Latest KFF Health News Stories
Top GOP Presidential Contenders Clash In First ‘Official’ Debate
These 10 candidates were selected by Fox News, the debate sponsor, because they rank highest in the polls. An earlier session was held for the other candidates. Among the topics tackled were the health law, Medicaid expansion, other health reform proposals and defunding Planned Parenthood.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Viewpoints: Getting Insurance Doesn’t Save Money; Cadillac Tax Key To Keeping Costs Down
A selection of opinions on health care from around the country.
Longer Looks: New Stroke Drugs’ Risk; Buffett’s IUD Efforts; Adding Taste To Healthy Eating
Each week, KHN’s Shefali Luthra finds interesting reads from around the Web.
Health care stories are reported from Georgia, Ohio, Connecticut, California, Rhode Island, Maryland, Arizona, Oregon, Iowa and Washington.
N.Y. Mayor To Unveil Mental Health Initiative For Homeless People
The plan, which has an estimated price tag of about $22 million, would identify homeless people who have demonstrated violent tendencies and move them toward mental health services.
Los Angeles Jails To Undergo Reforms With Emphasis On Mental Illness, Treatment
As part of a settlement with the Justice Department, the Los Angeles system, with federal oversight, will make a variety of changes to better assess prisoners’ mental health and reduce the risk of suicide among inmates.
Alabama Slashes State Medicaid Funding
Meanwhile, Dr. Don Williamson, the head of the state’s public health department, announced that he would be leaving his position to lead the state’s hospital association instead.
N.C. Health Secretary Resigns; Change Could Be Catalyst To Break Medicaid Reform Logjam, Some Say
Rick Brajer of Raleigh, a former business executive with no government experience, will take over the office.
The investigation found that some clinics didn’t have proper licensing and one facility fell short in keeping proper logs related to fetal remains. In other state news regarding Planned Parenthood, New Hampshire’s executive council voted against funding health centers operated by Planned Parenthood of Northern New England. News outlets also report on how debates related to the organization are playing out in Texas, North Carolina and California.
No VA Coverage Of In Vitro Fertilization Leaves Disabled Veterans Struggling To Have Kids
In other veterans’ health news, a Washington state VA hospital reports that mental health services are available more quickly, but that average wait times for primary-care appointments are up. And Cerner Corp., which just won a large contract to upgrade the Pentagon’s electronic health records, says it has a model ready to go.
How Do People Really Feel About Obamacare?
CNN Money examines opinions, facts and myths in an attempt to set the record straight. In related news, a label — QHP, which means “qualified health plan” — will be added to health law coverage bought by Texans from healthcare.gov and California purports to have a “secret” formula for keeping premium costs down.
Banned Medicaid Providers Still Participate In Some State Programs, Report Finds
The health law requires that states terminate a health care provider from the health insurance program for low income people if another state dropped the provider for reasons such as fraud or quality problems. But about 12 percent of programs find a way to avoid this circumstance, the inspector general reports.
Senate Bill Seeks To Strengthen Mental Health Tracking In Gun Background Checks
Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn says his legislation will help avert mass shootings by providing financial incentives to states to provide better mental health records to the federal database. The bill is backed by the NRA and some advocacy groups like the National Alliance on Mental Illness. Other groups say it doesn’t go far enough and should expand the national background checks program.
August Break Begins With Big-Ticket Items Left On Senate’s To-Do List
Also in the news, a top health policy aide to House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, will leave Capitol Hill to join a lobbying firm.
Congressional Republicans Scramble Over Strategy To Defund Planned Parenthood
Stopping federal support for the organization is a hot topic among GOP lawmakers, but some congressional leaders are wary that it could become mired in upcoming tax and budget issues. Meanwhile, news outlets explore some of the key issues surrounding fetal tissue research.
Abortion, Health Law, Entitlement Spending May Be Among Topics Of GOP Debate
As the Republican candidates for president gather in Cleveland, news reports explore some of the issues that may come up tonight.
CVS Says It Will Cut Viagra, Weight Loss Remedy And Other Drugs From Insurance Coverage
The decision by the nation’s second-biggest pharmacy benefit manager comes as insurers are challenging the steeply rising costs of new medications.
ER Wait Times, Penalties, Noise Levels: Now Yelp Pairs Data On Providers With User Reviews
ProPublica teams up with Yelp to help consumers make informed health care choices by adding objective government information and ratings on hospitals, nursing homes and dialysis clinics to the website’s existing, more subjective, user-driven reviews.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
