Latest KFF Health News Stories
A selection of health policy stories from California, New York, Texas, Kansas, Ohio, Minnesota, Georgia, Illinois, Oregon and New Mexico.
FDA, Medicare At Odds Over ID Numbers On Medical Devices
Meanwhile, an effort to build a nationwide public safety communications network for first responders encounters challenges.
Enroll In Clinical Trials Through Your IPhone
In a surprise announcement Monday, Apple unveiled a biomedical platform called ResearchKit that will allow any iPhone user to enroll in tests of new drugs and therapies by downloading apps from hospitals and providers who are recruiting patients. Meanwhile, Reston-based Maximus announces plans to acquire information technology contractor Acentia.
Medicare Announces New Models For Accountable Care Programs
The announcement offers new variations in the efforts to create accountable care organizations (ACOs), which are formed by doctors, hospitals and other health care providers to coordinate patient care and lower costs. Also in the news is a look at how medical providers share information.
New Hepatitis Drugs Push Up Prescription Spending
Prescription drug spending jumped 13 percent last year, the biggest increase since 2013, according to Express Scripts, the nation’s largest pharmacy benefits manager. Meanwhile, the FDA approves the first “biosimilar” drug.
Obama To Visit Phoenix VA Hospital Where Scandal Began
In related news, NPR examines how the Veterans Choice Act is working and the Arizona Republic takes a look at how the VA system’s culture may be changing.
SGR Talks Proceed At Staff Level As Cuts Loom
Senior House staffers discuss a long-term repeal of Medicare’s sustainable growth rate formula just weeks before cuts are slated to take effect April 1. Meanwhile, three senators introduce a medical marijuana bill that would enable marijuana businesses to open bank accounts, among other things. Also, the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee hears input on efforts to speed the drug approval process.
Democrats Cry Foul Over Abortion Provision In Bill To Curb Human Trafficking
The legislation, which had strong bipartisan support, was on a path to easy passage when Democrats noticed a section they say was inserted without their knowledge that would prohibit restitution money from being spent on abortions.
Covered Illinois Gets New Exec. Director; Two Bills Advance To Make MNsure Changes
Karin Zosel, a former CIA intelligence officer and college director, will take the helm of Illinois’ online insurance marketplace.
GOP Legislators Officially Kill Mont. Gov.’s Medicaid Expansion Plan
Meanwhile, debate continues in Florida over efforts to expand the state-federal health insurance plan for low-income residents. Also in the news, Republican N.J. Gov. Chris Christie touts his support for expanding Medicaid there, and Alabama officials begin tests on restructuring the state’s Medicaid program.
Report: About 11.7 Million Americans Signed Up Or Re-Enrolled For Obamacare Coverage
Federal officials on Tuesday provided the sign-up tally as of Feb. 22 for insurance coverage under the health law. News outlets note that 86 percent of the enrollees received subsidies, which are the subject of a legal challenge currently pending before the Supreme Court. If the court rules against the health law, it would strip away subsidies in states that rely on the federal government’s marketplace, affecting as many as 7.7 million people.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Viewpoints: Health Savings Propel Good Deficit News; VA Delays; Medicine, Race And Poverty
A selection of opinions on health care from around the country.
A selection of health policy stories from California, Minnesota, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Missouri, Ohio, Indiana, Oregon, New Jersey and Georgia.
Advocates Complain Of Continued Poor-Quality VA Care
While waiting times have dropped in many facilities, some vets and their advocates contend quicker visits are masking deeper problems of understaffing, inexperienced doctors and poor care quality. The Seattle Times tells the story of one man who lost his leg after multiple surgeries over several years.
Hospitals Struggle To Improve Patient Satisfaction Scores
The federal government considers patient survey results when setting hospital pay levels. Also in the news, Reuters reports that letting patients see their medical records might ease their confusion and worry.
Sebelius Spoke With Feds Regarding Menendez Investigation
Politico reports that former Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius spoke with federal authorities regarding a private meeting with Sen. Bob Menendez, a New Jersey Democrat who is at the center of a criminal probe related to the Medicare billing practices of a close friend and benefactor. The Associated Press notes the case will pose a major challenge for the Justice Department’s anti-corruption unit.
New GOP Push: Restore OTC Drugs As Eligible For Health Savings Accounts
Meanwhile, a bipartisan bill in the Senate to legalize medical marijuana under federal law is slated for introduction Tuesday. In addition, congressional physicians are seeking accommodations for doctors during the transition to ICD-10 coding and the governor of Oklahoma endorses efforts by some congressional Republicans to soften the impact if the Supreme Court overturns some of the health law’s insurance subsidies.
Study Finds Many Marketplace Plans Don’t Meet Mental Health Parity Rules
The researchers found that about a quarter of plans had online information suggesting they don’t follow health law provisions to treat mental and physical conditions similarly. Also in health law news, an analysis suggests how states could switch to a local marketplace to avoid fallout from a possible Supreme Court decision striking subsidies on the federal exchange and Jeb Bush talks about his view of the health overhaul.
Supreme Court Orders New Look At Notre Dame’s Contraceptive Challenge
The justices asked the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to reconsider its decision against the Roman Catholic university in light of the June 2014 Supreme Court ruling allowing certain privately owned corporations to seek exemptions from the health law’s mandate that female employees have access to contraceptives free of charge. A Baltimore-area order of nuns found hope in the ruling.
