Latest KFF Health News Stories
News outlets report on health issues from California, Wyoming, Washington, Texas, Florida, North Carolina, Tennessee, Missouri and Maine.
High Court Won’t Hear Maine’s Appeal Over Medicaid Cuts
Gov. Paul LePage’s effort to cut more than 6,000 low-income young adults from the state’s Medicaid rolls died Monday when the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear his administration’s appeal of a lower court ruling. The justices’ refusal means LePage must continue providing health coverage to poor 19- and 20-year-olds until at least 2019 to maintain federal funding for the state’s Medicaid program.
New Tech Offers Possible Benefits — Like Predicting Who Will Get Sick — But Also Poses Risks
Independence Blue Cross, a Philadelphia-based insurance firm, is trying to identify discharged hospital patients likely to be readmitted to the hospital using an algorithm that examines records like billing claims, labs, medications, height, weight and family history. But the practice raises some privacy concerns. In other news, NPR reports on the level of confidentiality for online health searches. And a security researcher warns that drug pumps are at risk to be hacked.
Abortion Fight Becomes Issue On 2016 Campaign Trail
Also in news from Capitol Hill, Democrats oppose Medicare cuts tucked into a provision of the fast-track trade legislation that aims to help companies hurt by trade deals.
FDA Questions Who Should Take New Cholesterol Drugs
The drugs are said to represent the biggest advance in cholesterol-lowering treatment in 20 years. But there are still questions about long-term effects. In addition, the pricetags could limit those who benefit.
Humana Enters ‘Quiet Period’ Amid Sale Rumors
The publicly traded Medicare Advantage coverage provider announced the move in an SEC filing. The company refused to comment on merger speculation, which increased when Humana also pulled out of a large health care conference.
Study: Some Hospitals Mark Up Prices More Than 10 Times Their Actual Costs
All but one of the 50 hospitals noted in the study for charging uninsured customers at this rate were owned by for-profit companies.
State Officials’ Health Law Stance Impacts Enrollment Rates, Study Says
A new report finds that the more a state embraces the Affordable Care Act through outreach and assistance programs, the better that state’s application rates and its residents’ experiences. Yet even in Kentucky, a state that embraced parts of the law, half of poor people say they have heard little about its benefits.
Judge Orders Federal Officials To Respond Today To Fla. Gov.’s Request On Hospital Funds
Gov. Rick Scott is seeking to have the dispute over a reduction in funding for hospitals serving large numbers of uninsured patients sent to mediation. The federal government says those hospitals would be better off if Florida expanded its Medicaid program. Also in Medicaid news, Arkansas quietly changes its program and Connecticut residents worry about cuts to come.
Few States Have Contingency Plans If High Court Voids Subsidies
Although millions of Americans could lose insurance if the Supreme Court rules against the administration, neither federal nor most state lawmakers have plans to deal with the potential fallout.
Obama Expresses Optimism About Outcome Of Pending Health Law Challenge
The Supreme Court is expected to issue its decision this month regarding King v. Burwell, a case in which plaintiffs challenge the use of federal subsidies to buy insurance from healthcare.gov.
Government May Pay $50B For New Breakthrough Drugs, Study Estimates
According to a report by Avalere Health, a consulting firm, Medicare would bear the majority of the cost, spending $31.3 billion over the next 10 years on improved treatments for diseases like Hepatitis C and breast cancer. Medicaid is estimated to spend $15.8 billion on the drugs. Meanwhile, another report finds that health care costs may go up 6.5 percent next year.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Viewpoints: Fla.’s ‘Foolish’ Suit On Hospital Funding; Help Rural Hospitals; ‘Surprise’ Bills
A selection of opinions on health care from around the country.
News outlets report on health issues from California, New Hampshire, Missouri, American Samoa, Alabama, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Iowa and North Carolina.
Abortions Decline Nationwide As Multiple Factors Are Cited
An Associated Press survey says abortions nationwide are down about 12 percent since 2010. Some attribute the decline to greater access to effective contraception, while others point to shifting societal values.
N.Y. Hospitals Push To Provide Medical Marijuana To Patients
Applications for one of N.Y.’s five medical marijuana licenses were due last week, and hospitals are busy readying partnerships with growers to provide pot to patients.
State Budgets Struggle Even As Recovery Continues
Rising health care costs are one factor cited in the budget woes of some states — along with slow recoveries and growing pension obligations. The Washington Post parses some of the differences by looking at the budget fortunes — and Medicaid spending — of neighboring, GOP-led states, Arizona and Nevada. And Connecticut’s hospitals take a hit in that state’s budget.
Accountable Care Organizations Mull Walking Away From Medicare Shared Savings Program
Concerns for those coordinating patient care in the programs include whether or not to risk penalties when they offer services that could result in a financial loss — like homebound health care. Elsewhere, Medicare data reveals spending habits in Minnesota, and presidential-hopeful Sen. Bernie Sanders makes a “Medicare-for-all” proposal a part of his campaign.
Massive Breach Of Government System Linked To Health Data Thefts
Personal information on as many as 4 million current and former federal employees may have been compromised in the latest cyberattack, believed to have been carried out by hackers based in China. An earlier government computer break-in was linked to attacks on insurer Anthem Inc. and health care services provider Premera Blue Cross.
