Latest KFF Health News Stories
Panera Bread To Stop Using Ingredients On Its New ‘No-No List’
The food company joins a growing list of chains to announce moves to decrease or eliminate artificial sweeteners, preservatives and flavor enhancers from their menus. Yet, while eating salt has long been a dietary target, scientists are examining some of sodium’s benefits.
Virginia AG Says Abortion Clinics Aren’t Bound By Stricter Building Standards
Mark Herring’s opinion reverses that of the state’s previous Republican attorney general and will likely put the abortion debate back on the front burner in Virginia. Meanwhile, the case of an Indiana woman convicted of feticide after self-aborting is raising questions about women’s reproductive rights and abortion.
Marketing Wars Intensify Over Personalized Medicine
Hospitals seek to increase their visibility in this growing field. Meanwhile, an Ohio health system loses its final appeal in an antitrust case and several hospital and insurance companies report their latest earnings.
Worldwide Spending For Cancer Drugs Reaches $100 Billion: Study
IMS Health reports that U.S. patients accounted for more than 42 percent of that total. Also, the Connecticut Mirror examines efforts by the governor and other top elected officials to protect state pharmaceutical companies from competitors through a trade pact.
Paramedics Face Roadblocks In Efforts To Play Larger Health Care Role
In a small number of communities, paramedics are providing in-home care, coordinating patient services and saving millions. Despite these successes, Medicare, Medicaid and most private insurers won’t reimburse for such work and states must address the regulatory hurdles in place. Meanwhile, a new app applies the Uber-model to facilitate doctor housecalls.
MNsure Chief Leaving For Think Tank Job
The departure of Scott Leitz was described as a “normal, healthy transition” by the chairman of the state exchange board. Meanwhile, nearly 5,000 Maryland consumers signed up for Obamacare plans during the special enrollment period extended to those who discovered they owed tax penalties as a result of being uninsured.
GOP Senators Slam Oversight Of State Exchange Spending
Meanwhile, Politico reports that the health law’s SHOP exchanges for small businesses are struggling to attract participants despite offering lower premiums, while addiction treatment programs have not fulfilled the health law’s promise due to infrastructure problems.
Kansas To Join Fla. Governor’s Suit Over Hospital Financing And Medicaid Expansion
The governors of Florida, Kansas and Texas say the Obama administration is trying to coerce their states into expanding the health care program for low-income residents by threatening to cut other Medicaid funds that have helped hospitals treat many uninsured patients.
Health Law Pilot Program Saves Nearly $400M In Two Years
The Pioneer accountable care model rewards participating hospitals that deliver high-quality care at lower-than-expected costs — and punishes high spenders. Despite the program’s savings, 13 of the original 32 participating hospital systems dropped out or switched to other models after failing to meet performance targets.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Viewpoints: Medical Bills’ Gibberish; Meeting Patients’ Needs; Cutting Back On Antibiotics
A selection of opinions on health care from around the country.
News outlets cover health care issues in California, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Texas, South Dakota, Washington, Florida and Iowa.
Vets Waiting For Care In Ohio Can Be Treated At Air Force Medical Center Under VA Deal
The five-year deal between Wright-Patterson Air Force Medical Center and the Department of Veterans Affairs could be a model for other regions plagued by long wait times for patients. And a VA system in Maryland is pairing mental health treatment with job services to aid struggling veterans.
LifePoint Hospitals Profits Beat Expectations Due To Higher Admissions And Health Law
In other industry news, Myriad Genetics is fighting to sustain its business model nearly two years after the Supreme Court struck down gene patents. And Modern Healthcare’s first quarterly poll of top health care leaders shows most support the trend toward value-based reimbursements.
Volume Of Narcotics, Generics Prescribed To Seniors Detailed In Massive Data Release
News outlets mine the most specific breakdown of Medicare prescription drug claims ever to be made public by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
Bipartisan Coalition Pushes For Increased NIH Funding
The effort to boost funds for the National Institutes of Health is part of the 21st Century Cures bill, introduced last week. Also included in that measure is a provision designed to undo a federal law that requires drug and device manufacturers to disclose payments to doctors. Meanwhile, a separate measure sought by hospital advocates that was introduced in the House would end the system in which some Medicare auditors keep a share of disputed payments.
GOP Presidential Field Grows As Carson, Fiorina Launch Campaigns
Dr. Ben Carson, a retired neurosurgeon, has been a staunch critic of the health law, and Carly Fiorina is a former tech executive. News outlets also report on other potential candidates — N.J. Gov. Chris Christie, Ohio Gov. John Kasich and La. Gov. Bobby Jindal.
Despite Health Law Goal, Emergency Room Visits Still On The Rise
News outlets report on the findings of a survey of E.R. doctors conducted in March in which about three-quarters said they had witnessed a continued increase in emergency visits — which is the opposite of what many expected would happen once Obamacare took effect.
King V. Burwell Challenge To Health Law’s Subsidies Viewed As Test For Chief Justice
Meanwhile, Modern Healthcare reports that CEOs overwhelmingly expect the high court to rule in favor of the government and uphold the health law when it announces it’s King V. Burwell decision this summer.
Obamacare Enrollment Deadline Passes For Most — But Exceptions Do Exist
The New York Times details who might qualify to enroll for health coverage before the next open season begins. Meanwhile, news outlets take a look at a range of other implementation issues, including funding for the health law’s risk corridor program and some marketplace reverberations.
