong during a surgery, families often can’t find out what happened because of a lack of documentation. Some now say the procedures should be recorded so that actions can be reviewed. Also, a look at the promises and pitfalls of precision medicine.
