Latest KFF Health News Stories
Media outlets report on news from New York, Massachusetts, California, Georgia, Oklahoma, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Oregon, Ohio and Texas.
Sleep Apnea, Called A ‘Time Bomb’ For Women, A Contributing Factor In Carrie Fisher’s Death
Women, particularly older ones, have a greater chance of never being diagnosed with sleep apnea — and never being treated for it.
The One-Paragraph Letter That Helped Shape The Opioid Epidemic
A letter, published in a 1980 edition of the New England Journal of Medicine, has been twisted and misrepresented by the makers of painkillers to prove their products are not addictive. In other news, researchers look at why treating opioid addiction can be complicated and the American Medical Association backs supervised injection sites.
Stem Cell Scientists Worry Unregulated Clinics Undermine Actual Progress In Field
The researchers are optimistic about where stem cell therapy is headed but they fear horror stories stemming from some clinics will derail public support. In other public health news: Alzheimer’s, a surgery gone wrong, brain injuries and depression, dog bites, transgender children, and more.
Hospitals Only Have To Report Certain Cyberattacks, Leaving Rivals In The Dark And Vulnerable
Advocates are pushing for tighter reporting requirements for all electronic attacks.
Feds To Collect More Than $53M From Genesis HealthCare To Settle False Medicare Claim Charges
The nursing home operator strikes a settlement with the Justice Department to end six federal lawsuits and investigations of allegations that the company submitted false claims to Medicare and Medicaid for medically unnecessary therapy, hospice service and substandard care.
Marketing Sanctions Lifted Off Cigna
The federal sanctions barred the company from marketing and selling its Medicare Advantage policies to new beneficiaries.
Trump’s Working Group On Drug Prices Catering To Pharma’s Wish List
Despite promising action to reel in an industry that he said was “getting away with murder,” President Donald Trump and his administration’s working group on high prescription drug costs is leaning toward policy recommendations backed by pharmaceutical companies.
Nev. Governor Vetoes Medicaid-For-All Bill, Saying It’s Creative But Lacks ‘Factual Foundation’
The legislation would have allowed all residents the option of buying into Medicaid coverage.
Medicaid Funding Takes Center Stage At Opioid Commission’s First Meeting
One after the other, experts highlighted the importance of maintaining and completing the expansion of Medicaid in the battle against the opioid crisis.
Where GOP’s Plans For Medicaid Meet Reality: ‘Around Here, There Ain’t No Jobs’
Republicans are embracing the idea of work requirements, but many of the places where the rules will go into effect are in deep Trump country. Media outlets report on other Medicaid news out of California, New Mexico, Texas, Kansas and Iowa.
Did Alaska Actually Figure Out How To Fix The Health Law? Well, It’s Complicated
The plan Alaska instituted to control spiking premiums is being touted as a great success, but is it really?
For Democrats, Trump’s ‘Mean’ Comments Could Be A Gift On A Silver Platter
The party hopes to use the sentiment as a unifying message against Republicans. Meanwhile, Sen. Bernie Sanders says he supports any tactic the Democrats take to “defeat that horrific piece of legislation.”
With Self-Imposed Deadline Looming, Where Does Senate Stand On Health Plan?
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is “bound and determined” to hold a vote on the legislation soon, but there are still a lot of obstacles in the way.
Secrecy And ‘Legislative Sleights-Of-Hand’: McConnell’s About-Face On Passing Health Bills
The Washington Post fact checks Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s positions on the process of passing a health care bill in 2010 versus now. And other media outlets take a look at how Republicans are struggling with the fact that the legislation is being crafted behind closed doors.
GOP’s Health Plan Threatens Coverage For Most Vulnerable, Bipartisan Group Of Governors Says
The governors are urging congressional leaders to concentrate on stabilizing the marketplace while searching for a bipartisan solution that will provide affordable health care to those who need it.
SEND IN YOUR QUESTIONS!: KHN is launching our new Facebook group on navigating aging with a live online chat, “Getting Smarter About Getting Older.” You can send in questions ahead of time here. But make sure to mark your calendars for tomorrow at 12 p.m. to join in the conversation on Facebook Live with Judith Graham, our Navigating Aging columnist, and her guest Dr. Lee Ann Lindquist.
Research Roundup: Medicaid Flexibility, Drug Price Transparency and Hospital Quality
Each week, KHN compiles a selection of recently released health policy studies and briefs.
Viewpoints: Waiting For The Doctor; Preventing A Mental Health Crisis
A selection of opinions on health care from around the country.
Perspectives: Medicaid Costs And Cuts; Should Doctors March On Washington?
Opinion writers examine a variety of issues related to health system reform and current efforts to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act.
