Latest KFF Health News Stories
Mass. Measure Introduced To Restore Some Protections After High Court Decision
The bill, which was filed by state Sen. Harriette L. Chandler, seeks to buttress existing laws and add new protections for women entering and leaving abortion clinics. It would do so within the confines of the Supreme Court’s recent ruling on abortion clinic “buffer zones.”
A selection of health policy stories from Illinois, Maryland, Colorado, Oregon and others.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including reports about how some states are planning to address their backlogs of new Medicaid enrollees.
VA Struggles With Sharp Rise In Disability Claims
Also in the news, efforts continue to unravel the scandals related to delayed care at veterans’ facilities.
Senate Finance Committee Probing Prices For Hepatitis C Drug
Sens. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, send letter to the drug’s maker requesting information about how it set the price, which runs about $84,000 for a standard three-month regimen.
Governors’ Races Are Ground Zero For Health Law Politics
In November, Republicans will defend 22 of 36 governors’ seats. Last time around, the health law appeared — in many cases — to work in GOP candidates’ favor. Meanwhile, at the National Governors Association summer meeting, the health law also was a hot topic for at least one state executive eyeing a run for the White House.
Lawmakers Seek Lower Price For Bill On Vets’ Care
Members of Congress are scrambling to lower the cost of a bill to fix veterans’ health care amid a growing uproar over long waits for appointments. Meanwhile, The Wall Street Journal is reporting that congressional inaction is threatening a program for brain-damaged vets.
Battle Of The Medicare Ads In Kentucky Senate Race
Media organizations parsed ads by both Democratic challenger, Alison Lundergan Grimes, and GOP incumbent, Sen. Mitch McConnell, and found both sides making inaccurate claims about Medicare.
Hospitals, Consumer Groups Object To Medicare Rule On Observation Care
They say the government’s effort to set rules for when someone is considered an admitted patient compromises care and still leaves many seniors with costly bills. In other Medicare news, a look at the unraveling of one scam and coverage of sex-reassignment surgery.
Some Doctors Refuse To See Obamacare Enrollees
Subscribers are running into closed doors from some doctors listed in their plans’ networks, reports The Miami Herald. Meanwhile, Connecticut advocates express concern about how a proposed overhaul of the state’s health care system could change Medicaid, and in Washington state, providers scramble to keep up with demand.
Glitch In Connecticut Exchange Resulted In Thousands Of Problems
Access Health CT is reaching out to 5,784 customers who were either inaccurately enrolled in Medicaid, or who received inaccurate bills because their insurers received incorrect information from the exchange, officials say. Meanwhile, developments related to Minnesota’s and Colorado’s exchanges are also covered.
National Medicaid Enrollment Nears 7 Million
The Obama administration released new enrollment figures showing 56 percent of those on the program are children. Meanwhile, Tennessee faces a deadline today for a plan to fix enrollment problems.
A selection of health policy stories from Connecticut, New York, Wyoming, Kentucky, Ohio, Massachusetts, Texas, Illinois, Maryland and Florida.
CDC Closes Labs After Anthrax, Flu Accidents
Federal government labs in Atlanta were temporarily shut after it was discovered they had improperly sent potentially deadly pathogens, including anthrax, botulism and virulent bird flue virus, to other labs.
A selection of editorials and opinions on health care from around the country.
Dozens Of Religious Groups Refuse To Sign Contraceptive Opt-Out
The two-page form, designed to accommodate religious beliefs, is regarded as an untenable compromise by some religious employers, reports The New York Times. Meanwhile, GOP governors see little fallout from the Supreme Court’s contraceptive coverage decision.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including coverage of Medicare, the health law and veterans’ care policy issues as well as reports from the campaign trail.
Boehner’s Lawsuit To Target Employer Mandate Delay
Speaker of the House John Boehner, R-Ohio, is challenging the Obama administration’s failure to enforce parts of the health law.
Obamacare Lowers Uninsured Rate, Three Studies Find
According to three new studies, the health law has in its first year reduced the number of uninsured adults by between 8 million and 11 million, and the majority of enrollees report satisfaction with their plans.
New Rules On ‘Off-Label’ Drug Marketing Expected
The FDA is reviewing what kind of data drug companies should be allowed to give doctors about off-label uses with a goal of issuing guidelines by year’s end.
