Latest KFF Health News Stories
McConnell: Efforts To Defund Planned Parenthood Will Fall Short
The Senate majority leader noted that critics of the organization don’t have the votes for defunding and that the effort may have to wait for a supportive president. Meanwhile, a Congressional Research Service report concludes that a government shutdown would not impact federal support for Planned Parenthood, and advocates of a ban on abortion after 20 weeks of pregnancy focus on the votes of four senators.
As Enrollment Begins Slowly For Alaska Medicaid Expansion, White House Praises Governor’s Move
After some legal skirmishes with legislative critics, Alaska officials open up enrollment under Gov. Bill Walker’s plan to expand the program for low-income residents. At the same time, Michigan has submitted its proposal for a waiver to federal officials to continue its Medicaid expansion program.
Middle-Class Benefits Could Be At Risk As More Employers Hit ‘Cadillac Tax’ Thresholds
The tax on high-cost health insurance is set to begin in 2018 but is expected to hit more job-based plans over time. In other Obamacare news, the Connecticut Mirror evaluates the impact of the health law on state hospitals while Florida Healthy Kids warns of pending premium hikes for children.
First Edition: September 2, 2015
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Viewpoints: Medicare’s Plan For Prosthetics; GOP Stumbles On Health; Prisoners Paying For Care
A selection of opinions on health care from around the country.
Health care stories are reported from Florida, Connecticut, California, Ohio and Georgia.
Assisted Suicide Bill To Get New Hearings In California’s Special Legislative Session
In other state legislative news, Florida’s House forms a panel to advance health proposals. Meanwhile, medical marijuana proposals also are getting retooled and re-examined in these states.
Mass. General To Take On Children’s Hospital In Ad Campaign
News outlets from Florida, Pennsylvania and Kansas report on other hospital news.
17,000 Arkansans Lose Medicaid Despite Federal Change In Renewal Process
Meanwhile, allegations of Medicaid billing and bidding fraud are hot topics in Pennsylvania and Iowa. And news outlets in New Jersey and Florida offer additional coverage of Medicaid developments.
Legal Wrangling Heats Up Over Planned Parenthood Funding In Louisiana
Lawyers filed documents on behalf of the Louisiana health secretary in advance of a Wednesday court hearing in which Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast is seeking to keep the Jindal administration from removing its clinics as Medicaid providers.
Meanwhile, as the skyrocketing costs of prescription drugs grab attention from lawmakers and government officials, Politico reports that disease advocacy groups have been conspicuously quiet in the debate.
Alaska Supreme Court Greenlights Medicaid Expansion
The state’s high court did not grant a temporary restraining order to opponents of the expansion plan and allowed enrollment to begin today.
Public, Private Employers Develop Plans, Strategies For Looming Cadillac Tax
In other news, a government report finds that fewer Americans are going without health care because of cost concerns and the number of people in Colorado who have health insurance reaches a historic high.
Judge Allows Group To Claim Moral Objection To Health Law’s Mandate On Birth Control Coverage
A federal judge ruled that employers, such as the organization March for Life, can claim an exemption to this requirement based on moral or ethical grounds, as well as religious ones.
Dr. Lisa Tseng pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder charges in the deaths of three of her patients who overdosed on pain killers she prescribed. Prosecutors accuse her of recklessly doling out pills in three-minute appointments while the defense says the victims abused their prescriptions.
Investigations Of Medical Errors At VA Hospitals, Clinics Down 18 Percent, GAO Report Finds
Over the same four-year time period, errors rose 14 percent through the Department of Veterans Affairs system. Meanwhile, the ongoing troubles at the agency and attempts to reform its issues with providing health care to vets has stifled doctor recruitment.
First Edition: September 1, 2015
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Viewpoints: GOP’s ‘Retread’ Health Plans; Mich. Faces Medicaid Bill; Dying With Dignity
A selection of opinions on health care from around the country.
Health care stories are reported from Louisiana, Minnesota, Florida, Ohio, California, Washington and Illinois.
Expanding Access To Drug Treatment A Struggle In New Hampshire
Meanwhile, Maine ups its focus on drug enforcement as the heroin epidemic worsens.
