To Resolve Veteran Hearing Loss Lawsuit, 3M Sets Aside $1B
July 27, 2022
Morning Briefing
NBC News reports on how a lawsuit centering on earplug protection for U.S. service makers has impacted maker 3M. The high income of health care CEOs, sales of new heart drugs, GSK’s profits, Biogen’s ALS therapy, health insurance pricing data, and more are also in industry news.
Medicare Rule Change Could Lift Outpatient Provider Payments By $6.2B
July 18, 2022
Morning Briefing
Modern Healthcare reports on the complexities of a proposed Medicare reimbursements rule change that could take effect next year, increasing payments to outpatient providers. Meanwhile, UnitedHealthcare is set to offer $0 insulin and epipens under certain limited conditions.
KFF Health News' 'What the Health?': Nursing Home Staffing Rules Prompt Pushback
June 6, 2024
Podcast
The nursing home industry — as well as a healthy number of Congress members — are all pushing back on the Biden administration’s new rules on nursing home staffing. Industry officials say that there are not enough workers to meet the requirements and that the costs would be prohibitive. Meanwhile, Democrats on Capitol Hill are trying to force Republicans to explain their exact positions on assuring access to contraceptives and in vitro fertilization. Rachel Cohrs Zhang of Stat, Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico, and Sandhya Raman of CQ Roll Call join KFF Health News’ Julie Rovner to discuss these stories and more. Also this week, Rovner interviews KFF Health News’ Bram Sable-Smith, who reported and wrote the latest KFF Health News-NPR “Bill of the Month” feature about a free cruise that turned out to be anything but.
Biden Moves to Overturn Trump Birth Control Rules
By Julie Rovner
April 14, 2021
KFF Health News Original
Return to pre-Trump policy is second win of the week for abortion-rights backers.
US, World Bank Give Ukraine $1.7B To Pay Health Workers
July 13, 2022
Morning Briefing
Funds come from the U.S. Agency for International Development, the Treasury Department, and the World Bank and are to support the complex and stressed health system in the country during the invasion. USA Today reports that telehealth assistance is also coming from U.S. doctors.
Gun Manufacturers Defend Industry At Hearing; AR-15s Made Makers $1B
July 28, 2022
Morning Briefing
News outlets report on how gun manufacturers faced questions, including from Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, on gun violence and white supremacy. AP notes the AR-15 weapons used in recent mass shootings were big earners for a decade. HIV/AIDS cures, vitamin D and more are also reported.
Amazon Wants You To Be Its Patient, Buying One Medical In $3.9B Deal
July 22, 2022
Morning Briefing
Media outlets explain why the move is significant for Amazon and the future of the health care industry, and also highlight early concerns about the deal’s impact on medical data privacy.
Lady Gaga and J.Lo Sell ‘Well’ Building Seal, But It’s a Payday, Not a PSA
By Michael McAuliff
May 26, 2021
KFF Health News Original
A company sees the pandemic as an opportunity to push its ‘Well’ seal. It would like the indoor wellness logo to become as ubiquitous as the LEED green building halo — and make a profit, too.
KFF Health News' 'What the Health?': The ACA Turns 14
March 21, 2024
Podcast
Saturday marks the 14th anniversary of the still somewhat embattled Affordable Care Act. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra joins host Julie Rovner to discuss the accomplishments of the health law — and the challenges it still faces. Also this week, Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico, Tami Luhby of CNN, and Mary Agnes Carey of KFF Health News join Rovner to discuss what should be the final funding bill for HHS for fiscal 2024, next week’s Supreme Court oral arguments in a case challenging abortion medication, and more. Plus, for “extra credit,” the panelists suggest health policy stories they read this week they think you should read, too.
KFF Health News' 'What the Health?': A Colorful Cast Could Lead Key Health Agencies
December 5, 2024
Podcast
President-elect Donald Trump has made his choices to fill some top jobs at the Department of Health and Human Services. They include controversial figures who were vocal critics of the Biden administration’s handling of the covid pandemic and have proposed sweeping changes to the agencies they would lead. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court heard its first two health-related cases of the term, challenging a Tennessee law barring transgender medical care for minors and, separately, challenging the FDA’s handling of e-cigarettes. Joanne Kenen of the Johns Hopkins University and Politico, Shefali Luthra of The 19th, and Sarah Karlin-Smith of the Pink Sheet join KFF Health News’ Julie Rovner to discuss these stories and more. Also this week, Rovner interviews KFF Health News’ Bram Sable-Smith, who reported and wrote the latest KFF Health News-Washington Post Well+Being “Bill of the Month” feature, about an emergency room bill for a visit that didn’t get past the waiting room.
