Latest KFF Health News Stories
Texas Whistleblower Says Medicare Advantage Plans Overstate Home Visit Charges
Also in news related to Medicare, MedPAC argues for tightening dialysis subsidy rules.
General Electric Selling Health Care Lending Unit To Capital One For About $9B
GE Capital’s Healthcare Financial Services business lends to a variety of companies, including hospitals, drug makers and medical device specialists. GE will retain a portion of the business that lends to its medical equipment operations customers.
New Group Of Cholesterol Drugs Adds To Drug-Pricing Discussion
The medications, estimated to cost about $15,000 a year, could become a life-long treatment for millions of people.
Women’s Health Issues, Planned Parenthood Funding Debate Continue To Find Campaign-Trail Traction
Donald Trump appeared to be taking a step back from his earlier comments that he would be willing to shut the government down over the debate to defund Planned Parenthood. The Washington Post’s The Fix details Trump’s latest positions as enunciated during the candidate’s recent appearance on the Sean Hannity Show. And Hillary Clinton and Jeb Bush continue to spar.
The Scientific Side Of The Fetal Tissue Debate
The Associated Press reports on how this tissue has been used by researchers for decades for the development of vaccines and a variety of treatments. Other news outlets offer fact-checking and insights regarding the controversy over federal funding of Planned Parenthood.
House Republicans View Health Law As Opportunity For Legal Challenge To Executive Power
The New York Times reports on what it describes as a “little-noticed legal fight that could redefine the balance of power in Washington.” Meanwhile, other news outlets report on a healthcare.gov special enrollment glitch as well as a new report detailing recommended changes to the overhaul.
Number Of Uninsured Americans Dropped By 7 Million In First 3 Months Of 2015, Federal Report Finds
The report, issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Health Statistics, estimated that the total number of people without insurance declined by 15.8 million since major provisions of the health law began taking effect in 2013.
First Edition: August 12, 2015
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Viewpoints: Downside Of Privatizing Medicaid; Medicare Advantage Stars And Poor Seniors
A selection of opinions on health care from around the country.
Health care stories are reported from New York, Texas, Arkansas, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, Tennessee, California, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Connecticut and Kentucky.
Oklahoma Judge Strikes Down Law Aimed At Limiting Use Of Abortion-Inducing Drugs
The county judge says the law was unconstitutional because the restrictions it put on the use of medications for abortion did not apply also to other drugs. In a separate decision, a federal judge conditionally lifts a temporary restraining order in Tennessee that had stopped the state from enforcing an abortion law requiring new licensing standards for clinics.
Poll Finds Voters In Key Senate Battleground States Are Opposed To Defunding Planned Parenthood
But the fallout from the recent controversy involving the organization and fetal tissue research is gaining momentum in Florida. In Texas, Planned Parenthood will soon not be able to participate in a joint state-federal breast and cervical cancer screening program.
N.C., Ala. State Houses Struggle With Medicaid Revamp Efforts, Budget Issues
The North Carolina Senate gave tentative approval to a bill that would overhaul the state’s Medicaid program. In Alabama, the legislature continues to struggle with budget issues that could translate into deep cuts for the state-federal low-income health insurance program.
‘Cures’ Bill Triggers Concerns That Speedier Drug Approvals Could Compromise Patient Safety
Meanwhile, Reuters reports on a recent ruling regarding off-label drug marketing.
Meanwhile, the pharmacy benefits company is also making news for its push for revised treatment guidelines for patients with high cholesterol to help choose the best, and most cost-effective, medications. And the Washington Post looks at CVS’s replacement of Viagra coverage with Cialis.
New Businesses Seek To Meet Consumers’ Demands For Non-Emergency Housecalls
A variety of firms have started up that provide medical care where and when consumers want it. Also, news outlets examine a civil case against a now-bankrupt laboratory and how the health care sector has performed for hedge funds this year.
National Nurses Union Endorses Bernie Sanders
Sanders’ long-standing support of the single-payer health system is one of his positions that appears to have resonated with the 185,000-member nurses’ organization. It’s the first national labor endorsement lost by Hillary Clinton.
Gallup Poll Details Rapid Changes In Nation’s Health Coverage Picture
The twice-a-year survey tracks state-by-state insurance coverage and offers a progress report on the impact of the Affordable Care Act since it took effect.
Watchdog: Not All Health Exchange Controls Were Effective In Confirming Subsidy Eligibility
According to the inspector general of the Department of Health and Human Services, some consumers who obtained coverage or subsidies through healthcare.gov may not actually have qualified. Also, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services because of inconsistencies in the data, is delaying the release of information regarding how much health insurance companies will receive or be charged — as a result of a health law provision — to even out the risks of covering people who were previously uninsured.
First Edition: August 11, 2015
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
