Reactions To The GOP Health Bill: Voices From The States
What will happen to people with preexisting conditions is one worry some Americans expressed; the high costs of insurance under Obamacare is another.

Parents Of Sick Children Fear Trap If States Have Say On ‘Preexisting Conditions’
By Bram Sable-Smith, Side Effects Public Media "I'm not going to risk my son's health on the political whims of Jefferson City," says one Missouri father, whose son requires about $20,000 to $30,000 in medical care expenses a year. The new GOP health bill to repeal the Affordable Care Act lets states decide whether or not insurers must cover people with preexisting conditions, such as birth defects.

Why Blue States Might Ditch Beloved Obamacare Protections
By Chad Terhune and Barbara Feder Ostrov With limited federal subsidies under the GOP health care bill, experts say states like California and New York would be under pressure to cut costs. That could mean shrinking benefits and dropping the prohibition against charging sicker patients higher premiums.

Rural Shoppers Face Slim Choices, Steep Premiums On Exchanges
By Michelle Andrews The larger an area’s population, the more likely insurers will compete in that market, according to an Urban Institute analysis.

On The Air With KHN: Obamacare Replacement Bill Heads To The Senate
In a variety of broadcasts, Kaiser Health News and California Healthline reporters discuss the bill passed by the House to change the Affordable Care Act.

CMS Gives States Until 2022 To Meet Medicaid Standards Of Care
By Phil Galewitz The Trump administration has given states three more years to meet federal standards aimed at helping elderly and disabled Medicaid enrollees receive services without being forced to go into nursing homes.

Grassley, Chaffetz Send Fiery Response To HHS Memo They Say Chills Whistleblowing
By Rachel Bluth The two Republican lawmakers sent a letter to HHS Secretary Tom Price warning him that whistleblowers in HHS could be intimidated into silence by a department memo instructing employees to get clearance before talking with members of Congress and their staffs.

Nearly 1 In 3 Recent FDA Drug Approvals Followed By Major Safety Actions
By Sydney Lupkin More than 70 drugs approved from 2001 through 2010 ran into safety concerns later that resulted in withdrawals from the market, “black box” warnings or other actions.

Public Restrooms Become Ground Zero In The Opioid Epidemic
By Martha Bebinger, WBUR People often turn to public restrooms as a place to get high on opioids. It has led some establishments to close their facilities, while others are training employees to help people who overdose.

For Knee Pain, Experts Say Don’t Think About Scoping It
By Carmen Heredia Rodriguez Writing in the journal BMJ, an international group of experts and patients say arthroscopic surgery on the knee does not provide lasting relief.

Medicare Failed To Investigate Suspicious Infection Cases From 96 Hospitals
By Christina Jewett The HHS inspector general’s office found that Medicare should have done an in-depth review of suspicious or aberrant infection reports from scores of hospitals.

‘Boot Camp’ Helps Alzheimer’s, Dementia Caregivers Take Care Of Themselves, Too
By Anna Gorman Free, daylong sessions run by UCLA teach caregivers how to keep their loved ones safe and engaged, while minimizing the stress in their own lives. Similar programs exist in other states.

Should Health Care Trainees Be Treated As Paid Employees?
By Anna Gorman A bill pending in California’s Legislature, sponsored by an influential health care union, would require hospitals and clinics to pay minimum wage to student trainees.