Latest KFF Health News Stories
Ill. Hospitals Grow Larger Following National Merger Trend
Meanwhile, hospitals wrestle with paying charity care costs and other bottom line issues. Also, news outlets from California, Iowa and North Carolina report on hospital developments related to mental health care.
When Exemptions Are Few, Kids Get Immunized
The Associated Press reports that Mississippi and Tennessee, which refuse to exempt school children from mandatory vaccinations based on their parents’ religious or personal beliefs, have the nation’s highest vaccination rates. And on Capitol Hill, lawmakers offer bipartisan support for the use of vaccines to inoculate against preventable infectious diseases.
Doulas — With Growing Role In Maternity Care — Seek Insurance Company Recognition
In other medical-practice news, questions emerge about whether some pediatricians are comfortable offering and are adequately trained in handling IUDs for sexually active teenagers even as this long-acting contraception option is recommended by medical groups such as the American Academy of Pediatrics.
CVS 4Q Earnings Boosted By Medicaid Growth, Specialty Drugs
Those increases offset retail losses stemming from the company’s decision to stop selling cigarettes.
Health Law Co-Ops Seek Flexibility On Financing
The long-term prospects and sustainability of these plans has been under scrutiny since December when CoOportunity Health — which offered plans in Iowa and Nebraska — was liquidated. Other health law headlines include reports about the added layer of difficulty the health law introduces into this year’s tax season and Texas’ high stakes in King v. Burwell.
Complex Medicaid Expansion Politics Take Shape In Various States
Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Wyoming, Utah and Montana all offer evidence of the different ways these debates are playing out around the country.
A Push For Health Coverage Enrollment As Deadline Nears
For most people the opportunity to sign up for a 2015 health plan ends on Sunday. News outlets look at a variety of enrollment issues, including consumers’ increasing use of brokers to help choose plans and the abundance of high deductible insurance plans being offered.
First Edition: February 11, 2015
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Viewpoints: Entitlement Debate Fades; GOP’s Va. Medicaid Fight Maligned; Fear Of Measles
A selection of opinions on health care from around the country.
A selection of health policy stories from Massachusetts, Iowa, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, California, Georgia, North Carolina, Delaware and Kansas.
More Exemptions Granted In States With Looser Immunization Laws
Stateline reports that California, Oregon and other jurisdictions are working to tighten regulations so that fewer nonmedical exemptions are allowed. These steps are being taken as the case count in the California-centered measles outbreak continues to rise.
Venture Capital Shifts Attention To Rare-Disease Meds
According to a report released by BIO, a biotechnology trade group, these medicines are often more expensive but get less insurer push back because less-expensive alternatives are scarce. In addition, new glaucoma treatments are poised to shake up the multi-billion dollar market.
The Greatest Risk For Identity Theft: Your Doctor’s Office?
As news continues to swirl around the recent cyberattack on the health insurer Anthem, more information is emerging about the value of health data on the black market, about the laws in place to protect against breaches of personal health information and about the review underway in New York to tighten up the system.
More Questions Emerge Regarding Standing Of King V. Burwell Plaintiffs
The Wall Street Journal reports that one of the challengers in this lawsuit, which questions the legality of using the health law’s tax credits to purchase insurance via healthcare.gov, listed her address as a short-stay motel in Virginia. Other news outlets report on what segment of the population is most likely to lose coverage if the high court strikes down the tax credits and what ideas “beyond repeal and replace” are being floated around.
Utah Lawmakers Debate Medicaid Expansion After Plan Dies In Wyo.
News outlets also report on how Pennsylvania’s new Democratic governor is simplifying the expansion begun by his Republican predecessor and track political developments in Florida and Kansas.
As Clock Ticks Down To Enrollment Season’s Close, Federal Call Center Wait Times Increase
USA Today reports that even with 40 percent more healthcare.gov workers taking calls, wait times have this week stretched as long as 20 minutes. In addition, federal officials said Monday that tax credits will cut the average health law premium to $105. Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Times reports on L.A. County’s current enrollment tally, and other news outlets examine various outreach efforts.
First Edition: February 10, 2015
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Viewpoints: Jindal-Ponnuru Debate GOP’s Health Plan; Va.’s ‘Massive Resistance’ On Medicaid
A selection of opinions on health care from around the country.
Debate On Vaccines: Politicians’ Statements Backfire; Doctors Need To Be Held Accountable
Commentators take Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., and N.J. Gov. Chris Christie to task for failing to strongly advocate for immunizations, and one medical ethics expert says that a few doctors have muddled the debate.
A selection of health policy stories from Wisconsin, Colorado, Nebraska, Kentucky, Virginia, Missouri, Washington, Illinois and New Mexico.
