Latest KFF Health News Stories
House’s Health Care Bill Cleared To Move To The Senate
The Senate Budget Committee confirms that the legislation has no “fatal flaws” that would force the House to adjust the measure and hold another vote.
After Talks, Some Republicans Remain Glum
Republicans met on Tuesday to discuss plans to push forward with repeal and replace, but deep party divides over issues such as Medicaid may derail ambitious goals for voting on legislation before the Fourth of July. One Republican senator noted: “The Areas We Have Consensus On? Let’s See, Obamacare [stinks].”
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
A selection of opinions on health care from around the country.
Media outlets report on health-related news from Delaware, Minnesota, Washington, Massachusetts, California, Virginia, Florida, Iowa, Ohio, North Carolina and Connecticut.
In other state hospital news, council members are pushing to increase funding for Nashville General Hospital in Mayor Megan Barry’s budget, Tampa General has a new CEO and New Hampshire’s Crotched Mountain Specialty Hospital will close its doors by the end of the summer, among other developments.
Innovators In Neurotech Field Dream Of Perfect Marriage Between Humans’ Brains, Computers
A fully functional brain-computer interface, in theory, turns a person into a programmable, debuggable machine—just like a computer.
Blame For Salmonella Outbreaks Placed On Backyard Chickens
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, eight separate salmonella outbreaks lave been inked to contact with pet poultry in the United States.
Want To Know The Symptoms Of ‘Cyberchondria’? Well, Googling It Will Only Make It Worse
Searching for medical conditions online has become a problem in and of itself. Stat offers a look at the most commonly Googled diseases. In other public health news: health inequality, diabetes, arthritis drugs, pets as probiotics, breast cancer and more.
Opioid Crisis Pushes Pain Patients ‘To The Brink,’ Causes Doctors To Rethink Pain Management
Media outlets also report on developments in state lawsuits against drugmakers as well as how drug use and changing laws regarding marijuana are causing workplace complications.
Zika Epidemic Declared Over In Puerto Rico, But We ‘Cannot Let Our Guard Down,’ Officials Warn
The island has been the part of the United States hardest hit by the mosquito-borne virus
Supreme Court Rules 8-0 That Faith-Based Hospitals Are Exempt From Federal Pension Law
Employees of three church-affiliated hospital systems had challenged the long-standing interpretation of such organizations as being exempt from the Employee Retirement Income Security Act.
VA To Ditch Antiquated Electronic-Records System For One Used By Defense Department
Secretary David Shulkin says the change will let the agencies’ systems work together seamlessly.
Advocates For People With Disabilities Fear GOP Medicaid Plans Could Cut Their ‘Lifeline’
Eric Jacobson, executive director of the Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities, a state advocacy group, says, “Medicaid is the lifeline for people with disabilities.” The bulk of spending on the federal-state health care program goes to cover care for seniors, people with disabilities and children. Meanwhile, in Michigan, officials and health care providers try to raise support for the Medicaid expansion in the state. And Sen. Susan Collins, a key Republican in the upcoming health care debate, voices some support for expanding Medicaid in Maine.
Some States Looking At Loss Of Key Competitors And Dramatic Price Hikes For 2018 Marketplaces
Insurers are in the process of filing their rate requests with state officials now, but uncertainty about how Republicans in the federal government will alter the program is helping fuel concerns that prices will go up and some insurers will back out of the health law’s exchanges.
New York Takes ‘Aggressive’ Steps To Keep Obamacare Marketplaces Stable
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo orders the state health department to bar health insurers that withdraw from the New York exchange market from participating in other state programs including Medicaid, an action that could pose a financial threat to some companies.
They Voted For His Health Law — Now Ryan Is Working Hard To Help Them Keep Their Seats
The vote on the Republican health care legislation will be a campaign issue in the 2018 midterm elections, and House Speaker Paul Ryan is trying to make sure he retains his majority.
Competing Factions Complicate GOP’s Health Efforts: ‘You Can’t Have 52 People Drafting The Bill’
There are multiple groups working on their own versions of the Senate legislation.
Not Wanting Health Care To Consume Entire Calendar, GOP Leaders Aim For Summer Vote
“I don’t think this gets better over time,” said Sen. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.). “So my personal view is we’ve got until now and the Fourth of July to decide if the votes are there or not. And I hope they are.”
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
