Latest KFF Health News Stories
White House Urges HHS To Be ‘More Aggressive’ In Fighting Overpayments In Medicare, Medicaid
The message came in a letter from budget director Shaun Donovan. Meanwhile, in North Carolina, a whistleblower is alleging that a major health system fraudulently billed the government.
Alaska’s GOP Legislators Continue Suit Against Medicaid Expansion Despite Court Setbacks
The committee that brought a lawsuit against Gov. Bill Walker met but announced no changes in strategy. Alaska officials say they have approved 27 people for Medicaid since enrollment in the expansion program began Tuesday and more than 350 people have applied already.
Digital Stethoscope Gets FDA Nod, Clears Way For Easier Patient Info Sharing
Elsewhere, new smartphone apps let you book doctor house calls, and a closer look at the construction boom of cancer treatment centers.
Health Care Co-Op Could Play Role In UAW Contract Negotiations
Interest by the United Auto Workers is reportedly in part the result of the success of a $61 billion fund started in 2010 that provides medical coverage for more than 750,000 retired auto workers.
San Quentin Prison Officials Still Searching For Source Of Legionnaires’ Outbreak
More than 100 inmates of this state prison in California are sick, and the Los Angeles Times reports that an environmental consultant has been brought in to try to pinpoint the source of the disease.
First Edition: September 3, 2015
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Viewpoints: Two Tools The GOP’s Health Plan Needs; ‘Weird’ Ruling On Contraceptive Mandate
A selection of opinions on health care from around the country.
Health care stories are reported from California, Delaware, Illinois, Connecticut, Arizona and Maryland.
Kansas Advisory Panel Begins Review Of Medicaid Coverage Of Mental Health Drugs
News outlets also report state-level Medicaid news from Ohio, Minnesota and Iowa.
Southwest Ohio Abortion Clinics File Lawsuits Challenging Constitutionality Of State Regulations
The legal actions are being taken by clinics, located in Cincinnati and Dayton, alleging that changes in state laws undermine a woman’s right to pursue an abortion and the clinics’ rights to due process under the 14th Amendment.
Key Calif. Legislative Panel OKs Assisted-Suicide Bill
The controversial measure, which would allow doctors to prescribe lethal doses of medication to terminal patients, failed in the legislature two months ago amid Catholic Church opposition. Its next step is consideration by the state assembly’s finance committee.
In Setback To State Efforts To Control Costs, Mass. Health Spending Soars
Massachusetts’ health spending was $632 million more last year than it was supposed to be and increased at a rate much higher than that of inflation, according to a new report. Much of the boost was attributed to Medicaid costs.
Personalized Medicine Not Yet A Help For Many Health Questions
Genetic testing can still only say so much about how you will react to certain drugs, one writer finds. Elsewhere, a digital stethoscope shows promise, and Pfizer’s bid to get a Medicaid overcharging complaint tossed out runs into a roadblock.
Your Heart May Be Aging Faster Than You Are, Report Suggests
The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says the heart of an average American man is 7.8 years “older” than his chronological age and 5.4 years higher for a woman. The report is part of an effort to get people to pay attention to heart issues.
Obama Administration’s Revamp Of Two-Midnight Rule Receives Mixed Feedback From Health Industry
In other developments from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, a pilot program will test value-based insurance under Medicare Advantage while the Chicago Tribune reports on the impact of the agency’s obscure “hold-harmless rule” on Medicare beneficiaries’ Social Security checks.
McConnell: Efforts To Defund Planned Parenthood Will Fall Short
The Senate majority leader noted that critics of the organization don’t have the votes for defunding and that the effort may have to wait for a supportive president. Meanwhile, a Congressional Research Service report concludes that a government shutdown would not impact federal support for Planned Parenthood, and advocates of a ban on abortion after 20 weeks of pregnancy focus on the votes of four senators.
As Enrollment Begins Slowly For Alaska Medicaid Expansion, White House Praises Governor’s Move
After some legal skirmishes with legislative critics, Alaska officials open up enrollment under Gov. Bill Walker’s plan to expand the program for low-income residents. At the same time, Michigan has submitted its proposal for a waiver to federal officials to continue its Medicaid expansion program.
Middle-Class Benefits Could Be At Risk As More Employers Hit ‘Cadillac Tax’ Thresholds
The tax on high-cost health insurance is set to begin in 2018 but is expected to hit more job-based plans over time. In other Obamacare news, the Connecticut Mirror evaluates the impact of the health law on state hospitals while Florida Healthy Kids warns of pending premium hikes for children.
First Edition: September 2, 2015
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Viewpoints: Medicare’s Plan For Prosthetics; GOP Stumbles On Health; Prisoners Paying For Care
A selection of opinions on health care from around the country.
