Latest KFF Health News Stories
Law Enforcement Urges Innovative Programs To Address Violence Related To Mental Illness
The Associated Press reports on areas where progress has been made, and how much still needs to be done. Meanwhile, in Maryland, legislation is being advanced to establish behavioral health units within certain police departments.
Blue Shield Of California Faces Scrutiny On Premium Taxes
California’s insurance commissioner says Blue Shield of California costs the state $100 million each year by avoiding premium taxes due to a loophole that allows the insurer to choose its regulator. State lawmakers may look at closing that loophole.
The report by the National Urban League is the 39th edition of the “State of Black America – Save Our Cities: Education, Jobs + Justice.”
Novartis Wins OK To Sell Copycat Cancer Drug
A judge approved Novartis’ effort to sell the first imitation of a top-selling biologic drug in the U.S., currently marketed by Amgen under the label Neupogen. Amgen had sued to stop Novartis.
GOP Still Questions The Federal Promise To Pay For Medicaid Expansion
CQ Healthbeat reports on the pressures some Republican state lawmakers face as they continue to doubt the federal government’s long-term commitment to pay its share of expansion costs and also keep the feds from making too many demands on the traditionally state-run program. News outlets also provide the latest on related developments in Kansas and Florida.
Advocates Seek 4 Years Of Funding For Children’s Health Insurance Program
Although a proposal to fix the pay formula for Medicare doctors contains a provision to extend the children’s health insurance program through 2017, some advocates are seeking four years of funding.
GOP Leaders Unveil New Strategies But Still Face Gridlock
News organizations examine how Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., and House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, are attempting to navigate congressional gridlock within their own caucuses and across party lines.
House, Senate Panels OK Budget With Cuts To Medicaid, Changes To Medicare, And ACA Repeal
The process so far has highlighted deep ideological divisions within the GOP but it also gives Republicans procedural tools for passing other measures — including a repeal of Obama’s health care law — on a simple majority vote.
In Unusual Bipartisan Moment, House Leaders Reach Partial ‘Doc Fix’ Deal
Supporters of the measure, which is scheduled for a House vote next week and would end the annual battles surrounding scheduled Medicare doctor pay cuts, say it has a good chance of passing. But negotiators have not yet settled on a plan for paying for the measure and there could be trouble ahead in the Senate.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Viewpoints: House Budget Promises; Shifting Medicare Costs; Abortion Restrictions
A selection of opinions on health care from around the country.
Longer Looks: Parting Wisdom; Organ Donors; Fixing Medicare
Each week, KHN’s Shefali Luthra finds interesting reads from around the Web.
A selection of health policy stories from Oregon, New York, California, Illinois, Georgia, North Carolina, Texas, Maryland, Missouri, Indiana, Colorado, Tennessee and D.C.
Nebraska, Arizona Lawmakers Battle Over Abortion Bills
Lawmakers in Nebraska take up a bill that would impose tougher regulations on abortion providers, while the Arizona House delays debate on one that would prevent women from buying Obamacare plans that cover abortion. Meanwhile, a civil liberties group asks a judge to bar an Alabama law that allows a fetus to be represented in court when a minor seeks judicial permission for an abortion.
States, Feds Seek To Recoup Billions After Health Care Fraud
New York’s attorney general indicts the leaders of a Bronx drug and alcohol treatment program for alleged Medicaid fraud. Missouri nets $2.4 million in a Medicaid fraud settlement. And the federal government recovers $3.3 billion in health-care fraud.
Blue Shield Of California Stripped Of Tax-Exempt Status
The insurance company and state regulators faced criticism for not disclosing this decision, which was made seven months ago.
Drugmaker’s Controversial Strategy When Facing Loss Of Patent Protection Prompts Antitrust Suit
Also, in other pharmaceutical news, NPR examines why insulin is so expensive.
Marketplace Customers Buy More Drugs Than Those With Other Plans, Study Finds
The research “fits with expectations that many of those who found coverage through the new marketplaces had unmet health care needs,” the Minneapolis Star-Tribune reports. In other exchange news, a state senator in Colorado pledges more oversight.
The Kaiser Family Foundation’s latest tracking poll found that though 43 percent of respondents had an unfavorable opinion of the law, 41 percent had a favorable view — the smallest gap since the fall of 2012. The poll also explored a number of other issues, including public thoughts on the Supreme Court’s current consideration of Obamacare subsidies.
Small Businesses Complain About Health Law Paperwork
Meanwhile, the IRS commissioner testifies before Congress that the agency needs more funding to implement the health law’s insurance mandate, in addition to fulfilling its other responsibilities. And a new study projects two million children would lose coverage if the Supreme Court rejects subsidies and Congress fails to extend a children’s insurance program.
