Latest KFF Health News Stories
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.
Hospitals In Rural Miss. At Risk Of Closure, Study Finds
Also, USA Today does a state-by-state data analysis of screenings, incidence and death rates for three forms of cancer. Findings indicated that state statistics for poor outcomes closely mirrored poverty data. Arkansas, Mississippi and Alabama were particularly hard hit.
Justices Could Announce Today If They Will Hear Abortion Case
The case stems from challenges in Texas and Mississippi that examine how states regulate abortion clinics.
Smoking Rates Fall To Lowest Point But Numbers Mask Troubling Trend For Poor Americans
Nationwide the number of adults who smoke dropped to 16.8 percent in 2014. But cigarette use was still reported by 43 percent of less educated Americans and about a third insured by Medicaid. Meanwhile, a proposed rule by the Department of Housing and Urban Development would ban smoking at more than 3,100 public housing properties. The agency says the move would improve public health and save $153 million each year.
Cyber Firm: Health Care Industry Falls Short In Protecting Consumer Data
CNBC reports on this finding from cyber firm Forrester. Meanwhile, other news outlets report on health-related, high-tech gadgets and computer apps.
Rite Aid Aims At Prescription Drug Effectiveness In Genetic Tests
The new kits allow customers and their doctors to determine if some prescription drug doses are optimal and if there are other drugs better suited to a patient. Elsewhere, Zenefits, a human-resources startup, misses revenue targets.
Doctors, Consumer Groups Urge Antitrust Regulators To Block Insurer Mergers
Two consumer groups are forming a coalition with New York labor unions to oppose the proposed megamergers of Aetna with Humana and Anthem with Cigna. The American Medical Association has also asked the Justice Department to stop the acquisitions.
Alabama Governor Says He Is Weighing Medicaid Expansion
Gov. Robert Bentley, a doctor, says his administration is “looking at” expanding the program for low-income residents under the federal health law. Meanwhile, Kentucky awaits details from the governor-elect on how he wants to change the state’s health insurance marketplace and Medicaid.
Silver-Level Health Insurance Plans’ Coverage Of HIV Drugs Limited, Study Finds
Only 16 percent of the popular plans cover all 10 of the most common drug regimens and charge less than $100 a month in consumer cost sharing, according to a report by Avalere Health. Elsewhere, Connecticut’s co-op is staying in business but plans changes to sustain operations.
