Latest KFF Health News Stories
GOP Looks For Way To Get Senate To Pass Obamacare Repeal
Republicans are considering making big changes to their proposal to repeal the health law and defund Planned Parenthood — even perhaps scrapping the idea to deny the clinics money. Elsewhere, a court rules Congress must cooperate to find the source of a possible leak of government health-care policy in an insider-trading probe.
High Court Opts Not To Hear Case About Planned Parenthood Documents
The case was brought by New Hampshire Right to Life, which was seeking HHS documents about a $1 million federal contract awarded to Planned Parenthood of Northern New England. The Right to Life group was concerned that the federal money might be used to subsidize abortions.
Viewpoints: Tough Issues For FDA Nominee; A Mother’s Questions For Ben Carson
A selection of opinions on health care from around the country.
News outlets report on health issues in Texas, Massachusetts, Wisconsin, Virginia, New Hampshire, New York and Florida.
Lower-Income Communities Hit Harder By Premature Colon Cancer Deaths
Almost 20 percent of colon cancer deaths in these communities could have been averted with early screening and the communities face $6.4 billion in lost wages, according to CDC estimates. Elsewhere, news outlets write about other public health stories including failures at psychiatric hospitals, the benefits of involving surgical residents in procedures and the growing obesity gap between women and men. “Cyber sickness” and the dangers of sugar are also in the headlines.
‘You Wonder If You Made The Right Decision’: Parents Of Premature Baby Face Heartbreaking Ordeal
Kaiser Health News offers a multimedia package profiling a San Francisco couple who had to decide how far to go to treat their very sick and premature son. In other children’s health news, media outlets report on the difficulty of diagnosing TB in kids and the dramatic jump in autism cases.
FDA Issues Farm Regulations To Increase Safety Of Produce
The new food regulations from the Food and Drug Administration aim to stop the breakouts of food-borne illnesses seen over the last decade.
Mergers And Takeovers Are On The Rise, Bringing Conflicts With Them
Takeovers in the health care industry are increasing, and experts don’t see the pace slowing down soon. Yet unexpected conflicts of interest can sometimes accompany the deals.
Top Public Health Care Concern: Drug Costs
Also, heart drug availability and costs are examined around the globe. And in other news, Pfizer considers moving its headquarters to Dublin to save on taxes, tech and drug companies team up on a trade secrets bill and an AstraZeneca lung cancer drug gets FDA approval.
Often Nonprofit Hospitals Fail To Let Consumers Know About Charity Care Options
Many hospitals are supposed to let patients know if they qualify for free or reduced-price care. Also in the news, a survey finds a growing numbers of physicians are moving to concierge care, employees are picking up a bigger share of their health care costs and the health law’s impact on the municipal bond market is waning.
Medicare Part B Premiums On The Rise But Could’ve Been Higher For Many
Health News Florida and USA Today round up the changes beneficiaries will face next year to their Part B premiums and deductibles.
Kentucky Governor Urges Successor To Keep Obamacare Health Care Expansion
Gov. Steve Beshear argues that his adoption of health law provisions has created jobs and brought in $3 billion in Medicaid funding. Gov.-elect Matt Bevin ran on a platform to dismantle Kynect, Kentucky’s health insurance exchange, and curtail the state’s Medicaid expansion. Meanwhile, a review of the 2015 vote finds that Kentucky counties with the highest rates of Medicaid enrollment voted for Bevin.
Medicaid Expansion Adds 7.8 Million Patients To Private Insurance Rolls Last Year
In other Medicaid news, a study finds that half of the immigrants living in California illegally could qualify under a plan to expand the state’s low-income health program, the expansion door cracks open in Alabama and Ohio will update its medical education repayment formula for hospitals.
High Court To Hear Texas Abortion Law Challenge
The case, which is the first major abortion challenge to come before the Supreme Court since 2007, will likely have a major impact on the 2016 elections.
Administration, Lawmakers And Candidates Seeking Ways To Control Drug Prices
Consumers’ concern about medications that can cost $100,000 a year or more is spurring politicians of all stripes and federal officials to search for remedies. Also in political news, calls by Sens. Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz, both seeking the Republican presidential nomination, for the Senate to move to the right of the House on a repeal measure is causing waves, and Dr. Ben Carson’s health politics come under scrutiny.
Clinton Raises Concerns About Sanders’ Health Care Plan, Takes Heat On Her Drug Cost Proposal
In the Democratic debate, Hillary Clinton suggests that the U.S. should move forward with President Barack Obama’s Affordable Care Act rather than move to Sen. Bernie Sanders’ proposal for Medicare for all.
Sky-High Deductibles Make Health Care Unaffordable For Some Insured
With enrollment for 2016 open to consumers, The New York Times reviews the state plans offered on healthcare.gov and finds that more than half have a deductible of $3,000 or more.
Viewpoints: GOP Having Some Second Thoughts On Repeal; Forcing Addicts Into Treatment
A selection of opinions on health care from around the country.
Research Roundup: Mental Health Parity; Kids’ Food Ads; Medicare Part B Premiums
Each week, KHN compiles a selection of recently released health policy studies and briefs.
News outlets report on health issues in Illinois, West Virginia, Florida, Georgia, Connecticut, California, Texas, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey and New Hampshire.