Medicare Open Enrollment Is Complicated. Here’s How to Get Good Advice.
By Bernard J. Wolfson
November 24, 2020
KFF Health News Original
It’s a complex program with many options — as well as confusing rules and nuances. Here’s how to get reliable guidance.
Paying Billions for Controversial Alzheimer’s Drug? How About Funding This Instead?
By Judith Graham
July 6, 2021
KFF Health News Original
Aduhelm, approved by the Food and Drug Administration last month despite questions about its efficacy, could be prescribed to at least 1 million patients a year, for a price tag of about $56 billion. Experts suggest there might be better ways to spend that money.
Covid Summit Leaders Pledge $3B, Urge World Not To Get Distracted
May 13, 2022
Morning Briefing
Also Thursday, President Joe Biden ordered flags to fly at half-staff to honor the 1 million Americans who have died from covid. While NPR reports on a new analysis that looks into how many of those might have lived if vaccine uptake in the U.S. was greater.
KFF Health News' 'What the Health?': At GOP Convention, Health Policy Is Mostly MIA
July 18, 2024
Podcast
After an assassination attempt last weekend sent former President Donald Trump to the hospital with minor injuries, the Republican National Convention went off with little mention of health care issues. And Trump’s newly nominated vice presidential pick, Sen. J.D. Vance of Ohio, has barely staked out a record on health during his 18 months in office — aside from being strongly opposed to abortion. Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico, Sarah Karlin-Smith of the Pink Sheet, and Joanne Kenen of Johns Hopkins University and Politico Magazine join KFF Health News’ Julie Rovner to discuss these stories and more. Also this week, Rovner interviews KFF Health News’ Renuka Rayasam, who wrote June’s installment of KFF Health News-NPR “Bill of the Month,” about a patient who walked into what he thought was an urgent care center and walked out with an emergency room bill.
Este dispositivo dental debía arreglar las mandíbulas de los pacientes. Las demandas afirman que les destrozó los dientes
By Brett Kelman Anna Werner, CBS News
March 9, 2023
KFF Health News Original
A los pocos meses de usar AGGA, una paciente dijo que sus dientes estaban tan flojos que podía sentir cómo se movían cuando se untaba crema hidratante en las mejillas. Besar a su novio le resultaba incómodo.
‘An Arm and a Leg’: She Tangled With Health Insurers for 25 Years — And Loved It
By Dan Weissmann
September 8, 2020
KFF Health News Original
When people had a health insurance headache, these two words were a relief: “Call Barbara.” No problem was too big, or too small, she’d fix it.
FDA OKs At-Home Combined Test For Covid, Flu, And RSV
May 17, 2022
Morning Briefing
The new tests, made by Labcorp, are the first non-prescription tests permitted to test for covid, influenza A and B, and respiratory syncytial virus. Meanwhile, in a somewhat surprising move, the White House again offered a round of free regular at-home tests for covid.
Montana Tribe Welcomes Back Tourists After Risky Shutdown Pays Off
By Aaron Bolton, MTPR
June 21, 2021
KFF Health News Original
When the Blackfeet tribe shut down the roads leading to the eastern side of Glacier National Park, businesses worried for their future. But it worked, and with one of the nation’s highest covid vaccination rates, the reservation has reopened to visitors.
Centros de órganos a pacientes de trasplantes: vacúnense contra covid o bajarán en la lista de espera
By JoNel Aleccia
October 11, 2021
KFF Health News Original
En todo el país, un número creciente de programas de trasplantes ha optado por excluir a los pacientes que se niegan a recibir las ampliamente disponibles vacunas contra covid, o darles una prioridad menor en las abarrotadas listas de espera de órganos.
Many Health Plans Now Must Cover Full Cost of Expensive HIV Prevention Drugs
By Michelle Andrews
January 5, 2021
KFF Health News Original
Most private insurance will be required to cover drugs, like Truvada, that offer protection against HIV infection, without making plan members share the cost.
