Latest News On Legislation

Latest KFF Health News Stories

Podcast: KHN’s ‘What The Health?’ Congress And Health Care. Again.

KFF Health News Original

In this episode of KHN’s “What the Health?” Julie Rovner of Kaiser Health News, Anna Edney of Bloomberg News, Alice Ollstein of Talking Points Memo and Kimberly Leonard of the Washington Examiner talk about the new push on health legislation by Republicans in the House, as well as developments on Medicaid work requirements, drug prices and the fate of children separated from their parents at the U.S.-Mexican border. Plus, for extra credit, the panelists offer their favorite health stories of the week.

Doling Out Pain Pills Post-Surgery: An Ingrown Toenail Not The Same As A Bypass

KFF Health News Original

As the opioid epidemic rages, a Johns Hopkins surgeon and researcher is leading an effort to curb overprescribing by offering procedure-specific guidelines to ensure that post-surgical patients leave the hospital with enough, but not too much, pain medication.

Vermont Legislators Pass A Drug Importation Law. So What?

KFF Health News Original

The first-in-the-nation measure would empower Vermont to set up a wholesale program to import prescription drugs from Canada. But it still will have to get federal buy-in before it is operational.

California Lawmakers Seek Reparations For People Sterilized By The State

KFF Health News Original

More than 20,000 Californians were sterilized at state homes and hospitals from 1909 to 1979, most of them women, people with disabilities and immigrants. Now, a state lawmaker wants to provide reparations to the roughly 800 living survivors, many of whom never consented to the procedures or did so under pressure.

Calif. Leads Nation In Pushing Back Against Trump Administration Health Policies

KFF Health News Original

In the face of federal efforts to dismantle the Affordable Care Act, policymakers in the largest state are proposing laws and other changes to counter them. Beyond that, they’re aggressively pushing measures to expand health coverage beyond what the ACA envisioned.

Podcast: KHN’s ‘What The Health?’ VA Secretary Out, Privatization In?

KFF Health News Original

In this episode of KHN’s “What the Health?” Julie Rovner of Kaiser Health News, Sarah Kliff of Vox.com, Anna Edney of Bloomberg News and Alice Ollstein of Talking Points Memo discuss President Donald Trump’s firing of David Shulkin, the secretary of Veterans Affairs, and Shulkin’s claim that he was forced out by those who want to privatize VA health care.

Congress Tackles The Opioid Epidemic. But How Much Will It Help?

KFF Health News Original

President Trump, speaking Monday, called for a tough-on-crime federal approach. Meanwhile, on Capitol Hill, legislative strategies to combat this pressing public health problem are gaining momentum, but experts are not certain these approaches will make a difference.

Impuesto a los millonarios genera grandes beneficios para pacientes de salud mental

KFF Health News Original

Un impuesto estatal a los ricos ha impulsado significativamente los programas de salud mental en el condado más grande de California, ayudando a reducir la falta de vivienda, el encarcelamiento y la hospitalización.

California’s Tax On Millionaires Yields Big Benefits For People With Mental Illness, Study Finds

KFF Health News Original

The research, focused on Los Angeles County, casts a positive light on a 2004 initiative that expanded mental health services statewide. A recent state audit, however, suggested hundreds of millions of dollars from the initiative were piling up, left unspent by counties.

Para abaratar el costo de los medicamentos, estados quieren importarlos de Canadá

KFF Health News Original

Algunos estados buscan impulsar al gobierno federal para que allane el camino para comprar stocks de medicamentos en Canadá con el fin de abaratar los costos y ahorrarle dinero a las arcas estatales.