Latest KFF Health News Stories
Progress Emerging In Efforts To Settle Ohio Lawsuit Over Dropped Medicaid Recipients
In other state Medicaid news, the federal government is urging the Supreme Court to reject a request from Maine’s governor to allow the elimination of Medicaid coverage for thousands of young adults. In Missouri, Gov. Jay Nixon faces a deadline regarding whether he will OK an expansion of managed care within the insurance program for low-income people to become law. And Maryland’s governor must make more budget decisions, including whether to fund some health care initiatives.
Study: Hospice Care Doesn’t Bring Down Medicare Costs
A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine raises questions about some of the conventional wisdom surrounding hospice care.
DeSalvo Nominated To Be HHS Assistant Secretary For Health
Karen DeSalvo has been the acting assistant secretary for health since October 2014. Also, in advance of expected regulations from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, the nursing home industry will announce plans to expand its quality improvement initiative.
Senators Introduce Bipartisan Bill To Create ‘National Nurse’ Position
The “national nurse” would be charged with public education campaigns aimed at reducing obesity and heart disease, among other diseases. In the House, meanwhile, a bill is introduced to require researchers to study female animals and cells as well as male ones so that treatments reflect gender differences. And a proposed delay in the switch to the ICD-10 medical billing code pits doctors against hospitals.
GlaxoSmithKline Cancels Plans To Sell Stake In HIV Business
Also making news in the health care marketplace: Alexion Pharmaceuticals agrees to pay $8.4 billion, twice market value, for Synageva BioPharma Corp. And WellCare Health Plans Inc. beats profit estimates with earnings of $17.5 million, due in part to a 25.8 percent jump in Medicaid membership.
Johnson & Johnson To Use Ethicists To Screen Patients’ Early Access Requests
The drugmaker is creating an independent panel to respond to the growing number of terminally ill patients who have sought to obtain drugs still in the testing phase that show promise for treating their diseases.
Fla. Gov. Meets With HHS Chief But Fails To Secure Hospital Funding
The state is asking the federal government to continue providing $1 billion for hospitals that provide care to many low-income patients, but the Obama administration says expanding Medicaid is a better solution.
Nearly 17 Million Americans Gained Coverage Through Health Law, Study Shows
In the last year and a half since the Affordable Care Act was implemented, gains have been made across all types of insurance, from employer-provided health plans to Medicaid, according to a new report. The analysis tallied 22.8 million newly insured and 5.9 million who lost coverage.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Viewpoints: Huckabee Wrong On Entitlements; Va.’s Shift On Abortion; Solving ER Crowding
A selection of opinions on health care from around the country.
News outlets examine health care issues in Indiana, California, Nevada, Colorado and New York,
Nev. Auditors Blame Faulty Computer System For Medicaid Overpayments
Meanwhile, South Carolina will repay the federal government $1.6 million related to room-and-board costs for patients with intellectual disabilities under a special Medicaid program.
Abortion Coverage Would Be Banned Under Bill Approved By Texas Senate
Under the Texas law, private health insurance plans and those offered through the federal marketplace could only cover the procedure in medical emergencies. In Iowa, the governor wants to change an odd provision that requires his sign off for payments of the state’s Medicaid-covered abortions.
Mike Huckabee Casts Himself As Protector Of Medicare, Social Security
In declaring his candidacy for the Republican presidential nomination, the preacher, TV host and former governor pledged to protect popular but increasingly costly programs for older Americans, putting him at odds with several of his rivals.
Senators Want Independent VA Review To Determine If Claims Troubles Are Systemic
A bipartisan group of senators says efforts by the Department of Veterans Affairs to fix delays in handling veterans claims are insufficient and calls for the Government Accountability Office to investigate all 56 regional offices. Meanwhile, California lawmakers push for a new clinic to serve 87,000 veterans.
In Wake Of Settlement, DaVita Plans Stepped-Up Oversight
The kidney-care company announced plans to spend more than $25 million a year on compliance efforts.
Study Examines Some Drugs’ Higher Costs, Questionable Benefit After Exclusivity
Also, Bloomberg reports that diabetes drugs often rise in tandem. So-called “shadow pricing” by competitors is one reason drug prices continue to surge.
Community Health Systems Back In The Black
The hospital operator, which is the largest one by actual hospital count, benefited from its acquisition of Health Management Associates Inc. and from changes in uninsured rates and admissions resulting from the health law. Meanwhile, HCA, the largest hospital chain by revenue, will increase its capital spending to make room for new patients thanks to its market share and the impact of the health reforms.
CDC Releases First National Study Of Latino Health
It found that while the death rate among the nation’s fastest-growing ethnic group is 24 percent lower than for non-Hispanic whites, the Latino community is hit hard by certain diseases and conditions and has less access to health care.
Fourteen Cancer Centers To Use IBM’s Watson To Guide Treatment
Using the supercomputer to analyze the DNA of tumors could speed genetic profile results from weeks to minutes, officials said. Matching therapy to DNA has improved outcomes for some patients.
