Latest KFF Health News Stories
Idaho Lawmakers Consider Allowing Doctors To Order Teens With Severe Mental Illness Held
Lawmakers in Texas are also considering changes to their mental health program: greater funding to treat mental illness and more training for their teachers.
Hip Implant Safety At Issue In High-Stakes Trial
The Los Angeles Times reports on the courtroom developments related to a legal challenge brought by a consumer against J&J.
Improvements Needed To Safeguard Medical Records
Medpage Today reports on this development related to health information technology.
GOP Bills Would Kill Health Law’s Employer Mandate
The legislation, which has little chance of passage, would undo requirements that large employers offer workers insurance or pay a fine. Meanwhile, two Senate committees examine changes to Medicare.
Ark. Lawmakers Override Veto Of Bill Banning Most Abortions After 20 Weeks Of Pregnancy
The chamber also approved a bill — and sent it to Gov. Mike Beebe — that would ban most abortions when a fetal heartbeat can be detected — typically after 12 weeks of pregnancy.
State Lawmakers Consider Bills To Establish Health Exchanges
Also in the news, data indicate the federal government will ultimately be running the insurance marketplaces for the states that have the highest rates of uninsured residents.
D.C., N.Y. Hospitals Consider New Team-Ups, Merger
Health systems and hospitals in Washington and New York City are joining forces: In Washington, health systems are forming a bond they say will improve pediatric care. In New York, a merger of hospitals is proposed.
State Roundup: Ga. Considers Novel Malpractice Reform
A selection of health policy news from Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Georgia, Connecticut, Texas, Kansas and California.
Medicaid Expansion In The States: Who’s In? Who’s Out?
The tally continues to change regarding the governors who have said they will pursue the health law’s Medicaid expansion. Most recently, Alaska Gov. Sean Parnell said he is opposed to it, while Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett appears to be on the verge of reversing his position against the expansion. And, in Ohio, Gov. John Kasich is looking for allies to convince Republicans in the state legislation to follow his lead.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including a story suggesting that the health law’s implementation will proceed amid the sequester.
Does Sequestration Offer A Budgetary Bright Side?
News outlets set the scene for the impact on the health care sector and the Medicare program by the sequester’s scheduled cuts, which kick in March 1.
State Lawmakers’ Positions On Medicaid Expansion Key To Plans’ Future
Even after governors — both Republican and Democrat — express their interest in opting for the health law’s Medicaid expansion, the action that follows in state legislatures is important to watch. News reports follow from states including California, North Carolina, Wisconsin, Nebraska and Virginia.
Health Law, Medicare Benefit Design Draw Congressional Attention
House GOP doctors released a “health care state of the union” video that included health law criticisms, but no talk of repeal. Meanwhile, issues like Medicare copays and quality were discussed during a Ways and Means hearing earlier this week.
A selection of editorials and opinions on health care from around the country.
States Take Up Mental Health Care, Stricter Gun Control As Shooting Fallout Continues
Fallout from recent mass killings involving the mentally ill have states scrambling to figure out how to best treat these patients as well as considering stricter gun controls — which, in turn, is drawing the ire of the National Rifle Association.
Mississippi health department officials are challenging the license of the state’s only abortion clinic, while critics of a proposal to expand abortion rights by New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo say it would hurt women.
Report: Medicare Paid $5.1B To Nursing Homes That Provided Substandard Care
The Associated Press reports on this development.
Arkansas, Michigan Advance Payment Plans For Health Exchanges
Today’s headlines include reports that Arkansas will use federal funds to pay for its state-based health exchange while action in Michigan suggests momentum might be building to pursue a partnership exchange that will be run by the federal government.
Health Law Implementation Pushes Quality Goals Forward
The Washington Post reports on hospitals’ efforts to reduce readmission rates, while KHN details how some states are working on insurance coverage quality ratings before the federal health law requires them to do so in 2016.
Weekend Reading: Navigating Treatment; Can A Robot Replace Your Doctor?
This week’s articles come from Health Affairs, The Atlantic, The Daily Beast and Time.
