Latest KFF Health News Stories
During Its Move To Electronic Records, Medicare Erroneously Paid $729M To Health Professionals
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services should review its incentive payments, recoup any money erroneously paid and do more to scrutinize spending, the inspector general audit recommended.
Entrepreneurs, Early Retirees Among 70,000 Iowans Threatened By Possible Insurer Pullout
State officials are working to convince the three carriers serving the individual market to stay in Iowa. In Washington state, two counties face the prospect of no insurers next year, and in Florida BlueCross BlueShield officials say the company will continue to operate next year.
Once A Model Of ACA’s Success, Kentucky Is Now Busy Unwinding Law’s Provisions
Gov. Matt Bevin says his overhaul of the state’s health system would steady the market by gradually moving people from Medicaid to private insurance plans.
Concerns Over Ever-Worsening Opioid Crisis Could Throw Wrench In Plans To Roll Back Medicaid
Republicans’ plans to dismantle and replace the Affordable Care Act could affect efforts to curb the epidemic that’s ravaging the country.
These Two GOP Senators May Play Role Of Planned Parenthood Funding Saviors
To get the support of Sens. Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) may have to drop language in the Republicans’ health law to defund the organization.
McConnell’s Gloomy Attitude Over Health Law Has Some Wondering If Larger Strategy Is At Play
Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) has been downplaying the chances the Republicans’ legislation has of passing the Senate. But some think his reserved comments might be all part of the game. In other news about the efforts: lawmakers begin to see a path they can take; a look at how the measure could affect middle- and working-class Americans; Twitter cheers on Sen. Claire McCaskill and more.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Viewpoints: GOP Health Plan – A ‘Win In Name Only’; Children At Risk In Obamacare Repeal
A selection of opinions on health care from around the country.
Media outlets report on health-related news from Nevada, Florida, Connecticut, California, Texas, Ohio, Oregon, Iowa, Georgia, Colorado, Pennsylvania, Louisiana and Arizona.
A Year Later: Lessons Learned From Pulse Night Club Shooting
The shooting highlighted weaknesses in how a local health care system handled the mass-casualty event. Meanwhile, an advocacy group raises money to support gun control.
Montana Congressman-Elect To Plead No Contest After Slamming Reporter To The Ground
The altercation, on the eve of the special election, came after a Guardian reporter asked Republican Greg Gianforte a question about the House health care bill.
Precision Cancer Treatments Show Promise But Medicines May Not Be Able To Be Created Fast Enough
Meanwhile, other news stories on the disease cover disparities in diagnosis as well as a clinical trial on a Cuban lung cancer vaccine.
New Report Lets Scientists Wrap Arms Around Scope Of Zika-Related Birth Defects
Until now, doctors hadn’t been able to pin down the actual risk of a child being born with Zika-related birth defects, but a new study shines light on the numbers.
HHS Secretary Promises Curbing High Drug Prices Is ‘Absolute Priority’
Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price tells the Senate Finance Committee that President Donald Trump asked his department for recommendations on policies that would reduce the costs of medications.
Price Defends Trump’s Budget Plan For Medicaid, Saying A Reduction In Growth Is Not A Cut
Although the Congressional Budget Office says the administration’s budget would reduce Medicaid funding by $610 billion in the next decade over current expectations, the head of the Department of Health and Human Services says you can’t consider it a cut because the amount of money would continue to grow.
Facing Unstable Market, Senators Seek Rollback Of Limits On Short-Term Health Plans
Short-term insurance plans generally don’t cover the same benefits that are required of Affordable Care Act-compliant plans, such as pre-existing conditions, prescription drugs and maternity care.
NIH To Award $1B To Young Researchers After Dropping Plan To Cap Support To Some Labs
The controversial proposal to limit the size of federal grants to individual labs raised concerns among senior scientists, so National Institutes of Health offered this compromise. Also in the news: a House panel is expected to again take up its investigation of a lab problem two years ago.
FDA Wants Painkiller Popular With Those Addicted To Opioids Removed From Market
The agency’s request to the medication’s drugmaker may signal a more aggressive approach against prescription opioids.
Abortion Language In GOP Health Plan Could Be The Achilles Heel That Brings It Down
The Senate parliamentarian flags language that would bar people from using new refundable tax credits for private insurance plans that cover abortion.
Senators Find Themselves Playing Whac-A-Mole When It Comes To Solving Health Plan Problems
Every time they think they’ve found a solution to an issue, a new one pops up. And while moderates say they’re getting closer, conservatives are pushing back against the proposed changes.
