Latest KFF Health News Stories
Government May Pay $50B For New Breakthrough Drugs, Study Estimates
According to a report by Avalere Health, a consulting firm, Medicare would bear the majority of the cost, spending $31.3 billion over the next 10 years on improved treatments for diseases like Hepatitis C and breast cancer. Medicaid is estimated to spend $15.8 billion on the drugs. Meanwhile, another report finds that health care costs may go up 6.5 percent next year.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Viewpoints: Fla.’s ‘Foolish’ Suit On Hospital Funding; Help Rural Hospitals; ‘Surprise’ Bills
A selection of opinions on health care from around the country.
News outlets report on health issues from California, New Hampshire, Missouri, American Samoa, Alabama, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Iowa and North Carolina.
Abortions Decline Nationwide As Multiple Factors Are Cited
An Associated Press survey says abortions nationwide are down about 12 percent since 2010. Some attribute the decline to greater access to effective contraception, while others point to shifting societal values.
N.Y. Hospitals Push To Provide Medical Marijuana To Patients
Applications for one of N.Y.’s five medical marijuana licenses were due last week, and hospitals are busy readying partnerships with growers to provide pot to patients.
State Budgets Struggle Even As Recovery Continues
Rising health care costs are one factor cited in the budget woes of some states — along with slow recoveries and growing pension obligations. The Washington Post parses some of the differences by looking at the budget fortunes — and Medicaid spending — of neighboring, GOP-led states, Arizona and Nevada. And Connecticut’s hospitals take a hit in that state’s budget.
Accountable Care Organizations Mull Walking Away From Medicare Shared Savings Program
Concerns for those coordinating patient care in the programs include whether or not to risk penalties when they offer services that could result in a financial loss — like homebound health care. Elsewhere, Medicare data reveals spending habits in Minnesota, and presidential-hopeful Sen. Bernie Sanders makes a “Medicare-for-all” proposal a part of his campaign.
Massive Breach Of Government System Linked To Health Data Thefts
Personal information on as many as 4 million current and former federal employees may have been compromised in the latest cyberattack, believed to have been carried out by hackers based in China. An earlier government computer break-in was linked to attacks on insurer Anthem Inc. and health care services provider Premera Blue Cross.
Health Care Accounts For 1 in 6 New Jobs Added In May
Meanwhile, an Accenture survey of patients reveals that health insurance customers are willing to accept narrower networks of providers for better control over their medical information.
$49B Federal Price Tag For 10 ‘Breakthrough’ Drugs
The drugs include several to treat hepatitis C and breast cancer. Elsewhere, the Food and Drug Administration is speeding new cholesterol drugs to trial, a closer look at kids drugs in the “Cures” bill and painkiller abuse still worries some officials, despite efforts to stem their abuse.
The High Stakes In Supreme Court’s King V. Burwell Decision
News outlets examine the central issues involved in the Supreme Court’s upcoming ruling in this health law challenge. The decision will determine whether millions of Americans who use the federal online insurance marketplace are eligible to use federal subsidies for their coverage.
Insurers Propose Double-Digit Obamacare Rate Increases In Pa. And Ariz.
Meanwhile, Hawaii announces it will shut down its state-based health insurance exchange and transition enrollees to healthcare.gov, the federal exchange.
Fla. House Rejects Bill To Expand Medicaid
The measure, which had passed the Republican Senate by a wide margin, was designed to help low-income residents without insurance and hospitals in the state, which face high costs from uninsured patients and an expected cut in federal funding.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Viewpoints: Doctors And Electronic Health Records; Consequences Of Refusing Medicaid
A selection of opinions on health care from around the country.
Research Roundup: Medicare Benefits And Glaucoma; Weekend Hospital Discharges; Insurers’ Health
Each week, KHN compiles a selection of recently released health policy studies and briefs.
News outlets report on health issues from California, Kansas, Missouri, Oregon, Arizona, Florida, Colorado, Illinois, Maryland and Massachusetts.
Planned Parenthood Sues Arizona Over Abortion Law
A provision of the law requires doctors to tell patients that drug-induced abortions are reversible, which the group says “writes junk science into law.” In Texas, state lawmakers adjourn after delivering mixed results for anti-abortion advocates. Elsewhere, GOP presidential-hopeful Scott Walker’s comments on abortion and ultrasounds are scrutinized, and Iowa lawmakers pass a bill that requires providers to offer women seeking abortions an ultrasound image of their fetus.
Mass. Hospital Cutting Jobs After $22M Budget Gap
In other hospital news: A N.C. hospital closes down. In Ohio, a children’s hospital gets $10 million to study genomics, which examines tailored genetic treatments for diseases. And protesters are arrested at a Chicago trauma center.
