Latest KFF Health News Stories
Longer Looks: The Right To Pain Relief; Limiting Access To Sovaldi
Each week KHN finds interesting reads from around the Web.
First Edition: August 21, 2014
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including reports about a new “Obamacare” ad in the Arkansas Senate race and a California poll measuring how the state’s voters feel about a ballot initiative that would expand the state’s ability to regulate health insurance rates.
Health Law’s Medical Device Tax Falls Short Of Revenue Target
An IG report concludes that the Internal Revenue Service continues to face problems implementing this tax, including difficulties in identifying the companies that owe it.
Md. Officials Vow To Have Marketplace Working In November
The online insurance website was plagued with problems during last year’s enrollment season, but state officials say they are confident the $40 million reconstruction of the site will work.
GOP Candidates Make Late-Term Abortions Campaign Trail Issue
Republicans who see potential on the Senate political map are turning to this issue as a counter-attack to Democrats’ messaging on birth control and personhood.
Some States Angered About Lack Of Authority Over Medicare Advantage Plans
Elsewhere, Medicare officials consider offering HIV tests for all Medicare beneficiaries.
Walgreens’ Billion-Dollar Medicare-Biz Forecasting Mistake
Also, the Wall Street Journal examines the collapse of the Vascular Biogenics initial public offering.
Internet Security Is Growing Concern At Health Care Sites
The recent hacker attack against Community Health Systems highlights concerns about patient privacy as hospitals, doctors and other providers move to use more electronic records.
In Arkansas’ Private-Plan Medicaid Expansion Model, Enrollees May Have To Contribute To HSAs
Meanwhile, in Wisconsin, Gov. Scott Walker defended his Medicaid policy and decision not to pursue the health law’s expansion.
Iowa Telemedicine Abortion Ban Stands After Ruling
Planned Parenthood of the Heartland had claimed the ban was meant to limit abortions for women who live in rural areas.
Advocates Decry Closing Of Mental Health Clinics In Chicago
But officials say the closings, which planned to shutter six of the city’s 12 mental health clinics, actually expanded care for those with mental illnesses.
Big Support For Insurance Rate Regulation Measure In California
A proposal to randomly drug test doctors and increase the limit on medical malpractice lawsuit awards also has a strong show of support in the poll.
A selection of editorials and opinions on health care from around the country.
State Highlights: Mass. Insurers Press On Medicaid Pay
A selection of health policy stories from the District of Columbia, California, Massachusetts and Minnesota.
First Edition: August 20, 2014
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including a report from California that Anthem Blue Cross is being sued again regarding its narrow-network health plans as well as a prediction from Maryland officials regarding the state’s online insurance marketplace.
Chinese Cyberattack Steals 4.5 Million Patients’ Data From Hospital Records
Tennessee-based Community Health Systems, which runs 206 hospitals in 29 states, says no medical information was exposed, however.
White House Won’t Turn Over Security Info For Healthcare.gov
The Obama administration rejects a request from The Associated Press, saying the information could be used by hackers to break into people’s accounts.
Amid Tumult And Turmoil, Health Care Sector Expected To Show Revenue Growth
The Wall Street Journal reports on how health care firms are currently faring in the marketplace.
Poll Shows California Voters’ Health Law Support Improving
News outlets in California, Connecticut and Oregon examine issues related to the health law and how voters are viewing it — including how the overhaul has impacted the cost of coverage as well as uninsured and poverty rates.
GOP Ad Strategy On Health Law Shifts In Senate Races
Some Republican strategists say the health overhaul is losing its punch, Bloomberg reports. In other political news, the American Hospital Association reports that it gave $3.3 million to state affiliates to lobby local officials on Medicaid expansion.
