Latest KFF Health News Stories
Kentucky Republican Senators Don’t Plan To Block $250M Allocated For Medicaid Funding
Though Republican lawmakers fought expansion of the low-income health program, it now covers over 400,000 Kentucky residents. State Senate leaders say they will wait for the new Medicaid plan of incoming Republican governor, Matt Bevin, who has said he wants to roll it back. Elsewhere, Arkansas Republican Gov. Asa Hutchinson stops an unfinished Medicaid enrollment system. And the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services is allowing states asking for Medicaid waivers to use money to provide housing for some who are ill and homeless.
Super PACs Spend Campaign Cash — Even If Candidates Don’t Want It
Even for presidential candidates like Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders who have denounced the political groups, the super PACs are planning big spends on their behalf. In more campaign news, after questioning other candidates but not releasing his own medical records, Trump says he will do so.
High Court Hears Oral Arguments On Vermont Health Care Data Law
Some of the state insurers argued that federal law bars states from requiring insurers to supply data on the costs and outcomes of their services. But some policymakers counter that these databases are important in the effort to improve quality of care and control costs.
Insured By A PPO? Beware Of Costly Trap As Insurers Remove Out-Of-Network Limits
A trend among this year’s marketplace plans leaves some consumers responsible for potentially unlimited bills when they thought they had some financial protections. And in other Obamacare news, The Texas Tribune reports on a rise in health insurance scams.
Obamacare, Expensive New Drugs Drive Up 2014 U.S. Health Spending
Health spending last year grew by 5.3 percent to more than $3 trillion, which is the biggest jump since 2007.
Speaker Ryan To Push Work Requirements For Safety Net Programs
Elsewhere, Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid intends to force a vote on an amendment to keep guns away from people convicted of violating a law meant to ensure access to abortion clinics.
Negotiations On Spending Bill Threatened By Policy Riders, National Security Issues
Congressional leaders have only 10 days to reach an agreement to avert a government shutdown.
Senate Set To Vote On GOP Measure To Unravel Health Law
The measure, which is likely to land on President Barack Obama’s desk and be greeted by a veto, would eliminate the health law’s individual and employer mandates, medical device tax and so-called Cadillac tax. It also would cut off federal funding for Planned Parenthood.
Viewpoints: GOP Doesn’t Fear Political Backlash On Repeal Vote; Abortion Speech And Violence
A selection of opinions on health care from around the country.
News outlets report on health care developments in Florida, California, Texas, Ohio, New York and Utah.
Md. Task Force Unveils Recommendations To Address State’s Growing Opioid Addiction Rate
Also, in New Hampshire, during a special legislative session on heroin and opioid misuse, the manager of the state’s prescription drug monitoring program told lawmakers the system would do better with more funding.
WellStar To Buy Tenet Healthcare’s Five Atlanta-Area Hospitals
Also in the news, the 2015 Florida Health Market Review details the state’s most profitable hospital and examines how mergers, acquisitions and other dynamics are changing the market.
Health Law Penalties May Be Skewing Hospital Readmission Rates For Medicare Patients
The Wall Street Journal analyzes Medicare billing data for information on a drop in return visits. And The Washington Post reports on how the impact of rewards for hospitals are impacting patient safety.
Consumers’ Dread Of Shopping For Health Insurance Must Be Tackled, Experts Say
Improving “insurance literacy” will help shoppers make suitable choices and lead to overall improvement of health, experts said at a symposium. Meanwhile, The Wall Street Journal decodes the QUALY — Quality-Adjusted Life Year — metric.
UnitedHealth CEO Tells Investors That Insurer Should Have Stayed Out Of Exchanges Longer
It was a “bad decision” for the company to join two dozen state-based exchanges for 2015, UnitedHealth CEO Stephen Hemsley said at an investor meeting. The insurance giant only sold coverage on four exchanges in 2014.
Though a presidential veto is all but certain, getting the bill to Barack Obama’s desk would be a victory for a group of Republicans. Yet some Democrats see the legislation as an opportunity to attack Republicans in tight 2016 races for voting to drop insurance for thousands of people. Elsewhere, news outlets cover Medicaid and health exchange developments in Montana, Kentucky, Texas and Ohio.
Pelosi, Ryan Talk About The Budget — Is This A New Phase In Capitol Hill Budget Sagas?
In other congressional news, Senate Democrats say Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., is blocking progress on a bill to help 9/11 first responders with health care.
Senate Report Says Hep C Drug Maker Sought To Maximize Profits Despite Costs To Patients
Officials at Gilead Sciences, which makes the drugs Sovaldi and Harvoni that can cure hepatitis C infections, opted for a higher price tag even though they knew it would put the medications out of the reach of some patients and government programs, according to a Senate Finance Committee investigation.
After Colo. Shooting, GOP Eyes Action On Mental Health Overhaul
Comments by House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., appear to add momentum to ambitious mental health system reform legislation by Rep. Tim Murphy, R-Penn.
GOP Faces Constraints In Effort To Repeal Health Law, Defund Planned Parenthood
The Senate vote is scheduled for Thursday and, unlike the many earlier votes to undo the health law, this one is expected to send legislation to the president’s desk.
