Morning Breakouts

Latest KFF Health News Stories

Study: Older Americans Less Able To Afford Health Care Than Seniors In Other Nations

Morning Briefing

The study, by the Commonwealth Fund, looked at the health of seniors in America compared to those in 10 other developed nations and also found older Americans were sicker than their counterparts elsewhere.

Employer Survey Shows Shifts In Cost To Employees With High Deductible Plans

Morning Briefing

The survey by Mercer explores the impact of high-deductible plans. Meanwhile, Health News Colorado reports on a survey in that state that found employer health insurance costs are going up 8 percent for 2015, but most continue to offer coverage.

Pricetags For New Therapies, Generics Push Up Drug Spending

Morning Briefing

Costly hepatitis and cancer treatments helped boost U.S. drug spending this year by almost 12 percent, according to a survey. Meanwhile, Gilead Sciences buys a shortcut for FDA drug review for $125 million, the Justice Department probes big price increases for generic drugs and some Medicare beneficiaries will pay a greater portion of their drug costs.

Rep. Ryan Lays Out GOP Obamacare Alternative

Morning Briefing

The incoming chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee also said the changes might have to wait until a new president is elected. Elsewhere, a former healthcare.gov technology chief says it wasn’t his job to know about specific technology problems with the site.

President’s Immigration Plan, To Be Detailed Tonight, Will Not Extend Health Law To Undocumented Immigrants

Morning Briefing

President Barack Obama is scheduled to announce his executive order on immigration in a speech tonight. Reports indicate it will shield about four million people from deportation, but they won’t be able to purchase subsidized health insurance via the health law’s online insurance marketplaces.

GOP Governors Eyeing 2016 Presidential Runs Wrestle With Medicaid Expansion

Morning Briefing

The health law’s expansion of the low-income health insurance program was a hot topic at this week’s Republican Governors Association meeting in Florida. Meanwhile, Montana Gov. Steve Bullock unveiled his Medicaid plan for the state.

Finding Entrepreneurial Opportunity In The Health Law

Morning Briefing

One entrepreneur has created software that helps people pick the best health plan based on personal factors that go well beyond premium costs, reports The New York Times. Others news outlets examine the challenges facing the SHOP program for small businesses, tax issues related to the health law and the lack of adult vision coverage in health law plans.

Gruber Faces Backlash As Remarks Ripple Through States

Morning Briefing

Vermont, for instance, has said it will not pay him for his work on the state’s health plan, and Michigan lawmakers plan to investigate his efforts there. Meanwhile, Rep. Andy Harris, R-Md., questioned a grant awarded to the MIT economist by the National Institutes of Health.

New Allegations Of VA Wrongdoing At Minn. Clinic

Morning Briefing

Elsewhere Veterans Affairs officials start the second phase of their attempt at reforming the system — including helping vets waiting for care know where they stand with “choice cards.”

Group Advising Congress Seeks End Of Medicare’s ‘Two-Midnight’ Rule

Morning Briefing

The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission, or MedPAC, is looking at ways to get rid of Medicare’s “two-midnight” rule by eliminating the category of observation status at hospitals. Meanwhile, patient groups join regulators in advocating for greater federal oversight of certain diagnostic tests.

Patient Group’s Success Developing Drugs Earns Kudos, Criticism

Morning Briefing

About 15 years ago, the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation began investing in a biotechnology firm to develop drugs to treat the lung disease. That funding has produced new drugs, but their price tags have spurred criticism of the group, reports The New York Times. Meanwhile, the FDA delays a rule for updating generic drug labeling.

Feds: Employers Cannot Give Workers Stipends To Shop On Government Exchanges

Morning Briefing

The Labor Department warns businesses against giving workers money to buy individual insurance policies in government-run exchanges. Other stories look at the cost of such policies and also advise workers with employer-sponsored coverage what issues to consider during their annual open enrollment.

White House Stresses That Gruber’s Role Was Limited

Morning Briefing

Meanwhile, as controversy continues about the former adviser’s remarks about the strategy for pushing through the law, several outlets examine his comments in relation to the tax on Cadillac plans.