Latest KFF Health News Stories
Vermont’s Health System Ranks First In Study Assessing Costs, Accessibility And Medical Outcomes
Louisiana came in last in the WalletHub study that compared the states and D.C. The measures were broken down further, such as lowest average monthly insurance premium and hospital beds per capita.
The GM deal is a different approach to the traditional model in which companies hire insurers for access to a broader network of health-care providers. More and more, companies are looking for innovative ways to try to curb rising costs.
App Warns Those Recovering From Addiction When They’re In A Location That Could Trigger Relapse
It can also send a notification when the person is around an acquaintance that could make them vulnerable to using again. The app — Hey, Charlie — is part of a new trend of technology focusing on the social-network of a person in recovery. In other news from the opioid crisis: lawmakers are seeking documents from painkiller-makers as part of an ongoing investigation; a letter-writing campaign finds success in getting doctors to cut back on overprescribing; and more.
FDA Takes Steps To Encourage Development Of Medication That Can Be Used To Aid Addiction Treatment
Currently, just three drugs exist to treat opioid use disorder: buprenorphine, methadone, and naltrexone. Adherence to the drugs is typically low, and addiction treatment experts have long said medication assisted treatment is vastly underutilized.
The Washington Post fact checks some Democrats’ talking point that a recent working paper supports the idea that the proposal by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) would save $2 trillion in health care spending. To get to that number, one would need to make unrealistic assumptions, the report’s author says.
Republicans Could Pay Political Price For Cementing Conservative Supreme Court, History Shows
There’s a track record in the nation’s history of political backlash reflected in elected positions any time the court goes too far to one ideological side. Meanwhile, Democrats are digging in to possible ties between Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh and a judge forced into retirement last year over sexual harassment allegations.
The regulators were particularly concerned about aggressive and possibly misleading marketing strategies to sell the plans that are being touted by the Trump administration following a rule extending the duration that the coverage can be sold.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Opinion writers express views on these health topics and others.
Different Takes: Is ‘Medicare For All’ The New Health Care Debate Or Just An Old One?
Editorial pages focus on the controversy over “Medicare For All” and other health care costs.
Media outlets report on news from California, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Michigan, Connecticut, Georgia and Florida.
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, who presides over the Texas Senate also came out forcefully against the idea. In other news, media outlets offer a deeper look at the men behind two mass shootings.
Prosecutors had alleged that Prime Healthcare Services unnecessarily admitted Medicare patients who were being treated at the emergency rooms of several hospitals in its system. Medicare pays more for patients who are admitted to hospitals than those who are treated as outpatients.
There are questions about whose bottom-line the new health care initiative founded by Amazon, JPMorgan Chase, and Berkshire Hathaway will benefit despite CEO Dr. Atul Gawande’s reassurances.
In Effort To Increase Transparency, Administration To Require Hospitals To Post Prices Online
Pushing price transparency has been a main goal of the Trump administration’s top health officials. Uncompensated care and Medicare reimbursement rates make the news as well.
Pharma Scores A Victory With New Jersey Supreme Court’s Ruling On Product Liability Litigation
The ruling essentially tightens the rules for what kind of testimony could be used against pharmaceutical companies being sued over allegations that their medications harm patients.
Billionaire Finds Himself At Center Of Contentious Debate Over VA Privatization
Steve Cohen’s organization funded mental health clinics for veterans across the country. The network of facilities has been closely watched by both sides of the debate — to find proof that the private sector can do the job better than the VA or as a way to highlight the dangers of directing taxpayer money to unaccountable private groups.
Ebola Cases Rise In Congo Where War Zone Makes Fighting Deadly Virus An ‘Unprecedented’ Challenge
In a stable region of the country, health officials took months to end the outbreak and now focus on strategies to contain new flare-ups. Meanwhile, the World Health Organization is waiting to find out if the new Ebola outbreak is one for which a vaccination can be used.
Genealogical Sleuthing Sets Scientists On The Trail To Better Understanding Inherited ALS
A small town in Appalachia and a family there could offer clues about the debilitating disease. In other public health news: pregnancy, organ donors, alcohol, soy milk and more.
If Legal Immigrants Used Medicaid They Could Be Denied Green Card Under Proposed Plan From Trump
Under long-standing federal law, a noncitizen can be denied admission or permanent legal status if immigration authorities determine the person is likely to become a “public charge” — that is, someone reliant on government programs. The Trump administration’s proposal would dramatically expand the criteria used to determine whether someone is likely to become a burden.
