Latest KFF Health News Stories
Alaska Gov. To Announce Medicaid Expansion Plans Thursday
A spokesman for Gov. Bill Walker said the announcement won’t mark the beginning of the program but will explain how the governor will roll it out. News outlets also report on some Medicaid developments in Arkansas and Indiana.
Drug Makers, Insurers Could Feel Added Marketplace Merger Pressures
The Wall Street Journal notes that changes in the insurance market could lead to new pressures as doctors likely face stingier reimbursements, with cancer treatments a possible target. Meanwhile, Bloomberg reports that insurers, which have been hesitant to cover costly hepatitis C drugs, will also feel a push from a report that finds these therapies cost effective.
President Barack Obama made these comments during a speech at the sixth White House conference on aging, an event that takes place roughly once a decade.
New Ranking Tool Aids Consumers In Finding Top-Ranked Surgeons
The “surgeon scorecard,” which is Web-based, free and supported by a non-profit consumers group, ranks surgeons in 14 types of major surgery including bypass, and total knee and hip replacement.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Views On Medicare And End-Of-Life Counseling: It’s Time To Put ‘Death Panel’ Lie To Rest
Several news outlets offered opinions on Medicare’s proposed rule to pay doctors to counsel patients about end-of-life treatment options.
Viewpoints: Rise In Premium Costs; Medicare Flexes Its Power; Going Without Care In Va.
A selection of opinions on health care from around the country.
Health care stories are reported from New Hampshire, Wisconsin, California, Michigan, Nebraska, Texas, New York, Tennessee and Virginia.
‘Aid-In-Dying’ Movement Gains Traction Around U.S.
Advocates are pushing to change laws around the nation to allow doctors to help terminally ill patients end their lives, and D.C. could be the next place to legalize it. Elsewhere, older Americans struggle to gain control of their own health information, even from their families.
Prescription Drug Abusers Increasingly Turn To Heroin, Adding To Epidemic’s Toll
News outlets examine how the impact of the heroin epidemic is being felt across the country.
Medicare Seeks To End Payment Disparities With New Plan For Hip, Knee Replacements
In an effort to improve quality and lower cost, the program for older and disabled Americans will give a fixed amount of money to hospitals to care for patients that need these procedures from start to finish. Also, Medicare proposes easing rules on how doctors can self-refer.
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.
