Morning Breakouts

Latest KFF Health News Stories

HHS Gives 3 States Approval To Run Their Own Insurance Marketplaces

Morning Briefing

The move comes as the U.S. waits for a Supreme Court decision that could strike down premium subsidies for customers in states that use the federal online exchange. The approval would allow Arkansas, Delaware and Pennsylvania to shift their operations if that happens.

Researchers Look For Key To Cures In ‘Exceptional Responders’

Morning Briefing

Some people respond incredibly well to certain cancer drugs, and the mystery of why has scientists looking at how they can replicate the response in others. ProPublica, in the meantime, examines “toxic residue” from MRI screenings.

New Cures, Big Prices Mean Some Go Without Best Treatments

Morning Briefing

In other health care marketplace news, a lab prepares to settle over expensive Medicare drug tests, and The New York Times looks more closely at the “female Viagra.” Additionally, biotech jobs are up, but pharma jobs lag, and The Wall Street Journal examines why many don’t buy long-term care insurance.

Hillary Clinton Attacks GOP For Wanting To Repeal Health Law

Morning Briefing

In a wide-ranging speech, the Democratic presidential-hopeful also hit Republicans on abortion rights. Elsewhere, GOP likely contender Jeb Bush is criticized by a free-market group for increasing spending to lure a biomedical group to Florida.

Final Bill For Troubled Massachusetts Exchange Site Could Hit $300M

Morning Briefing

The cost of setting up the Massachusetts health insurance website rose another $47.2 million, bringing the total spent to $281 million with more expenses still expected. Meanwhile, Colorado will post on its insurance site Monday the 2016 rates proposed by providers. And a judge tossed a lawsuit filed by Oracle against five former Oregon governor staffers in a case involving Cover Oregon technology problems.

Florida House Approves Six Bills Targeting High Health Care Costs

Morning Briefing

Legislators in that state also decided how to divvy up $2 billion among 134 hospitals to pay for care of patients without insurance. Federal funds for Florida’s low-income pool, or LIP, fund were cut back by the Obama administration.

Whose Insurance Is In Jeopardy?

Morning Briefing

News outlets in states that could be impacted if the high court strikes down the health law’s insurance subsidies attempt to quantify how many people might lose their Obamacare coverage.

King V. Burwell: Searching For Signs Of What The Justices Are Thinking

Morning Briefing

News outlets analyze the words and records of different Supreme Court justices in search of some indication of how they might rule in the pending challenge to the use of health law subsidies in states that did not set up their own online insurance marketplaces. Meanwhile, a number of decisions — including King v. Burwell — are still pending even as the Court’s term is nearing its close. And on Capitol Hill, Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, makes a strong statement in opposition to a “one-sentence” Obamacare fix.