Morning Breakouts

Latest KFF Health News Stories

Hospice Workers Face History Of Neglect In Trying To Overcome African-American Distrust

Morning Briefing

Stat looks at efforts to tackle the issue of minority access to hospice care as a matter of social justice. In related news stories, former Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius urges doctors to allow patients to drive end-of-life care decisions while researchers study how diet might help ward off Alzheimer’s.

Mass. Medical Society Mulls Supporting Supervised Injection Sites For Drug Users

Morning Briefing

The facilities have a doctor or nurse on duty to monitor those who are using drugs so that it creates an environment where they have a better chance at surviving the experience. Outlets report on news on the crisis out of New Hampshire and Michigan as well.

Louisiana Republicans Decry Increases In Medicaid Spending After Expansion

Morning Briefing

As state officials announce that Louisiana’s spending on Medicaid will likely make up about half the budget in 2018, state Rep. John Schroder says, “This is growing uncontrollably.” And other Medicaid developments from Iowa, Wisconsin and Kentucky make news.

It’s ‘Like Some Nightmare We Couldn’t Have Conceived’: Abortion Opponents Shaken As Defunding Plans Falter

Morning Briefing

Defunding for Planned Parenthood was tied into the Republicans’ health care bill, and now that talks around it are collapsing, abortion opponents are left scrambling. Meanwhile, Politico looks at Ivanka Trump’s quiet attempts to reach out to the organization.

Gottlieb: FDA Doesn’t Have To Choose Between Speed And Safety

Morning Briefing

Dr. Scott Gottlieb, President Donald Trump’s pick to head the Food and Drug Administration, answered questions about drug safety, the opioid epidemic, his potential conflicts of interests and more at his Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee confirmation hearing.

At The White House, An Emerging Split Over Obamacare Payments

Morning Briefing

A decision must be made in the weeks ahead about whether to continue paying out key cost-reduction subsidies for people who buy insurance on the exchanges or to cut them off. The latter would deal a possibly mortal blow the to the health law’s individual insurance market. Meanwhile, brokers are increasingly fed up by unpaid commissions, and consumers who gained coverage via the health law are now wondering about what the future holds.

House To Make Last-Minute Tweaks To Health Plan As White House Pushes For Progress

Morning Briefing

Language to create a risk-sharing fund will be added to the Republicans’ health bill at a Rules Committee on Thursday, news outlets report. However, the non-controversial measure is unlikely to move any lawmakers’ stances on the issue.