Latest KFF Health News Stories
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Viewpoints: Too Many Consumers Underinsured; Getting A Grip On Performance Measures
A selection of opinions on health care from around the country.
News outlets examine health care issues in Tennessee, New Jersey, Georgia, Connecticut, Louisiana, Vermont, Colorado, California and Texas.
Tennessee Enacts Abortion Waiting Period; Texas Considers Abortion Restrictions On Minors
And in Missouri, Aetna will pay a $4.5 million fine for covering some elective abortions for ineligible women who didn’t buy an optional policy, as required by state law.
A scathing report highlights the tough conditions for Illinois inmates who suffer from mental illnesses. At a Chicago jail, those problems will have to be tackled by a clinical psychologist who was appointed to lead the facility. Meanwhile, an Arizona jail where half the prisoners are Native American is taking a cultural approach to treating drug addictions.
Rhode Island Medicaid Overhaul Triggers Opposition
News outlets also report on Medicaid news from North Carolina and Missouri.
The Health Law’s Impact On Small Business Part Of Campaign Trail Buzz
Small business issues — including policies related to Obamacare — are becoming important talking points among presidential hopefuls from both parties.
Health Sector Business Climate Good For Deal-Making, Acquisitions And Spin-Offs
Anthem’s CFO said the potential for a “meaningful” merger within the insurance industry would shrink the field of major players. Johnson & Johnson is entering a development and marketing deal with Achillion Pharmaceuticals on one or more of the drugmaker’s hepatitis C drugs. And Walgreens is relaunching its home-infusion division as a separate company.
Congress Advances Measures Giving Women In The Military Greater Access To Contraceptives
The House’s defense policy bill says military clinics and hospitals must offer any method of contraception approved by the Food and Drug Administration. Similar efforts are moving in the Senate too. Also on the issue of contraception, a federal court has denied for the second time Notre Dame’s challenge to the contraception-coverage requirements in the health law.
Meningitis Outbreak Victims To Get Compensation From $200 Million Fund
A federal bankruptcy judge approved the compensation pool for victims and creditors impacted by tainted steroid shots produced at a Massachusetts compounding pharmacy. In other court news, a synthetic marijuana prosecution hangs in the balance as Iowa struggles to define Schedule I chemicals.
Global Activists To Challenge Patents On Breakthrough Hep C Drugs Due to Price
Other health reporters examine the cancer risks related to dense breasts, improper gluten-free labeling on probiotics and its risks to those with celiac disease, stablizing metabolic syndrome rates and the possible overuse of an asthma drug.
‘Sham’ Cancer Charities Accused Of Misusing $187 Million In Donations
Money donors gave to pay for pain medications, hospice services and other cancer care was instead spent by a family on personal items like meals and dating websites, according to a civil complaint filed by federal officials.
New Data Rate Hospital Performance On Popular Elective Surgeries
U.S. News and World Report released the data on coronary artery bypass grafts and hip and knee replacements, which 1.4 million patients get every year. Elsewhere, a new program allows patients to borrow money to pay their medical bills.
Number Of ‘Underinsured’ Rising, With 1 In 4 At Financial Risk From Medical Bills: Study
A report warns that an estimated 31 million people are insured by health plans that would not protect them enough from high medical bills. Rising deductibles were cited as the biggest problem.
Dispute Over Federal Hospital Funding Threatens Safety-Net Hospitals In Texas
In states such as Texas and Florida, that have not expanded Medicaid and are facing a cut in federal hospital funds, the future is uncertain for many hospitals. The Texas Tribune examines which hospitals are at risk, while Florida news outlets report that a plan by the governor is not gaining traction among hospital executives. Also, elsewhere hospital officials in North Carolina seek Medicaid changes.
Former CBO Chief Says It Was ‘Common Understanding’ Subsidies Were For All States
The comments by Doug Elmendorf, who headed the Congressional Budget Office that scored the cost of the health law, go to the heart of the current case before the Supreme Court. In other news about federal funding, a discrepancy between cost estimates threatens a key drug bill, senators set up a funding caucus for NIH and the new head of CBO talks about plans for analyzing health spending.
Kansas Legislators Add ‘New Twist’ To Medicaid Expansion Debate
Some lawmakers are contemplating a plan to eliminate the state’s earned income tax credit in favor of expanding the low-income health insurance program. Meanwhile, in Utah, Salt Lake City’s police chief casts the expansion as a way to prevent crime.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Viewpoints: Concerns About Medicaid Successes; Raiding Medicare
A selection of opinions on health care from around the country.
News outlets examine health care issues in California, Florida, Texas, Alabama, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Vermont, Arizona, New Hampshire and Massachusetts.
