Weekly Edition: July 5-7
Obamacare Inspires Unlikely Political Action In California’s Red Region
April Dembosky, KQED
In a county where cows outnumber people and most voters supported Donald Trump, a coalition of health clinics is driven to defend the health law.
Podcast: What The Health? Why Is This Stuff So Complicated?
Julie Rovner of Kaiser Health News, Joanne Kenen of Politico, Margot Sanger-Katz of The New York Times and Paige Winfield Cunningham of The Washington Post discuss the state of the Senate’s effort to replace Obamacare.
Parents Of Ill Children Worry About Return Of ‘Lifetime Limits’ In GOP Health Bill
Alex Olgin, WFAE
Current law requires all health insurance sold on the exchanges to cover 10 essential benefits — with no annual or lifetime limits to reimbursement. But the GOP plan might let states reinstate limits.
The Call-In: Answers To Questions About Our Business-Driven Health System
On NPR's Weekend Edition Sunday, KHN's Elisabeth Rosenthal answers questions about the high cost of U.S. health care, while NPR's Gisele Grayson addresses how the Senate bill to replace the Affordable Care Act would change the system.
What Tax Breaks? Those Promised In GOP Plans Go Mostly To Top 1%
Julie Appleby
Similar to the House-passed American Health Care Act, the Senate GOP health bill would change or eliminate more than a dozen taxes that were put in place to help pay for provisions of the Affordable Care Act.
Should GOP Health Bill Prevail, Say Bye-Bye To Insurance Rebates
Julie Appleby
A little-noticed provision of the Senate GOP health plan would unwind an Affordable Care Act provision limiting insurer profits, administrative costs.
Trump’s Surgeon General Pick Built Name Fighting HIV And Opioids In Indiana
Emily Forman, Side Effects Public Media
Dr. Jerome Adams is the health commissioner in Indiana, the home state of Vice President Mike Pence.
Do-It-Yourself Detox Can Be ‘Freddy Krueger’ Scary — And Usually Fails
Elana Gordon, WHYY
Treatment for opioid addiction can be expensive and difficult to coordinate. That might make some people tempted to think they can overcome the addiction on their own. This rarely works.
Amount Of Opioids Prescribed In U.S. Has Been Falling Since 2010
Vickie Connor
Report by CDC researchers finds a steady fall in opioid use in recent years, but the rates are still three times higher than in 1999.
Half The Time, Nursing Homes Scrutinized On Safety By Medicare Are Still Treacherous
Jordan Rau
Of the 528 nursing homes that graduated from special focus status before 2014 and are still operating, more than half — 52 percent — have harmed patients or operated in a way that put patients in serious jeopardy within the past three years, a KHN analysis finds.
New On The Streets: Drug For Nerve Pain Boosts High For Opioid Abusers
Carmen Heredia Rodriguez
Gabapentin, prescribed for epilepsy and nerve damage, is touted by federal health officials as an alternative to opioids for patients. But some are now abusing the drug.
As Seniors Get Sicker, They’re More Likely To Drop Medicare Advantage Plans
Fred Schulte
Medicare Advantage plans offer good value and aim to keep patients healthy but sicker people are far more likely to quit because they can’t get the care they need.