Latest KFF Health News Stories
Bill Would Aim To Curb High Drug Prices By Triggering Competition Through Generics
Big brand-name drug companies would likely support the legislation from Rep. Greg Walden, chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, since it focuses on marketplace competition rather than government intervention. Meanwhile, a California lawmaker is moving to limit the use of coupons for drugs.
Struggles, False Starts Leach Momentum From GOP’s Whirlwind Repeal And Replace Efforts
As efforts to unify behind one plan founder, some Republicans are starting to embrace the idea of “repair” instead of “replace.” But House lawmakers are calling on their party to continue to move forward with repeal, a sentiment echoed by the vice president.
First Edition: February 3, 2017
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
A selection of opinions on health care from around the country.
Longer Looks: The Immigration Effect; Illegal Abortions; And Replacing The Health Law
Each week, KHN’s Shefali Luthra finds interesting reads from around the Web.
Outlets report on news from Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, California, Arizona, Texas, New Hampshire, Florida, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Colorado and Georgia.
Today’s other public health news reports on cervical cancer, bad dietary advice on drinking hydrogen peroxide, food allergies, brain injuries, dementia, genes’ role in determining height and more.
Those On Front Lines Of Ohio’s Opioid Crisis Blast Flat-Funding In Kasich’s Budget
But the Republican governor says he’s giving local communities the tools, they just need to use them. Meanwhile, there’s been an outbreak of overdoses in the state. Media outlets report on the epidemic out of New Jersey, Minnesota, Missouri and Georgia as well.
In Era Where Cost Cuts Are King, Death Rates Following ER Discharges Raise Concerns
A study reveals that a possible lack of resources and funding to rural hospitals and underserved areas could be fatal to patients.
Former Tenet Senior Exec Charged With Medicaid Fraud
John Holland, 60, pleaded not guilty Wednesday in a Miami federal court to four counts of fraud. He is charged with allegedly having a role in a $400 million kickback scheme.
New Account Would Allow People With Disabilities To Save Money Without Losing Government Benefits
Disability advocates say that the savings vehicle is overdue and badly needed by people who could previously only hold $2,000 in savings. The Associated Press reports on how the ABLE accounts will work.
Ohio Expects To Move Medicaid’s Long-Term Care Patients Into Managed Care Plans
The initiative unveiled by Gov. John Kasich would bring that last group of enrollees into managed care plans, which already cover nearly 90 percent of the state’s Medicaid population. In other news, Medicaid developments in Ohio, Arizona, Indiana, Tennessee and New Mexico.
Government Unveils Proposed Raise In Its Payments To Medicare Advantage Plans
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services suggested an increase of 0.25 percent in pay to the private insurance plans that are an alternative to traditional Medicare. That is less than last year’s increase but generally in line with what analysts expected.
Aid-In-Dying Advocates, Disheartened By Supreme Court Pick, Brace For New Fight
In his book “The Future of Assisted Suicide and Euthanasia,” Neil Gorsuch, the president’s Supreme Court nominee, refers to physician-assisted suicide as “essentially a right to consensual homicide.” In other news, an Associated Press review of Gorsuch’s decisions reveal few clues on how he’ll vote on abortion, and Rhode Island moves to protect access at a state-level.
Immigration Ban Throws Medical Students’ ‘Match Day’ Into Disarray
March 17 is the day when students find out if and where they’ve “matched” for a residency program, but for those from countries targeted by President Donald Trump’s immigration ban, the future is uncertain. Meanwhile, the scientific community is protesting the executive order through boycotts of conferences and journals.
What Should A Health Plan Cover?
As Republicans work on dismantling former President Barack Obama’s health law, the question becomes what standards of coverage will be set in their replacement plan. Meanwhile, women who gained protection under the ACA stand to lose a lot if the regulations are rolled back, and entrepreneurs are forced to consider a job change, fearing the high costs of insurance that may come in the future.
Insurers Stuck In Repeal And Replace Limbo Say Without Clarity Marketplaces Are In Peril
There’s a chance some states will not have any insurers selling health plans to individuals buying coverage on their own for 2018 if Congress and the president don’t give companies guidance on what the future of health care coverage is going to look like.
After Years Of ‘Repeal And Replace’ Rhetoric, GOP Rebrands Efforts To Embrace ‘Repair’
Using the word “repair” to describe the effort “captures exactly what the large majority of the American people want,” said Frank Luntz, a prominent Republican consultant and pollster who addressed GOP lawmakers at their Philadelphia retreat. Meanwhile, members of the Freedom Caucus talk with senators about their replacement plans, Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, is calling for all health law taxes to be stripped away and Rep. Michael Burgess, R-Texas, leads hearings this week on dismantling the legislation.
In Sign Of Escalating Tension On Hill, Senate Panel Lifts Rules To Vote On Price Without Dems
The Democrats on the Senate Finance Committee were boycotting the vote on Rep. Tom Price because of ethics concerns.
VA Nominee Says System Is ‘Worth Saving,’ Promises Not To Privatize Veterans’ Health Care
David J. Shulkin, the sole holdover from the Obama administration, faced the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee on Wednesday and is expected to be approved by the full Senate.
