Reverberations From War Complicate Vietnam Veterans’ End-Of-Life Care
By April Dembosky, KQED
January 4, 2018
KFF Health News Original
Vietnam veterans’ wartime experiences — and their lasting psychological toll — can make it harder to treat their physical and emotional pain as they approach death.
Amazon’s $1B Purchase Of PillPack Offers Another Hint At Company’s Ambitious Health Care Plans
June 29, 2018
Morning Briefing
Amazon announced that it is buying PillPack, which sells pre-sorted packets of prescriptions drugs, delivering them to customers in their homes. The news seemed to be a confirmation of the worst fears of some in the industry — that Amazon is going to make an aggressive play for a chunk of the pharmacy business. But actually disrupting the health care industry will be a challenge.
Podcast: ‘What The Health?’ Health Plans Busting Out All Over
September 13, 2017
KFF Health News Original
In this episode of “What the Health?” Julie Rovner of Kaiser Health News, Joanne Kenen of Politico, Margot Sanger-Katz of The New York Times and Stephanie Armour of The Wall Street Journal discuss Democratic, Republican and bipartisan health proposals all being pursued in Congress, including the latest version of Sen. Bernie Sanders’ (I-Vt.) “Medicare-for-All” proposal. Plus, for “extra credit,” the panelists recommend their favorite health stories of the week.
McConnell Has About $200B In ‘Candy’ To Make Deals On Obamacare Repeal
By Michael McAuliff
June 30, 2017
KFF Health News Original
As many as a dozen GOP senators may oppose the Senate majority leader’s Obamacare repeal bill. But the dealmaking is just beginning.
Research Roundup: Medicaid Work Requirements; 340B Program; And Title X Funding
May 25, 2018
Morning Briefing
Each week, KHN compiles a selection of recently released health policy studies and briefs.
Facebook Live: The Prescription Drug Pricing Pipeline
August 29, 2017
KFF Health News Original
In this Facebook Live, KHN’s Julie Appleby talks with Stephanie Stapleton and answers readers’ questions about the prescription drug pricing pipeline and the industry stakeholders who have a role in what you pay.
Medicare Vs. Medicare Advantage: How To Choose
By Judith Graham
October 19, 2017
KFF Health News Original
Despite Medicare Advantage plans’ increasing popularity, several key features remain poorly understood. Here is what you need to know.
California Sued For Allegedly Substandard Medi-Cal Care
By Ana B. Ibarra
July 13, 2017
KFF Health News Original
The lawsuit is a civil rights case on behalf of Latinos, who comprise nearly half of the program’s enrollees. But the advocates who filed it also hope to get class action certification for all Medi-Cal enrollees.
Trump’s Proposed $15B In Spending Cuts Passes Through House On Closer-Than-Expected Vote
June 8, 2018
Morning Briefing
Some lawmakers have been reluctant to pass the legislation as it targets unused funds for the popular CHIP program. But the measure, which passed 210-206, would take a mostly symbolic whack at government spending because it would basically eliminate leftover funding that wouldn’t have been spent anyway.
House Republicans Signal Support For $1.1B Fix For Unexpected Shortfall With Veterans’ Health Care
June 6, 2018
Morning Briefing
The funding gap cropped up after Congress passed a major overhaul of the veterans’ health care system, which opened up more avenues for patients seeking private care. Meanwhile, a new review of the Veterans Affairs hospital in Arizona that was at the heart of the national crisis over veterans’ health finds further safety and care issues at the facility.
Liquid Gold: Pain Doctors Soak Up Profits By Screening Urine For Drugs
By Fred Schulte Elizabeth Lucas
Photos by Heidi de Marco
November 6, 2017
KFF Health News Original
With the nation’s opioid crisis, urine testing has become a booming business and is especially lucrative for doctors who operate their own labs, a Kaiser Health News investigation finds. And dozens of practitioners have earned “the lion’s share” of their Medicare income exclusively from urine drug screens.
Critical Of Athenahealth’s Performance, Hedge Fund Offers To Buy It For $6.5B
May 8, 2018
Morning Briefing
If successful, the campaign by Paul Singer and his Elliott Management Corp. would be a dramatic turn for a successful startup that had bridged two of Massachusetts’ core industries — software and health care.
In Midst Of Raucous Debate Over 340B Drug Discount Program, Lawmaker Introduces Bill To Address Concerns
June 14, 2018
Morning Briefing
The measure from Rep. Doris Matsui (D-Calif.) could clarify the intent of the program and define which patients are eligible — two bones of contention over the program, which requires pharmaceutical companies to give steep discounts to hospitals and clinics that serve high volumes of low-income patients. In other news from Capitol Hill: CHIP funding, an Indian Health Services bill, and gun control.
Private Equity Firm KKR Snaps Up Physician Provider Envision In Massive $5.57B Deal
June 12, 2018
Morning Briefing
Envision contracts with hospitals and health systems to provide doctors and clinicians for emergency medicine, anesthesiology and radiology, among other specialties. It also owns 261 surgery centers and a surgical hospital.
Feds To Waive Penalties For Some Who Signed Up Late For Medicare
By Susan Jaffe
June 6, 2017
KFF Health News Original
People who were using marketplace plans instead of Medicare may qualify for the reprieve. They have until Sept. 30 to apply.
KFF Health News Conversation On Advance Care Planning: What You Need To Know Now
November 8, 2017
Page
KFF Health News senior correspondent JoNel Aleccia moderates a discussion of the pressing issues surrounding end-of-life advance care planning.
Senate Approval Of VA Health Care Reform Expected With Extra $5.2B In Funding
May 23, 2018
Morning Briefing
Meanwhile, NPR looks at the challenges caregivers of disabled vets face while trying to appeal for stipends offered by Veteran Affairs.
WellCare Joins In Health Industry Merger Trend With $2.5B Deal To Acquire Meridian
May 30, 2018
Morning Briefing
The move is just the latest in an industry seeking to survive through consolidation and deals with other insurers, ambulatory care providers and pharmacy benefit managers.
Watch: 7 Moments That Battered The GOP Health Bills
July 19, 2017
KFF Health News Original
The debate over whether to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act has been heated — and many of those moments have captured a wide audience on YouTube and Twitter.
Sickle Cell Patients Suffer Discrimination, Poor Care — And Shorter Lives
By Jenny Gold
November 6, 2017
KFF Health News Original
People with the genetic blood disorder that mainly afflicts African-Americans can live into their 60s with competent care. So why is life expectancy slipping down to around age 40?
