Latest KFF Health News Stories
Pricey Hep C Wonder Drug Sovaldi Surpassed By Even-More-Expensive Successor Harvoni
Such developments are being watched closely amid concerns that such costly breakthrough drugs could boost U.S. health care costs.
Aetna’s Bid For Humana Draws State Scrutiny
The deal, which would create the nation’s second-largest insurer, is getting a tough look from insurance commissioners in 18 states over antitrust concerns.
Obama Nominates Former UnitedHealth Executive To Run CMS
Andy Slavitt was formally nominated for the post, which he has been working at as acting administrator since February. The Obama administration is also nominating Mary Wakefield as deputy secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services.
Push For Single-Payer Health Care System Is Likely Difference Between Sanders And Clinton
In the race for the Republican nomination, Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida called for changes to Medicare and Social Security during a recent stump speech. And Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker jumped into the crowded GOP field, tweeting “I’m in” Monday morning.
Bill To Speed Drug Approvals Process Passes House With Strong Bipartisan Vote
The legislation, known as “21st Century Cures,” cleared the House by a 344-77 vote Friday. It would also increase research funding for the National Institutes of Health by $8.75 billion over five years. The pharmaceutical industry, patient advocacy groups, and medical organizations support the bill.
Republicans Divided On Using Reconciliation To Target Health Law, With Ryan Supporting Tactic
Meanwhile, conservative opponents of the Affordable Care Act continue consideration of alternate proposals to replace or reform the law that could become themes of the 2016 campaign.
Cost Of Care For New Medicaid Enrollees Higher Than Expected, Federal Actuaries Report
The cost of covering people who qualified for Medicaid as it expanded under the federal health law is about $1,000 more than was anticipated, the office of the actuary for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services says. In other state Medicaid news, The Arizona Republic reports on the number of state legislators who fought Medicaid expansion while they opted to take state health benefits, and Montana officials say Xerox is far behind on setting up a new computer system to handle the state’s Medicaid program.
Health Law Politics Case Study: Kentucky
The state expanded Medicaid and created its own health insurance exchange, which will both likely play into a governor election there this year. Elsewhere, D.C. residents will have fewer options in the health exchange there next year, an emboldened Obama administration looks ahead on the law and Motley Fool looks at the health law “subsidy cliff.”
Nation’s Uninsured Rate Hits Its Lowest Level Since 2008
According to a Gallup poll released Friday, the uninsured rate is at its lowest point since the organization began tracking the statistic in 2008.
New Rule Eases Contraceptive Requirement For Businesses With Religious Objections
The Obama administration announced the final rule on Friday, which provides a framework for religious private companies or nonprofits to opt out of the Affordable Care Act’s mandate that employers provide free birth control to women. However, female employees could still go through the company’s insurance to receive the benefit.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Viewpoints: Boehner Applauds ‘Cures’ Bill; Insurance Mergers And Reform; The Cost Of Giving Birth
A selection of opinions on health care from around the country.
Combating The ‘Tide Of Cheaper, More Accessible Heroin’
Tom Frieden, director of the Centers For Disease Control And Prevention, talks to US News about what can be done to stop the epidemic of opioid addiction.
‘Sandwich Generation’ Worries About Its Own Long-Term Care, Poll Finds
Nearly 1 in 10 people over the age of 40 is taking care of both elderly parents and children, and many of them are concerned about how they will afford care when they get older.
How Did A Cable TV Reporter Get NFL Player’s Medical Records?
Federal and state regulators, along with officials at Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami, are investigating how an ESPN reporter got a copy of football player Jason Pierre-Paul’s medical chart showing he had had a finger amputated after a July 4th fireworks accident.
Health care stories are reported from Wisconsin, Illinois, Colorado, New York, Maryland, Nevada, Michigan, Minnesota and Kansas.
Research Roundup: Medicaid Churning; Addiction Coverage; Medicare Advantage Enrollment
Each week, KHN compiles a selection of recently released health policy studies and briefs.
Few Takers For Obamacare’s Small Business Exchanges
Fewer than 11,000 employers nationwide have enrolled their workers in coverage through the small business exchanges set up under the federal health law. Other stories look at the law’s coverage of nutrition and obesity counseling and how Novartis might bundle health-care services, along with its new heart-failure drug, to win over increasingly cost-conscious insurers.
Delayed Dental Care Leading To More ER Visits
The number of emergency room visits related to dental problems doubled from 1.1 million in 2000 to 2.2 million in 2012, according to an analysis from the American Dental Association. A different study suggests patients may be able to avoid complications from dental implants by speaking up about problems such as bleeding, pus and loose replacement ‘roots.’
Hillary Clinton Readies New Spending Proposals — Including For Alzheimer’s Research
Also, Ohio’s Republican Gov. John Kasich passes on some Medicaid expansion advice to other GOP leaders.
