Weekly Edition: December 21, 2018
5 Ways Nixing The Affordable Care Act Could Upend The Entire Health System
By Julie Rovner
There could be a long legal struggle ahead over the decision by a judge in Texas to invalidate the federal health law. But if his decision stands, it would have long-lasting effects on health care from insurance coverage to Medicare payments to privacy protections.
Judge Who Invalidated Obamacare Has Been A ‘Go-To Judge’ For Republicans, Critics Say
By Ashley Lopez, KUT
Court watchers weren't shocked when Reed O'Connor, a U.S. district judge in Texas, ruled the Affordable Care Act invalid. Critics say he usually sides with Republicans on ideological cases.
Short-Term Health Plans Hold Savings For Consumers, Profits For Brokers And Insurers
By Julie Appleby
Trump administration efforts to undo Obama-era rules have helped create the buzz around this type of health coverage.
Podcast: KHN’s ‘What The Health?’ What Just Happened To The ACA And What Happens Now? A Special Bonus Edition
A federal district judge in Texas ruled Friday that Congress’ 2017 elimination of the tax penalty for failing to have insurance rendered the entire Affordable Care Act unconstitutional. What happens now? KHN’s Julie Rovner, along with panelists Joanne Kenen of Politico, Stephanie Armour of The Wall Street Journal and Paige Winfield Cunningham of The Washington Post, discuss the bombshell decision and its potential fallout.
Podcast: KHN’s ‘What The Health?’ More On That Texas Lawsuit, And The Best And Worst Health Policy Stories Of The Year
The fallout continues from that Texas court decision that ruled Congress’ 2017 elimination of the tax penalty for failing to have insurance rendered the entire Affordable Care Act unconstitutional. Meanwhile, enrollment for 2019 at healthcare.gov was down, but far less than many predicted. KHN’s Julie Rovner, along with panelists Joanne Kenen of Politico, Anna Edney of Bloomberg News and Kimberly Leonard of the Washington Examiner, discuss this, plus the best, most overhyped and nerdiest stories of 2018. Also, Rovner interviews GOP strategist and pollster Frank Luntz.
Watch And Listen: Court Decision Rocks ACA
A federal judge's decision jeopardizes the federal health law. KHN's Julie Rovner helps explain the repercussions in appearances on radio and television.
Year One Of KHN’s ‘Bill Of The Month’: A Kaleidoscope Of Financial Challenges
A crowdsourced investigation in which we dissect, investigate and explain medical bills you send us.
After Her Skiing Accident, An Uphill Battle Over Snowballing Bills
By Jordan Rau
She took a bad fall on the slopes and her surgeon used a metal plate to put the splintered bones of her leg back together. When that device failed less than four months later, she and her insurer had to pay full price for the replacement plate.
Taking Surprise Medical Bills To Court
By Julie Appleby
Some legal experts say contract law could provide consumers another avenue to challenge unexpected hospital bills.
Assisted Living’s Breakneck Growth Leaves Safety Of Dementia Patients Behind
By Jordan Rau
An analysis of inspection records in California, Florida and Texas shows significant numbers of violations related to assisted living residents with dementia.
When Needs Arise, These Older Women Have One Another’s Backs
By Judith Graham
Many women aging alone want to hold on to their independence. But, when illness or disability strikes, they often need assistance. A program in New York, Philadelphia and San Francisco offers numerous ways to help.
‘Don’t Wash That Bird!’ And Other (Often Unheeded) Food Safety Advice
By Lydia Zuraw
Washing poultry or meat before cooking it can do more harm than good — spreading pathogens that can be killed only in the cooking process. But the practice persists. Here’s what you need to know this holiday season.
Why The U.S. Remains The World’s Most Expensive Market For ‘Biologic’ Drugs
By Sarah Jane Tribble
Biologic drugs, made from living organisms, are big moneymakers partly because they have little competition from “biosimilars.” It’s a very different story in Europe.
Hep C And Drug Abuse Often Go Hand In Hand, But Screening For Infection Lags
By Michelle Andrews
As the number of people who inject drugs has soared, the rate of hepatitis C infection has climbed steeply, too, because the disease can be tied to sharing needles. Yet many drug patients are not checked for the virus that can damage the liver.
The Year Of The Vape: Teen E-Cigarette Use Spikes
By Ana B. Ibarra
More than a third of high school seniors said they have vaped in the past year — up nearly 10 percentage points from the previous year. The dramatic jump comes despite efforts by public health officials, educators and lawmakers to reverse the e-cigarette trend among youths, including a recent proposal to ban retail sales of flavored tobacco products in California.
Health Care Is Where The Jobs Are. But What Kind Of Jobs?
By Rachel Bluth
The health care industry adds thousands of jobs to the economy each month. While they aren’t all doctors and nurses, they aren’t all paper pushers either.
Health Suffers Deep In The Troubled Heart Of Texas
By Sharon Jayson
The Lone Star State is an economic powerhouse, yet it fails to take care of its residents’ health and is home to some of the most extreme entrepreneurial medical practices.