Latest KFF Health News Stories
Majority Of Americans Extremely Worried That Repeal Will Cost Many Health Coverage
A new poll shows that, though Americans are still divided over what the future of the health law should be, the majority of them are concerned about how the Republicans’ plans for repeal will affect coverage. Meanwhile other outlets offer a look at what repeal could mean across the country and in different industries.
Following Backlash, Administration Walks Back Parts Of Order To Pull Health Law Ads
Among other things, the revised directive allows ads that have already been paid for to run.
Republicans To Begin Tackling Pre-Existing Conditions, Medicaid With Hearings This Week
Although there is a string of hearings set up for this upcoming week, some conservatives are frustrated that Republicans lost momentum on repeal by not emerging from their retreat in Philadelphia with a unified plan.
‘We’ll Be Judged In The Election’: GOP Frets Over Repeal Plans
Leaked audio from the congressional Republican’s retreat in Philadelphia reveals worry among lawmakers on how to go about dismantling and replacing the health law.
First Edition: January 30, 2017
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
A selection of opinions on health care from around the country.
Outlets report on news from Georgia, California, New Jersey, Wisconsin, Delaware, Hawaii, Colorado, Ohio, Arizona, Oregon, Texas, Minnesota, Florida and Virginia.
Study Finds Limiting Antibiotic Use To Be An Effective Tool In Fighting Hospital Infections
Today’s other public health stories focus on hopes for an autism bill, a medical mystery in Massachusetts, a chiropractor accused of faking trucker medical exams and spreading the word about PrEP.
In New Tactic To Curb Opioid Epidemic, Officials Go After The Middlemen
Recently, the Drug Enforcement Administration penalized two major drug distributors for failing to notify officials about suspicious orders of controlled substances. Meanwhile, OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma is giving millions to upgrade Virginia’s database that monitors opioid prescriptions.
Scientists Grow Stem Cells In Pig Embryos Offering Promise Of Inter-Species Organ Transplants
But many ethical and technological barriers remain, scientists warn.
Medicare Agrees To Cover New Tiny Heart Pacemakers
Medtronic’s Micra pacemaker is less than 10 percent of the size of a regular pacemaker and is implanted directly in the heart, rather than under skin in the chest. Medicare says it will cover the pacemakers if the use is part of a well-designed study by Medtronic to gather data over a long period of time. Also, federal officials penalize a Minnesota hospital after a 13-year-old who had attempted suicide was able to escape from a psychiatric ward.
As Debate Heats Up About Changes In Medicaid, Hospitals And Vulnerable Groups Raise Concerns
In California, children in the country illegally could lose some coverage that the state has put in place, and hospitals around the country are concerned about an influx in uncovered patients. Meanwhile, some advocates note that 60 percent of Medicaid spending pays for care for elderly and disabled people.
Anti-Abortion Movement Marches Into D.C.
Organizers expect the crowds to be energized by the new administration. In other news, many activists are finding hope in both the decision to defund Planned Parenthood and the president’s potential Supreme Court nominee, and Sheryl Sandberg warns the executive order on foreign aid to clinics mentioning abortions could have terrible consequences for women’s health abroad.
In Aftermath Of Hiring Freeze Announcement, Lawmakers Move Swiftly On VA Exemptions
“We must ensure that, while we work toward our mutual goal of VA health care reform, VA is not further hampered by an inability to recruit high-quality clinicians,” lawmakers wrote in a letter to the president following an executive order that mandated a hiring freeze at federal agencies.
Some States Report Enrollment Is Up And Brace For More Activity As Deadline Nears
Maryland’s health exchange reports enrollment rates have climbed faster than in previous years while in Tennessee navigators are braced to help those who try to sign up in the last few days before the marketplace closes. Meanwhile, in Connecticut, the board overseeing the exchange opted this week to tighten special enrollment rules and Minnesota lawmakers passed additional health insurance premium subsidies. Also, consumers faced serious glitches during the process of finding a health plan on Covered California.
The Billion-Dollar Question Splitting The GOP: Should Americans Retain Subsidies For Health Care?
There are the fiscal conservatives — mostly concentrated in the House — who say current health care spending is unsustainable. On the other side are those who don’t want millions of Americans to lose their health care.
Trump To GOP Lawmakers: Gutting ACA Is Political ‘Risk,’ But Now Is Time For Swift Action
Congressional lawmakers met with the president at their retreat in Philadelphia to discuss their strategy for the upcoming year. But a cohesive plan for dismantling and replacing former President Barack Obama’s health law has not emerged.
After White House Yanks ACA Outreach Ads, Officials Worry Young Desirables Won’t Sign Up
As the deadline for open enrollment nears, the Trump administration pulls $5 million in ads that were geared to boost enrollment.
First Edition: January 27, 2016
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Viewpoints: More Reaction To Decision On The Aetna-Humana Merger; A Real War On Women
A selection of opinions on health care from around the country.
