Latest KFF Health News Stories
Judge Allows Group To Claim Moral Objection To Health Law’s Mandate On Birth Control Coverage
A federal judge ruled that employers, such as the organization March for Life, can claim an exemption to this requirement based on moral or ethical grounds, as well as religious ones.
Dr. Lisa Tseng pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder charges in the deaths of three of her patients who overdosed on pain killers she prescribed. Prosecutors accuse her of recklessly doling out pills in three-minute appointments while the defense says the victims abused their prescriptions.
Investigations Of Medical Errors At VA Hospitals, Clinics Down 18 Percent, GAO Report Finds
Over the same four-year time period, errors rose 14 percent through the Department of Veterans Affairs system. Meanwhile, the ongoing troubles at the agency and attempts to reform its issues with providing health care to vets has stifled doctor recruitment.
First Edition: September 1, 2015
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Viewpoints: GOP’s ‘Retread’ Health Plans; Mich. Faces Medicaid Bill; Dying With Dignity
A selection of opinions on health care from around the country.
Health care stories are reported from Louisiana, Minnesota, Florida, Ohio, California, Washington and Illinois.
Expanding Access To Drug Treatment A Struggle In New Hampshire
Meanwhile, Maine ups its focus on drug enforcement as the heroin epidemic worsens.
Feds Say Arkansas’ 10-Day Medicaid Renewal Deadline Violated Regulations
News outlets also report on Medicaid developments in Georgia, California, New Jersey and Iowa.
Planned Parenthood Sues Alabama Gov. Over Cancelled Medicaid Funding
Planned Parenthood Southeast joined with the American Civil Liberties Union in a lawsuit against Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley, alleging that his recent decision to to cancel Medicaid contracts with the reproductive health organization is in violation of federal law.
Insurers Evaluate New Expensive Cholesterol Drugs For Possible Preferred Designation Deals
Meanwhile, Modern Healthcare and NBC report on surprise out-of-network charges and balance billing while The Fiscal Times writes about 2016 Medicare premium jumps.
NLRB Ruling Could Alter Relations Between Health Care Facilities And Temporary Workers
The ruling states that staffing agency workers are jointly employed by both the agency and the organization — such as hospitals — where they are working. That means the health care employers may become involved in collective bargaining with the temporary workers, Modern Healthcare reports. Other news coverage explores whether nurse practitioners could be an alternative to physicians in efforts to address workforce shortages.
Planned Parenthood Funding On Lawmakers’ Post-Break Agenda Amidst Heavy Lobbying
As the women’s health organization has been holding rallies, commissioning polls and running ads, Republican congressional leaders debate the legislative options for holding a vote to try to defund Planned Parenthood.
Flexible Spending Accounts Might Vanish When ‘Cadillac Tax’ Kicks In
The tax on high-cost health insurance plans, set to begin in 2018, is also of concern for the writers union, which is seeking an exemption. In other health law news, Connecticut pushes back on insurers’ premium hike requests while recent changes to the health coverage provided to U.S. Olympians bring it in line with federal requirements.
Judge Says Alaska Gov. Can Go Forward With Enrollment Plan For Medicaid Expansion
The decision was a rebuke to Republican state legislators, who had asked for a temporary injunction to stop enrollment while the court heard their lawsuit against Gov. Bill Walker’s decision to expand the health program for low-income residents. The legislators quickly appealed to the Alaska Supreme Court.
First Edition: August 31, 2015
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Viewpoints: Improving Drug Prices; Bundling Payments For Hip And Knee Replacements
A selection of opinions on health care from around the country.
Research Roundup: Palliative Care; Increasing Cost Of Insulin; Health Coverage For Prisoners
Each week, KHN compiles a selection of recently released health policy studies and briefs.
Health care stories are reported from Texas, California, Minnesota, New York, Massachusetts, Maryland and North Carolina.
Abortion Foes Pursue Public Records On Clinic Data, Comb Through Trash
Activists in Washington state are asking for data from abortion clinics on womens’ ages, races, length of pregnancy and how past pregnancies ended, as well as where the women lived. And they literally go through the clinic trash sometimes to find such patient information.
Minnesota Works To Clear Medicaid Backlogs
News outlets also report on Medicaid developments in Florida and Iowa.
