Morning Breakouts

Latest KFF Health News Stories

Medicaid Officials Say Repeal Effort Bolsters Support Of Program And Efforts To Improve It

Morning Briefing

Matt Salo, executive director of the National Association of Medicaid Directors, says states will likely soon begin bids to bolster the program to be better coordinated. In other news, Republicans opposed to Medicaid expansion in Maine are beginning to organize to fight a referendum there and Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe presses lawmakers once again to expand the program there.

‘Obviously We Had A Setback’: McConnell Uncertain About Next Steps On Health Care

Morning Briefing

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) says after Congress returns from recess that Republicans will have to sit down with Democrats and figure out a way forward. Meanwhile, state and local groups are stepping up to preemptively counter any lack of enrollment support from the federal government.

Policy Perspectives: Undoing A Health-System Fix That Works; Stabilizing Obamacare Requires Bipartisanship

Morning Briefing

Editorial writers address a range of health policy issues — including some that touch on topics related to the Affordable Care Act and others that address politics, state-level Medicaid issues and efforts to expand the Medicare program.

State Highlights: Committee To Handle Iowa’s Medicaid System Hasn’t Met This Year; N.H. Takes Steps To Improve Mental Health Services

Morning Briefing

Media outlets report on news from Iowa, New Hampshire, Texas, Georgia, Maryland, California, Washington, Florida and Ohio.

Rural America Needs More Doctors, But Young Physicians Tend To Flock To Cities

Morning Briefing

Primary care physicians are in particular demand, but the pay discrepancy to other specialties is doing little to help the problem.

Lessons Were Learned From Recent Epidemics, But We’re Still Not Prepared Enough, Expert Says

Morning Briefing

Dr. Raj Panjabi talks about what experts have learned since Ebola, and the devastating effects cuts to foreign aid would have on the health of Americans. In other public health news: regulating beauty products, stem cells, a “miraculous” oxygen treatment and more.

Uptick In Teen Overdose Deaths ‘A Red Flag’ Mirroring A Trend Seen In Adults

Morning Briefing

But experts say the increase might just be statistical noise and not indicative of a crisis quite yet. Meanwhile, a look at the company behind the software that links prescription drug monitoring databases.

Trump Looked Like An Answer To Prayers In Counties Suffering Most From ‘Deaths Of Despair’

Morning Briefing

But residents are now losing hope that the president will be able to change the cycle of alcohol, drugs and suicide that has hit these places so hard.

Business Groups Bemoan Medicare’s ‘Step Backward’ On Payments Based On Value

Morning Briefing

The Trump administration’s decision last week to slow down efforts to move to bundled payments for some surgeries has raised concerns. Also, Stat looks at the new Medicare information on hospices

To Cut ‘Regulatory Costs,’ Administration Wants To Roll Back Obama-Era Rule On Nursing Homes Lawsuits

Morning Briefing

The Obama administration rule tried to ban nursing homes from requiring residents to sign an arbitration agreement before being admitted to the facility — a standard practice in the industry.

How Typically Risk-Averse Insurers Are Helping Save Obamacare

Morning Briefing

Companies are stepping in to sell plans in the pockets of the country where other insurers left residents with no options for ACA coverage.

Upon Returning From Recess, Republicans Will Face Ticking Clock To Shore Up Marketplaces

Morning Briefing

Lawmakers will need to scrounge up 60 votes in 12 days to pass their bipartisan bill. Meanwhile, another plan from Sens. Lindsey Graham (R., S.C.) and Bill Cassidy (R., La.) gains traction among Republicans and three former HHS chiefs urge Republicans to stabilize the system.