Weekly Edition: December 22, 2017
Children’s Insurance, Other Health Programs Funded — For Now — In Bill
Julie Rovner
In a short-term spending bill, Congress extends money to the Children’s Health Insurance Program through March.
Despite Compressed Sign-Up Period, ACA Enrollment Nearly Matches Last Year’s
Julie Rovner
HHS announces that 8.8 million people signed up for coverage through the federal insurance marketplace.
Podcast: ‘What The Health?’ 2017: The Year In Health Policy
In this episode of “What The Health?” Julie Rovner of Kaiser Health News, Joanne Kenen of Politico, Alice Ollstein of Talking Points Memo and Margot Sanger-Katz of The New York Times discuss this week’s news, including health issues in the just-passed tax bill and a look back on the year in health policy.
Bonus Tucked Into GOP Tax Bill For Those Aiming To Deduct Medical Expenses
Michelle Andrews
The House sought to eliminate the tax deduction, generally used by people with serious illnesses or those who need long-term care services but it was eventually restored in the final bill — and expanded.
No Sweeteners Added To Tax Bill To Spread Use Of Health Savings Accounts
Michelle Andrews
These accounts are exempt from taxes and linked to high-deductible health plans. Republicans tried last summer in their unsuccessful efforts to replace the health law to make the accounts more enticing for consumers, but they didn’t make those changes in the current tax bill.
Arthritis Drugs Show How U.S. Drug Prices Defy Economics
Julie Appleby
Drugs that treat rheumatoid arthritis started out costing about $10,000 a year. Ten years later, they list for more than $40,000.
Biosimilars, Biologics And New Legal Challenges For RA Treatments
Julie Appleby
As biosimilar products reach the market and rival more established RA treatments, the players are exploring legal challenges involving antitrust and anti-competitive behavior.
FDA Chief Says He’s Open To Rethinking Incentives On Orphan Drugs
Sarah Jane Tribble
The FDA’s Scott Gottlieb says the agency is focused on the big picture, and he wants to know why pharma churns out drugs for some rare diseases but not for others.
Drug Industry Spent Millions To Squelch Talk About High Drug Prices
Jay Hancock
Last year, the pharma industry’ biggest trade group raised millions to change the conversation about drug pricing.
Medicare Penalizes Group Of 751 Hospitals For Patient Injuries
Jordan Rau
Each hospital will have its payments reduced by 1 percent for the year.
751 Hospitals Hit With Safety Penalties For 2018: Data Table
Jordan Rau
Infection Lapses Rampant In Nursing Homes But Punishment Is Rare
Jordan Rau and Heidi de Marco
A Kaiser Health News analysis of federal inspection records shows that nursing home inspectors labeled mistakes in infection control as serious for only 161 of the 12,056 homes they have cited since 2014.
Unregulated Herpes Experiments Expose ‘Black Hole’ Of Accountability
Marisa Taylor
Controversial research methods by university researcher unlikely to prompt federal response or institutional change, experts say.
The Long Goodbye: Coping With Sadness And Grief Before A Loved One Dies
Judith Graham
For those confronting the string of losses that accompany frailty or serious illness, experts offer salves.
Doing More Harm Than Good? Epidemic of Screening Burdens Nation’s Older Patients
Liz Szabo
Patients are often aggressively screened for cancer, even if they won’t live long enough to benefit.
When Nursing Homes Push Out Poor And Disabled Patients
Jocelyn Wiener
Complaints are rising in California and other states about improper evictions and discharges. Advocates say some patients end up in cheap hotels, homeless or back in the hospital.
Looking North: Can A Single-Payer Health System Work In The U.S.?
Shefali Luthra
American single-payer advocates want to emulate Canada’s system. But many Canadian experts say the U.S. first needs to address some basic questions.
Canada’s Single-Payer Health System: What Is True? What Is False?
Shefali Luthra
It’s a regular part of the politically charged debate over health care. But the lines sometimes blur between rhetoric and how Canada’s system actually works.
Near Incineration Of Psychiatric Hospital Highlights Gaping Need For More Beds
Barbara Feder Ostrov
Fire almost destroyed one of two acute care facilities in Ventura County — wiping out most of the region’s inpatient capacity. In California and nationally, such hospitals are strained by demand — and disasters.
Arizona Declares Opioid Emergency, But Signals Are Mixed Over Best Response
Will Stone, KJZZ
Arizona is one of a few states that have declared the opioid epidemic a public health emergency. There's no uniformity in what that means from state to state, though, and even within Arizona, there's a wide divergence of opinion on how best to tackle the problem.