Latest KFF Health News Stories
Employees’ Out-Of-Pocket Costs Rise 7 Percent For Work Coverage
Also, more people with coverage from their employers are choosing high-deductible plans. An analysis also finds that a lack of price transparency in health care costs leads consumers to miss savings.
Despite Huge Hep C Drug Sales, Gilead Stock Falls On Forecasted Discounts
Gilead Sciences sold $10.3 billion-worth of its new hepatitis C drug Sovaldi in 2014, a figure that brought it close to being the best-selling drug in the world in its first year. But the drug’s price has been controversial and the announcement on an investor call that it would be discounted this year by an average 46 percent lowered Gilead’s share price in after-market trading.
Multi-State Measles Outbreak Sparks Political Debate
Top GOP lawmakers went on record Tuesday with their support of routine vaccination, after two elected officials — Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie — made remarks that caused them to step back from earlier statements. Meanwhile, news outlets examine state vaccine requirements and opt-out clauses and how this issue is viewed by parents and local officials.
Anxiety For Republicans, Not Just Democrats, As Supreme Court Considers Health Law
The Supreme Court’s reading of four words in the health law — “established by the state” — will have huge ramifications regarding whether the Affordable Care Act stands or crumbles.
More GOP-Led States Are Considering Medicaid Expansion
In Tennessee, pressure from businesses to embrace the expansion of the health care program for poorer Americans forced lawmakers to reconsider their staunchly anti-expansion stance. In Kansas, some lawmakers are readying legislation to adopt the expansion.
In other Capitol Hill legislative news, legislation to allow severely ill Medicaid kids get out-of-state care has bipartisan support.
Republican Lawmakers Set To Unveil Health Law Replacement Plan
House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton declined to give details on the plan. Some Republicans are pushing tax credits and deductions for health care, and others are pushing the idea of “portable” health coverage — the ability to take your insurance from job to job.
House GOP Leads Charge (Again) To Repeal The Health Law
The House approved for the first time in the new GOP-controlled Congress a full repeal of the Affordable Care Act. Its outlook in the Senate, though, is unclear.
Obama Hosts Health Law Beneficiaries And Chides Republicans For Their Repeal Efforts
The White House event coincided with the House vote — the 56th so far — to repeal the president’s signature legislation.
First Edition: February 4, 2015
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Viewpoints: Obama’s Budget And Entitlements; A Guide To Health Law Case At The Supreme Court
A selection of opinions on health care from around the country.
Editorials And Columnists Decry Some Parents’ Decision To Forego Vaccinations
The measles outbreak brings some withering criticism of people who opt to let their kids go without immunizations–and some comment on N.J. Gov. Chris Christie’s response to the situation.
A selection of health policy stories from Ohio, California, New Jersey, Virginia, Mississippi, Maryland, Iowa, North Carolina and New Mexico.
Doctors Split On New Medicare Payment Reforms That Pay For Quality
Also, The Fiscal Times takes a deeper look at how the proposal to shift paying for quality in the big health care program could affect consumers. Elsewhere, some call for more robust side effects reporting for pharmaceuticals.
Insurers See Continued Membership Growth Under Obamacare
Aetna said its membership stood at 23.5 million at the end of 2014, a 6 percent increase. Meanwhile, Centene’s quarterly profit more than doubled as it added Medicaid members.
As Measles Count Grows, Mandatory Vaccinations Become Part Of Political Debate
N.J. Gov. Chris Christie and Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., both possible GOP candidates for president in 2016, jumped into the emotional discussion about whether vaccines should be mandatory.
GOP Lawmakers Ready Latest Obamacare Repeal Effort
Bills to repeal the Affordable Care Act have been introduced in both chambers of Congress, but the House version would delay a repeal for six months so lawmakers could come up with a replacement. President Barack Obama says he would veto such any such measure.
They Didn’t Want To … But Some GOP Governors Warm To Medicaid Expansion
Still, cost concerns and other political pressures continue to be in play. Here’s the latest on Medicaid expansion debates in Tennessee, Montana, Illinois, Ohio and Kansas.
With Enrollment Deadline Looming, Obama To Renew His Arguments For The Health Law
Elsewhere, Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Programs have added 10.1 million to their rolls since Obamacare enrollment began in 2013.
Obama Budget Gives Boost To Medical Innovation
The Obama administration budget blueprint included $215 million for a new Precision Medicine Initiative, as well as other investments to safeguard the nation’s food supply and to address prescription drug abuse.
