Weekly Edition: November 9, 2018
House Dems In New Seats Of Power Will Steer Health Policy, Attack Drug Prices
Emmarie Huetteman
Democrats, who have a history of championing the Affordable Care Act and railing about drug prices, will now chair several house committees.
Midterm Election Boosts Medicaid Expansion, But Challenges Remain
Phil Galewitz
Following the vote, nearly 500,000 uninsured adults in five states are poised to gain Medicaid coverage under the Affordable Care Act, say advocates. But many conservatives remain opposed to the expansion.
Midterm Results Show Health Is Important To Voters But No Magic Bullet
Julie Rovner
Even though they are taking control of the House, Democrats will be unlikely to advance many initiatives on health that don’t meet Republican approval since the GOP controls the Senate and the White House. But they can block any efforts to weaken the Affordable Care Act or change Medicaid or Medicare.
Montana’s Legislature Could Decide Medicaid Expansion’s Fate
Eric Whitney, Montana Public Radio
A ballot initiative to fund Medicaid expansion with a tobacco tax failed in Montana on Tuesday. The expansion will expire in the state in June 2019, unless the legislature finds another way to fund it.
California’s Top Lawyer Sees Election Win As Mandate To Sustain Trump Resistance
Samantha Young
Attorney General Xavier Becerra views his resounding Election Day win as a “clear signal” from voters to continue his work defending the Affordable Care Act and pushing back against the Trump administration.
California Dreamin’? With Newsom’s Win, Single-Payer Unlikely To Follow Anytime Soon
Samantha Young
Even though Democrat Gavin Newsom campaigned for single-payer, it’s unlikely that he and other lawmakers will completely overhaul the state’s health care system right away. Instead, they will likely propose incremental steps to provide more Californians with health insurance.
Measure To Cap Dialysis Profits Pummeled After Record Spending By Industry
Ana B. Ibarra and Anna Gorman
The dialysis industry raised nearly $111 million in a successful bid to defeat the measure, which also was opposed by hospitals and doctors. The union that sponsored the measure collected about one-sixth that amount.
Podcast: KHN’s ‘What The Health?’ Split Decision On Health Care
In this episode of KHN’s “What the Health?” Julie Rovner of Kaiser Health News, Margot Sanger-Katz of The New York Times, Rebecca Adams of CQ Roll Call and Joanne Kenen of Politico discuss the Trump administration’s new birth control coverage rules and the potential impact of the midterm election results on health policy.
Quick: What’s The Difference Between Medicare-For-All And Single-Payer?
Samantha Young
As politicians across the country toss about such health care catchphrases, sometimes interchangeably, many voters say they’re “just confused.”
Beyond The Buzz: What Do Americans Mean By ‘Medicare-For-All’?
KHN's news analysis on "Medicare-for-all" sparks a broader conversation.
Trumpeted New Medicare Advantage Benefits Will Be Hard For Seniors To Find
Susan Jaffe
Federal officials are hailing the introduction of services such as transportation to medical appointments, home-delivered meals and installation of wheelchair ramps as a way to keep beneficiaries healthy and avoid costly hospitalizations. But not many plans are offering the services in 2019.
Deadly Shootings Are Rising In U.S. After Steady Declines
Carmen Heredia Rodriguez
A new report by federal researchers finds that homicides involving guns are up both nationally and in major cities after a decade of decline.
New Contractor For Food Stamps Upsets Cart For Farmers Markets
Michelle Andrews
If a popular app used by many farmers markets to process federal supplemental nutrition assistance program (SNAP) benefits is no longer offered next spring, consumers’ access to fresh produce may be stalled.
At Death’s Door, Shedding Light On How To Live
Judith Graham
When you learn you have a terminal illness, how do you live with purpose and authenticity?
Hello? It’s I, Robot, And Have I Got An Insurance Plan For You!
Barbara Feder Ostrov
An “epidemic” of robocalls timed to open-enrollment season are largely illegal, fraudulent or aim to rope you into insurance you don’t need or can’t use. They're also really annoying.