Latest KFF Health News Stories
Small Business Exchange To Get Soft Launch In 5 States
Federal officials will give small businesses in five states an early chance to try out the delayed health insurance exchange for their employees to fix any glitches before the site goes live nationally. Meanwhile, Minn. Gov. Mark Dayton calls the MNsure rollout his “biggest disappointment,” and the Covered Oregon board votes on a new course.
State Highlights: Texas Abortion Clinic To Reopen After Ruling; Maine Medicaid Cuts
A selection of health policy stories from Texas, Maine, California, Wisconsin, Massachusetts and Louisiana.
Women’s Health Issues Key In Colorado Senate Race
News outlets examine how contraception issues and the health law are playing in the Colorado and Kentucky Senate races.
Health Care Data Emerging As New Way To Profit
Venture capital funders are eyeing health care technology firms that gather and analyze health data as a reliable pathway to profits.
Viewpoints: Rove Renews Attack On Health Law; Calif. ‘Vaccination Crisis’
A selection of opinions on health care from around the country.
New Cancer Drug Renews Debate About Costs
The drug Opdivo, which went on sale in Japan this week, costs an average of $143,000 per patient, The Wall Street Journal reports.
Longer Looks: Alzheimer’s And A Marriage; Racism In Medicine; Abortion Restrictions In Texas
Each week KHN’s Shefali Luthra finds interesting reads from around the Web, including Vox, Aeon Magazine, The New York Times, The New Yorker, The Atlantic, Pacific Standard and FiveThirtyEight.
First Edition: September 4, 2014
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including reports about a new government report that predicts a rebound in national health spending.
Insurers, Exchanges Gird For Next Open Enrollment
Officials say they are expecting glitches, but most do not expect the crippling technical problems that afflicted last year’s open enrollment period.
Immigrants May Lose Coverage Due To Website, Language Issues
Immigrants who obtained subsidized insurance through the federal health law must submit proof by Friday that they are in the U.S. legally, but few appear to have responded — in some cases due to technical glitches with the federal website as well as language difficulties.
CVS Stops Selling Tobacco Products
The second-largest pharmacy in the U.S. will no longer sell tobacco products in its 7,700 stores and will now be called CVS Health.
Over-The-Counter Birth Control Issue Finds Its Way Into Midterm Election Debates
Some Republican Senate candidates have expressed support for allowing certain types of contraception to be sold without a prescription. Critics say it is part of a strategy to “muddy the waters” regarding the Hobby Lobby case.
On Campaign Trail, Ky. GOP Candidates Promise Medicaid Expansion Repeal
In the meantime, Illinois bets on birth control as a way to drive down Medicaid costs, and Florida Health News looks at the top Medicaid managed care companies in Florida.
States Not Expanding Medicaid Paying 37% Of Cost In Other States: Report
A McClatchy newspaper analysis also finds that most of the money comes from five non-expansion states: Texas, Florida, North Carolina, Georgia and Virginia. Other news outlets report on the continuing debate in a number of states.
Opinions: Controversial View Of Freedom; A $20,000 CT Scan
A selection of opinions on health care from around the country.
Calif. OKs Tougher Rules On Plan Networks; MNsure Taps Groups To Do Outreach
News organizations track developments in California, Minnesota, North Carolina and Wisconsin as state online insurance marketplaces gear up for the second open enrollment season.
State Highlights: Mass. Health Spending Slows, But For How Long?
A selection of health policy stories from Massachusetts, Washington state, Maryland, Michigan, California, Texas and Illinois.
First Edition: September 3, 2014
Today’s early morning headlines from the major news organizations, including reports about how insurers and consumers are bracing for round two as the health law’s online insurance marketplaces prepare for open enrollment season.
A selection of health policy stories from Massachusetts, California, Oregon, Indiana, Washington state, Colorado and North Carolina.
More Big Firms Shifting To High-Deductible Health Plans
The New York Times examines the movement among large employers towards high-deductible plans that shift more health care costs to workers. Meanwhile, The Wall Street Journal looks at how the ACA may affect job-based plans next year.
