Weekly Edition: May 4, 2018
Postcard From D.C.: Kicking Around The ACA? For Tom Price, That’s So 2017.
Emmarie Huetteman
The former secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services says the law eliminating penalties for most people who don’t have insurance coverage will hurt the insurance marketplaces.
‘A Persistent Puzzle’: Californians Embrace Medicaid — But Food Stamps? Not So Much.
Anna Gorman and Harriet Blair Rowan
The Golden State ranks near the bottom in its enrollment of eligible people in the food assistance program known as SNAP. Now state officials want to tap its robust Medicaid rolls to boost SNAP signups.
How A Drug Company Under Pressure For High Prices Ratchets Up Political Activity
Jay Hancock and Elizabeth Lucas
Denmark-based drugmaker Novo Nordisk has invested more in lobbying and doubled political donations since 2015.
‘Pharma Bro’ Shkreli Is In Prison, But Daraprim’s Price Is Still High
Shefali Luthra
The saga of Martin Shkreli and Turing Pharmaceuticals focused a lot of attention on prescription drug prices, but no reversal of the exponential price increases for the lifesaving drug Daraprim resulted. The story offers an object lesson into the interworkings of the pharmaceutical market.
Family Caregivers Are Getting A Break — And Extra Coaching
Mindy Fetterman and Lynne Shallcross
Across the country, community groups, hospitals and government agencies are stepping in to support the estimated 42 million family caregivers.
Weak Oversight Blamed For Poor Care At California Nursing Homes Going Unchecked
Anna Gorman
The scathing report cites a significant increase in cases of poor care — especially ones with the potential to cause serious injuries or death. A state lawmaker called the findings “very, very disturbing.”
Podcast: KHN’s ‘What The Health?’ Medicaid, Privacy And Tom Price’s Return
Julie Rovner of Kaiser Health News, Joanne Kenen of Politico, Margot Sanger-Katz of The New York Times and Alice Ollstein of Talking Points Memo discuss the latest on states’ efforts to reshape their Medicaid programs, the kerfuffle over President Donald Trump’s medical records and comments by former Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price about Congress’ repeal of the Affordable Care Act’s “individual mandate” penalty. Rovner also interviews Harvard professor Robert Blendon about the complex politics of health in the coming midterm elections.
As Proton Centers Struggle, A Sign Of A Health Care Bubble?
Jay Hancock
Companies pushed proton machines and counted on advertising, doctors and insurers to ensure a steady business treating cancer. But the dollars haven’t flowed in as expected.
Telemedicine Opening Doors To Specialty Care For Inmates
Michelle Andrews
Getting prisoners to a medical facility can be difficult, so corrections officials are increasingly setting up telemedicine programs for specialized needs, such as psychiatric, cancer and cardiac care.
Sprained Your Ankle? The Cost Of A Brace Could Sprain Your Wallet.
Michelle Andrews
Your health insurance might not cover items such as wheelchairs, walkers, crutches and braces, or you may have to deal with a supplier that has a contract with your insurer.
Tax-Funded Mental Health Programs Not Always Easy To Find
Emily Bazar
Revenue from California’s Mental Health Services Act has funded billions of dollars in mental health programs across the state, but finding out what’s available — and to whom — could be a challenge for consumers.
Listen: Device Is Said To Ease Opioid Withdrawal, But Does The Evidence Support It?
Jake Harper, Side Effects Public Media
A device called the Bridge is supposed to mitigate the misery of withdrawal sickness, but scientific evidence doesn't yet show that it works.