Latest KFF Health News Stories
Outlets report on news from Georgia, New Jersey, District of Columbia, California, Minnesota, Kansas, Florida, Ohio, Iowa, Texas and Connecticut.
Providers Warn Mass. Gov. That Plan To Cut Medicaid May Affect Home Health Services
Home health agencies say the governor’s plan to rein in Medicaid spending with a trim in reimbursements would mean that they would stop sending nurses to homes to check on patients with chronic illnesses and that would shift more people into long-term care facilities. Also, news outlets report on Medicaid developments in Kansas and New Jersey.
Hospital Roundup: Preventing Avoidable Errors; Executive Incentives To Improve Quality
Other industry news relates to a Chinese eye hospital chain planning to enter the U.S. market, Ohio facilities joining to create a new trauma care network and a Florida hospital partnering with a Brazilian company to help patients with disabilities.
States Begin To Assess Effects Of Judge’s Decision To Block Anthem-Cigna Merger
Officials and news outlets in Colorado and New Hampshire, two states that opposed the merger, review the situation.
Depression In Teens Is Soaring — And It’s Hitting Girls Particularly Hard
There’s now about a half million more depressed teens than in the early 2000s, and three-fourths of those participants in the study were girls. In other public health news, the fight against C. diff, FluMist, baby boxes, art therapy and fear of death.
As White America Comes Out Of Shadows On Opioid Abuse, People Of Color Remain Hidden
More and more, white Americans are putting faces to the opioid epidemic through explicit obituaries, interviews and letters to lawmakers. However, blacks, Latinos, Asians, and Native Americans are noticeably absent, which represents a larger trend with the crisis itself. Meanwhile, the Affordable Care Act helped expand treatment for substance abuse, and some worry what will happen if the law is dismantled.
In Midst Of Pharma Trying To Rebrand Image, Company Jacks Up Old Drug’s Price To $89,000
Marathon has set the list price of its muscular dystrophy drug at $89,000 a year, 50 to 70 times higher than patients were paying to import the drug from the U.K.
Both Sides Of Abortion Fight Turn Out In Force At Planned Parenthood Clinics Across Country
Activists in the anti-abortion movement set up rallies at Planned Parenthood clinics for the weekend, but they were met with counter-protesters who came out to support the organization.
Schumer Vows Democrats Will Work To Keep GOP From Putting Medicare ‘On Chopping Block’
The leader of the Senate Democrats points to concerns that Republicans will seek to change Medicare to be a voucher program. Echoing those concerns about the future of the program, AARP has initiated online and TV ads supporting Medicare.
Patients And Providers Alike Anxious Over Future Of Health Care Coverage
Many are worried that if the health law is dismantled, they’ll lose their coverage.
GOP Town Halls Drawing Raucous Crowds Demanding Answers On Health Law
In meetings across the country, constituents are showing up in droves to make their voices heard.
Republicans May Want To Erase Health Law But First They Have To Save It From Collapsing
With all the uncertainty swirling around the future of the health law, Republicans are caught in the position of having to stabilize a marketplace that they never wanted in the first place. Meanwhile, some proposed plans are trying to curb overly generous coverage and are drawing a reaction similar to how the “Cadillac Tax” was received.
Immigration Ban Highlights Just How Much U.S. Relies On Foreign-Born Doctors
Doctors studying in the United States are given the option to either return home or work for three years in an area that is medically underserved. Meanwhile, the ban has forced one doctor to cancel a trip to Iran to perform life-saving surgeries.
Price Sworn In As HHS Secretary After Contentious Nomination Process
While Republicans praised new Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price as having a “thorough understanding of health care policy and the damage that Obamacare has caused,” others continued to speak out against him. “This guy is a wrecking ball,” Sen. Angus King, I-Maine, said. “He is not a secretary. He is going into this agency to destroy it.”
First Edition: February 13, 2017
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Viewpoints: Medicare And Social Risk Factors; When The Goal Is Fewer Abortions
A selection of opinions on health care from around the country.
Opinion writers offer a variety of views on the latest health policy developments.
Research Roundup: Wages And Health Spending; Workplace Injuries; Mexico City Policy
Each week, KHN compiles a selection of recently released health policy studies and briefs.
Outlets report on news from Georgia, Colorado, Texas, California, Michigan, Kansas, Virginia, Massachusetts, Louisiana and Florida.
States Consider Abortion Regulations
Ohio, Arkansas, Texas are mulling restrictions, while Colorado bats down two bills that would have tightened rules on the procedure in the state.
