Latest KFF Health News Stories
Supreme Court Weighs Truth-In-Labeling Issue In Case Involving Juice Product
The makers of a pomegranate juice called Pom Wonderful ask the court to rule that Coca-Cola is falsely labeling its Pomegranate Blueberry juice that is 99.4 percent apple and grape juice.
Novartis To Buy GlaxoSmithKline’s Oncology Unit
The deal, worth billions, will also see Novartis sell its vaccines unit to Glaxo and partner with Glaxo on their consumer divisions. Novartis also said it will sell its animal health division to Eli Lily.
A selection of health policy stories from Tennessee, Hawaii, Florida, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Kansas.
Viewpoints: The Case Against Jenny McCarthy’s Vaccine Stand; Apathy On HIV; Defeating Alzheimer’s
A selection of health policy editorials and commentaries from around the country.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including marketplace news about the Novartis purchase of GlaxoSmithKline’s oncology unit for $14.5 billion.
Viewpoints: How Dems Should Run On Obamacare; A $54,000 Copter Ride
A selection of opinions and editorials from around the country.
Hospitals Ask Officials For Easier ACO Bonuses
The American Hospital Association is making the plea as the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services looks to beef up the program.
Ohio Inmates Getting Medicaid; Va. Hospitals Pushing Legislature
As prison inmates in Ohio gain their freedom, state officials are trying to get many of them enrolled in health coverage for low-income people. In Virginia, where the General Assembly is at an impasse on the budget because of the dispute over expanding Medicaid, hospitals seek to convey their message about the economic costs.
GAO Examines Efforts To Raise Funds To Boost Health Law
The investigation examined the campaign by federal officials to raise funds to promote enrollment in health insurance, The New York Times reports. GAO did not give a legal opinion on the propriety of the efforts.
Clinton Papers Reveal Failed Health Law Efforts
Newly released papers offer a glimpse of how the former president’s team had hoped to win over moderate Republicans as well as Democrats, and also reassure Americans that the plan wouldn’t disrupt coverage if they already had it.
Internet Bug Spurs Healthcare.gov To Reset Customer Passwords
Federal officials say there is no evidence that any consumer’s information was compromised by the Heartbleed problem but they wanted to protect personal data.
States Have Limited Time For Decision On Setting Up Marketplaces
Those states that let the federal government run their health law insurance exchanges can still apply for federal money to set up a state-run one instead, but that funding opportunity expires in a few months, AP reports. Meanwhile, other outlets look at the deadline enrollment surge and its possible effect on health care costs.
Maryland Details Money Spent On Troubled Health Marketplace
The state spent nearly $130 million on the marketplace and more than $90 million of it on technology, according to the state’s breakdown, The Washington Post reports.
Cost Of Hep C Medicines Vexing Insurers
Insurers are issuing their first-quarter results, which reveal a chunk of spending on new Hepatitis C drugs.
An annual survey shows that doctors, on average, still make at least three times the annual median household income. Media outlets also describe other trends, including the return of house calls, often as part of hospital palliative care programs, the use of scribes to help with digital records, rushed doctors’ visits and a study finding that free drug samples influence doctors’ prescribing practices.
A collection of state health policy news from Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Texas, Washington state, Iowa and Kansas.
Health Law A Tough Sell, Although Millions Gain Benefits
A New York Times analysis points out that many of those helped most by the health law are the least likely to cast votes to preserve it. CNN notes that Obamacare is a tough sell for embattled Democrats, even as a political analyst questions whether Republicans can be successful if they run against the law but offer no other program.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including a GAO report on how the Obama administration raised money from outside groups to promote the health law.
At 8 Million Sign-Ups, Health Law Enrollment Surpasses Target
President Barack Obama hailed the latest tally of people who gained insurance as a result of the health law. News outlets also look inside this latest round of data to find out what information the administration is providing and what is still to come.
Sign-Up Figures Trigger New Round Of Health Law Political Spin
President Barack Obama uses the new enrollment numbers to urge Democrats to be proud of the health law and calls on Republicans to back off in their push to repeal the measure. GOP leaders, though, do not appear to soften their positions.
