Latest KFF Health News Stories
In Industry Battle Over Hepatitis C Drugs, CVS Sticks With Sovaldi And Harvoni
CVS Health Corp., which is one of the primary drug benefit managers in the nation, says it will give preferred status to the two expensive drugs made by Gilead, rather than another new drug made by AbbVie.
Harvard Professors Protest Higher Deductibles
Harvard University professors are mad they’ll have to pay more for their health care in 2015 in part because of the health care law that some of them helped devise. The deductibles — $250 for an individual and $750 for a family — are still much lower than most Americans pay.
State Exchanges Report Enrollment Figures
Officials in Massachusetts, Maryland and Minnesota note ever-growing tallies of people signing up for health insurance via the online marketplaces. In Massachusetts, there have been some glitches. Meanwhile, in California, the Covered California Board of Directors is about to get some new members.
Republicans’ Challenge Is To Satisfy Party’s Right Wing While Showing They Can Govern
Among the flashpoints for the GOP will be how to deal with the health law, including expected action on the medical device tax and the law’s definition of a full-time worker.
First Edition: January 6, 2015
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Viewpoints: Debate On Medical Device Tax; GOP’s Turn On Health Law; Surgeon General’s Role
A selection of opinions on health care from around the country.
State Highlights: Fla. In Trouble Over Kids’ Medicaid; No Calif. Plans To Continue Medicaid Pay Bump
A selection of health policy stories from Florida, California, Georgia, Texas, New York, Virginia, the District of Columbia, Kansas and Missouri.
For-Profit Hospices Draw Scrutiny
The Washington Post compares for-profit and nonprofit hospices on several measures, including the amount of money spent per patient. Other stories look at a rural doctor who makes house calls to dying patients, and at the lack of training for most caregivers who tend to frail elderly people in their homes.
Obama Plans Vigorous Response To GOP Congress, Efforts To Roll Back Health Law
In a change from tradition, the president will take a three-day tour to highlight his initiatives before his State of the Union address.
Trickier Tax Season Ahead Due To ACA
The law’s requirements that most Americans carry health insurance means that all filers must indicate whether they had coverage last year and got tax credits to help pay for it. Other media outlets look at how low-wage industries are hiring more part-timers to minimize the law’s impact on their bottom lines and how big deductibles are leading some Americans to put off getting care.
Republican Advances At State Level Could Stymie Efforts To Expand Medicaid
Some GOP governors have shown a willingness to negotiate with the federal government on the issue, but legislators are less interested. News outlets also look at specific efforts in Texas and Arizona.
Federal Exchange Is Beating States In Enrolling New Customers
Officials say more than 7 million Americans have signed up for coverage so far using the health law’s marketplaces — more than 6.5 million of them through the federal exchange. But the health law brings new challenges in some places like Kentucky and Idaho.
GOP Majority’s Agenda Includes Fast Action On Health Law Issues
News outlets report that Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., the Senate’s new majority leader, plans to take action to undo some parts of the health law, but he acknowledges that a full repeal is unlikely. Also, some reports examine goals of other Republican congressional leaders
First Edition: January 5, 2015
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Viewpoints: ‘Rip Off’ For Red States; Doctors And Abortion; Anti-Vaccine Movement Waning
A selection of opinions on health care from around the country.
State Highlights: Health Costs And State Budgets; Medicaid Pay Cuts Could Hurt Patients
A selection of stories that affect states and local communities around the country, with reports from Massachusetts, Arizona, Texas, Iowa, Minnesota, South Carolina and Kansas.
Research Roundup: Reenrollment; Patients’ Understanding Of Risk; Coverage For HIV
Each week, KHN compiles a selection of recently released health policy studies and briefs.
Longer Looks: Cold Medicine; Next Year’s Health Challenges; Prenatal Testing
Each week, KHN’s Shefali Luthra finds interesting reads from around the Web.
Judge Upholds Firing Of VA Health Care Chief In Phoenix
The federal administrative judge says former director Sharon Helman received more than $13,000 in trips and gifts from a health industry lobbyist.
