Latest KFF Health News Stories
Ariz. Weighs Medicaid Work Requirement, But HHS Has Rejected That For Other States
Arizona has already expanded its Medicaid program, but lawmakers there want to set tougher standards for those who are eligible. News outlets also report on the wait in Montana for the federal government to consider the state’s expansion plans and a controversial statement by an aide to the Kansas governor.
From Planned Parenthood To Obamacare: Speaker Race Will Impact Key Health Care Issues, Funding
House Republicans will meet Friday morning to discuss next steps in electing a leader following Rep. Kevin McCarthy’s surprise withdrawal from the race Thursday. Rep. Paul Ryan has resisted recruitment appeals so far.
House Panel Finds No Financial Wrongdoing By Planned Parenthood, Rep. Chaffetz Says
Chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah) says his committee’s hearings have not found that the reproductive health organization is improperly handling its finances. He says investigations may continue. At a hearing yesterday, a former employee said that Planned Parenthood did bill Medicaid for abortion services. The woman made similar claims in a lawsuit that in 2014 an Iowa appeals court said did not have enough evidence to go forward.
Med Schools Trying To Adapt To New Health Care Environment
With a revolution in U.S. health care — in both how care is delivered and paid for — schools that train doctors are scrambling to revamp. Also, a Michigan paper examines the burden on nurses at an understaffed state hospital, and a study analyzes patient attitudes about being discharged from the hospital.
Bill Would Require Drug, Device Makers To Disclose Pay To Nurses, Physician Assistants
The legislation, introduced in the Senate, would close a loophole in the law that requires public disclosure of such payments to doctors and some other health providers.
Insurers Seeking More Obamacare Aid Could Wait Years
Insurers who hoped to get billions in aid after opening-year losses from their participation in the health law’s insurance marketplaces are only getting 12.6 percent of what they requested after the fund to pay them fell short. In the meantime, Obamacare dropouts get picked up by employer coverage in California, and Wyoming loses one of its two health law insurers.
CMS Releases Star Ratings For 2016 Medicare Advantage Plans
Almost three out of four beneficiaries are enrolled in medical and drug coverage plans that received at least a four-star quality rating, according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. The rankings did show a drop for some companies, especially in regard to prescription drug benefits.
Oncologists Skipping Expensive Cancer Drugs That Offer Little Or No Benefit
Meanwhile, news outlets report on other cancer care developments like the impact of life-expectancy questions on patients and what elephant genes could teach researchers about fighting the disease.
First Edition: October 9, 2015
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Viewpoints: Medicaid Debate In GOP Presidential Race; Fight Over Dietary Guidelines
A selection of opinions on health care from around the country.
Longer Looks: Ben Carson And Supplements; Fixing Chronic Fatigue; Mental Health
Each week, KHN’s Shefali Luthra finds interesting reads from around the Web.
State Highlights: Vaccine Referendum Effort Fails In Calif.; New Questions On Iowa Medicaid Changes
News outlets report on health care issues in California, Iowa, Massachusetts and New Jersey.
Public Health Approach May Be Needed To Help Combat Mass Shootings
The New York Times examines efforts by some experts to move focus to early detection and preventive measures to keep help prevent gun violence. In other reports on public health issues, KHN talks to an expert about avoiding diagnostic errors, and NBC looks at the spiraling cost of specialty drugs.
VA Secretary McDonald Disputes Audit’s Findings Of Deep, Systemic Issues At Agency
Robert McDonald says that progress has already been made on many of the issues cited in the $68-million independent audit and that the Department of Veterans Affairs needs a bigger budget to go further. Meanwhile, a groundbreaking program in Milwaukee, Wis., has veterans act out battle-heavy scenes in Shakespeare plays to help them process their emotions.
Watchdog Rejects Allegation Of Improper FDA Approval For Cancer Screening Devices
The Office of Special Counsel says the complaints were not substantiated. In other Food & Drug Administration news, Dr. Robert Califf, the Duke cardiologist nominated to lead the agency, asked to have his name removed from a series of papers examining clinical trials that he co-wrote. The unusual move raised questions and potential ethical concerns.
Cancer Doctors Say They Increasingly Weigh Drug Costs When Choosing Treatment Options
Those decisions could help provide some break to the breathtaking increases in drug prices consumers have seen in recent years. Also in marketplace news, Walmart prepares for a massive, nationwide health fair, and PharMerica agrees to settle allegations that it received kickbacks for promoting a drug.
Arkansas Could Incur ‘Substantial’ Costs By Ending Medicaid Expansion: Report
Consultants hired by a task force offer other suggestions for reforming the health program for low-income residents. Meanwhile, the debate over expanding Medicaid continues in Utah, South Dakota, Kansas and Missouri.
Obama Signs Measure Intended To Stem Premium Jumps On Small Group Insurer Plans
The new law, which makes the expansion of the small group insurance market optional for states, is a rare example of bipartisan agreement on Obamacare changes. In other news, the approach of enrollment season means consumers should start researching their choices.
Pelosi Says Boehner Is Stalling Efforts To Avert Medicare Premium Increase
The increase for next year could be as much as 50 percent for some beneficiaries. In other Medicare news, Sen. Sherrod Brown reintroduces a bill that would bar Medicare Advantage plans from dropping doctors from their networks during the plan year, and a pilot project designed to save money produces mixed results.
Lawmakers Grill Officials Over Plans For New Dietary Guidelines
The administration announces that it will not take food products’ impact on the environment into account when setting the guidelines this year, but members of Congress continue to press about the policy.
