Latest KFF Health News Stories
First Edition: November 20, 2017
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Viewpoints: Using Emergency Authority To Fight Opioids; Knowing If Alzheimer’s Is In Your Future…
A selection of opinions on health care from around the country.
Perspectives: A New Front For An Old Obamacare War; How Tax Reform Tees Up Medicare Cuts
Opinion writers offer a range of thoughts and commentary on how the current GOP tax plan impacts health policy and entitlement programs, as well as other health policy topics.
Research Roundup: Noncompliant Plans; Older Americans; Bare Counties; And The Uninsured
Here is a selection of recent research.
Media outlets report on news from California, Texas, Connecticut, Georgia, Florida, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Maryland, Hawaii, Ohio, Minnesota and Iowa.
Putting A Dollar Value On An Epidemic: Opioid Crisis Has Cost Economy $95B In 2016 Alone
The vast majority of the economic burden — $43.2 billion — came from losses in the workforce due to deaths from opioids, the analysis found. Meanwhile, another study found that about 10 percent of Americans have overcome a drug or alcohol problem in their lives, which might mean there’s good news for treating addiction.
Among String Of High-Profile Disappointments, Alzheimer’s Experts See Some Reason To Hope
Scientists are moving toward a more nuanced understanding of the disease. In other public health news: CTE, the benefits of exercise, weight-loss operations, heart disease and more.
Feds Give States $600 Million To Tide Over Children’s Coverage Programs
Federal funding for the Children’s Health Insurance Program expired at the end of September and lawmakers say they want to renew it, but they haven’t agreed on where to get the money. In other Medicaid news, a study looks at the toll of low reimbursements to doctors, another article explores how the health law’s expansion of the program has helped patients overcome medical debt issues and North Carolina releases its enrollment numbers.
Bipartisan Bill Seeks To Overturn New Cuts In Some Medicare Drug Payments
The congressional effort is aimed at a rule recently issued by the Trump administration that reduces federal reimbursement for medicines purchased under the federal 340B Drug Discount Program. That program helps boost revenues for hospitals that primarily serve low-income patients. Also in Medicare news, federal officials seek suggestions about lowering drug prices and set some new rules on the Part D drug program. The government also reports that improper payments have fallen.
With Stem Cell Therapy Guidelines, FDA Aims To Boost Innovation But Crack Down On Rogue Clinics
As the promising field has taken off in the past few years, unregulated clinics have sprung up, charging patients thousands of dollars for untested treatments.
If HHS Nominee Is Approved He’s Set To Inherit An Agency Rocked By Internal Strife, ‘Dysfunction’
Running the Department of Health and Human Services is notoriously challenging, but lately it has faced widespread criticism that it is unresponsive and neglecting staff advice. Former pharmaceutical executive Alex Azar has been nominated to head the agency and will have his Senate hearing later this month.
Who Would Be Blamed For Lower ACA Enrollment? Trump And Republicans, A New Poll Finds
More than 60 percent of respondents say they would point the fingers at President Donald Trump and Republicans in Congress, though the poll found a distinct partisan divide.
Middle-Class Families Left Feeling ‘Helpless’ In Face Of $30,000-A-Year Premiums
The increase in premiums stemming from the marketplace uncertainty have people considering reducing their income so they can qualify for government help. “If one word captures all this, it’s ‘helpless,”’ Ian Dixon said. “There’s rage and anger and all that stuff in there, too. Any reasonable person would agree that this should not be happening.”
Collins Hesitant About Including Repeal Of Individual Mandate In Tax Bill
Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) has been a crucial swing vote in the Senate this year, and looks to play a main role again in the tax debate. The House passed its version of the tax bill on Thursday.
First Edition: November 17, 2017
LOOK AT US: Kaiser Health News has a brand new look. With our readers’ feedback, we’ve changed the website to make it easier to discover important news, investigations, columns and multimedia. Check it out and let us know what you think.
Viewpoints: Budget Advice For Safety-Net Hospitals; An Abortion Case, The High Court And Free Speech
A selection of opinions on health care from around the country.
Policy Perspectives: The Individual Mandate Fight Goes On – This Time, In A Tax Bill
Opinion writers question the policy rationale, math and impact involved as Congress considers a GOP plan to repeal the Affordable Care Act’s individual mandate as part of a Republican tax overhaul proposal. They also examine other health policy issues, including how rising health care costs cut into everyday American’s take-home pay and a program that involves unions and home health workers.
Longer Looks: Colorado’s High Premiums; Dating Apps And STDs; And Studying Gun Violence
Each week, KHN’s Shefali Luthra finds interesting reads from around the Web.
Media outlets report on news from California, Texas, Massachusetts, New York, Maryland, Ohio and Kansas.
AMA Adopts Policy Opposing The Presence Of Federal Immigration Agents In Hospitals, Clinics
Meanwhile, two Maryland hospital executives discuss major health policy issues; the reach and cost of Mayo’s sprawling network; financial gains and challenges for hospitals in Colorado and Connecticut; and other hospital-related developments.
