Latest KFF Health News Stories
Doughnut Hole Is Trouble Spot For Seniors On Heart Drugs, Researchers Find
A study documents that beneficiaries with cardiovascular conditions who reach the annual gap in coverage for prescription drugs, known as the doughnut hole, are more likely to stop taking their drugs because of the costs.
Official Provides Details, Dates For PCORI’s Research Priorities
The COO of the Patient Centered Outcomes Research Institute offered insights into what appears to be a busy agenda.
A selection of health care opinions and editorials from around the United States.
Perspectives: What Is The Role For Comparative Effectiveness Research?
The Journal of the American Medical Association devoted this week’s issue to the topic of comparative effectiveness and how it should be used in medicine.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including reports about the latest Capitol Hill developments related to the budget.
Smart Shopping Can Relieve Pain From Dentists’ Charges
Dental coverage often maxes out at just a few thousand dollars a year or less. KHN’s “Insuring Your Health” columnist Michelle Andrews reports that getting a reliable estimate of prices in your area can be critical if you want to keep a lid on costs.
Feds Cite Two Insurers For Excessive Premium Increases
The insurance companies will be able to charge the higher amount, but they will be required to disclose on websites that reviewers found the rates to be unreasonable and explain why they are still imposing them.
U.S. Chamber Of Commerce Finds Small Business Owners Wary Of Health Law Regs
The survey finds that the regulations rank at the top of small business owners’ concerns. In other news, the National Journal examines the future of accountable care organizations.
Seniors Increasingly Challenged By Cost, Logistics Of Handling Health Care
News organizations are covering how some seniors are moving in with their children or grandchildren — or using community programs — to help navigate the world of care.
State Roundup: Minn. Doc Training Money Cut
News outlets report on a variety of health policy issues in Texas, Minnesota, Georgia, Kansas, Massachusetts, Ohio, Florida and Pennsylvania.
Rep. Frank Says Obama’s Push For Health Law Was ‘Mistake’
Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass., said in a magazine interview that President Obama made a “mistake” pushing for health reform and that he urged Obama to take up financial system reform instead. In the meantime, Rep. Dennis Kucinich said a single-payer health care system is the only “obviously constitutional” health care plan.
Lawyers Eye Disability Act For Lawsuit Opportunities
The New York Times reports that a small groups of lawyers are using New York City’s idiosyncracies as the backdrop for a flood of lawsuits citing violations of the Americans With Disabilities Act.
Romney Begins Vice Presidential Search And Rep. Ryan Could Be On The Short List
Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., the author of the House GOP budget plan which revamps Medicare, helped Romney in Wisconsin. In other campaign news, Romney renews attack on health law to woo conservative leaders.
Medical Societies Bracing For Medicare Penalties
Medscape reports that physician groups are now focusing on the downside of incentive programs –the penalties for not meeting targets.
FDA To Regulate Smartphone Medical Applications
The FDA will regulate medical applications meant for use on smartphones and tablets. In the meantime, a health insurance exchange leader readies its online tool that could let them in on a $4 billion market.
Mississippi Gov. Signs Landmark Anti-Abortion Law
The state’s new law could effectively close the state’s only clinic. Meanwhile, a law in Idaho designed to limit abortions is being challenged.
Medical Journals Facing Raft Of Ethical, Transparency Challenges
The New York Times, Connecticut Mirror and MedPage Today examine how prominent journals are handling questions about their independence or integrity.
State Insurance Exchange Implementation Faces Challenges
In some places, state-level progress in building the law’s insurance exchanges appears to be stalling because of political divisions.
A selection of editorials and opinions on health care policy from around the country.
Strengthening Collective Voice, Influence Of Biomedical Researchers In Global Health Field
In this post in the Global Network for Neglected Tropical Diseases’ “End the Neglect” blog, guest blogger Jessica Taaffe, founder of Scientists for Global Health (SciGlo) and a postdoctoral fellow researching severe malaria immunopathogenesis at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, “discusses the importance of the biomedical community’s contributions to improving health worldwide,” writing, “The collective voice and influence of the biomedical community in global health has been weak, despite our invaluable scientific contributions to improving health worldwide. This needs to change.” She continues, “One way the biomedical community can become more directly involved in global health is through raising awareness of the diseases on which we work. This effort is particularly crucial for those researching diseases occurring mainly outside of the U.S.” (4/16).
