Latest KFF Health News Stories
Va. Defamation Case Pegged To Anesthesiologist’s Conduct
Coverage of the case, which first appeared in The Washington Post, raises questions about medical ethics.
Viewpoints: GOP Disarray; Don’t Kill IPAB; ‘Runaway Spending’ On Seniors
A selection of opinions on health care from around the country.
Longer Looks: King And His Lawsuit; Doctor Miscommunications; A ‘Healthier’ General Mills
Each week, KHN’s Alana Pockros finds interesting reads from around the Web.
News outlets report on health care developments in North Carolina, Connecticut, California, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Wisconsin and Minnesota.
Medicaid Costs, Provider Pay Rates Trigger Debate, Concern
News outlets report on state Medicaid program developments in Oklahoma, New Mexico and Connecticut.
Religious Groups Mull Next Legal Step Challenging Health Law’s Birth Control Provisions
Faith-based groups may take their case directly to the Supreme Court after a three-judge panel on the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans ruled earlier this week that certain birth-control mandates in the Affordable Care Act do not place a “substantial burden” on religious institutions such as universities and charities.
Panel Urges Cautious Approach With Meningitis Vaccine
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention stopped short of recommending that all adolescents get the vaccine, instead leaving the decision up to individual doctors and their patients. The move comes after recent outbreaks of the disease at some university campuses.
High-Deductible Plans Drive Hospital Changes
The plans, which shift more costs onto patients, are changing how health systems interact with their customers, reports Modern Healthcare. Meanwhile, The New York Times profiles how the pursuit of cash is affecting the development of new gene tests. And USA Today profiles the creation of an app that promises to improve the experience of health care calls and claims-paying.
DaVita To Pay $450M Settlement For False Claims, While Probed About Coding
The largest U.S. supplier of dialysis services agreed to the settlement to resolve claims that it knowingly created unnecessary waste in administering the drugs Zemplar and Venofer to dialysis patients, and then billed the federal government. It is also being investigated for how the company codes for Medicare Advantage patients.
Jindal Officially Joins The List Of 2016 GOP Presidential Hopefuls
News outlets report on the announcement of Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal’s candidacy while also noting that three other Republican governors — New Jersey’s Chris Christie, Ohio’s John Kasich and Wisconsin’s Scott Walker — remain undeclared.
High Court Decision Could Be Wild Card For GOP Presidential Field In 2016 Primary Campaign
Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, one likely GOP presidential candidate, is on record saying that if the Supreme Court overturns the use of subsidies in those states that use healthcare.gov, a fix would be the responsibility of the White House and Congress. Meanwhile, Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, said he would not extend the subsidies.
Republicans Criticize CBO Numbers On Repealing Obamacare
The analysis by the Congressional Budget Office says repealing the health law would increase budget deficits by $137 billion over 10 years. Elsewhere, a House committee advances, for the first time in six years, a bill to fund the Department of Health and Human Services.
Gauging Whether The Health Law’s Subsidies Have Succeeded
The New York Times assesses the track record. Meanwhile, The Wall Street Journal profiles Americans who prefer to go without health insurance and explores their rationales.
Public Opinion Of Obamacare Remains Sharply Divided In Latest Poll
In a new NBC-Wall Street Journal survey, 48 percent said the health law is either working well or only needs minor improvements, while 50 percent said it needs a major overhaul or should be eliminated. Ahead of the Supreme Court’s decision on the law’s health insurance subsidies, those polled were also divided on the political leanings of the justices, with 39 percent believing the court is too liberal, 38 percent saying it’s too conservative and 6 percent saying it’s “about right.”
A Decision Upending Subsidies Could Undermine The Health Industry’s Agenda
Media coverage in advance of the Supreme Court’s decision in King v. Burwell examines a variety of ways in which the ruling will make an impact.
Best For Last: Supreme Court Will Rule On Six Highly Anticipated Cases By Monday
It’s not just King v. Burwell that court watchers are awaiting: Big issues remaining on the docket are gay marriage, execution methods, power-plant emissions, housing discrimination and congressional redistricting. The justices will hand down decisions Thursday, Friday and Monday before the end of the term.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Viewpoints: Public’s Ambivalence On Health Law; Texas Gov. Abbott Urges ‘Just Say No’
A selection of opinions on health care from around the country.
News outlets report on health care developments in North Carolina, California, Alabama, Iowa, Georgia, Illinois, Ohio, Virginia and New York.
Appeals Court Rejects Challenge To Birth Control Coverage Mandate
The Affordable Care Act’s requirement that employers cover contraceptives or allow them to be provided through a third party does not violate the religious freedom of church-based organizations in Texas, a U.S. appeals court panel has ruled. Meanwhile, abortion providers ask the court to issue a stay on Texas’ new abortion law while they appeal.
