Despite Recent $2.1B Boost, VA Choice Program May Need More Funding By December
September 28, 2017
Morning Briefing
But the House Veterans Affairs Committee was already anticipating that the emergency funding approved in August may not last the full six months.
HHS Watchdog Says Medicare Saved $1B Through Program That Coordinates Care
August 31, 2017
Morning Briefing
Accountable care organizations, created by the federal health law, are groups of doctors, hospitals and other health providers that coordinate care to reduce unnecessary federal spending and get to claim a portion of that savings. The report by the inspector general’s office also found that the majority of the 428 ACOs in the shared-savings program improved the quality of care they provided. In other Medicare news, an advisory panel says there is little evidence that weight-loss surgeries work.
Gilead Gambles On Kite’s Cancer Therapy, Scooping Up Drugmaker In $11B Deal
August 29, 2017
Morning Briefing
The move is a departure from the path currently being followed by the pharmaceutical industry where the pace of acquisitions had largely slowed this year.
Hospitals Worry Repeal Of Obamacare Would Jeopardize Innovations In Care
By Kristin Espeland Gourlay, RINPR
February 1, 2017
KFF Health News Original
One part of the federal health law gave hospitals financial incentives to improve patient care. Some invested big to make those changes and are worried about what losing that support would mean.
A Young Man With Parkinson’s Frets Over The Affordability Of GOP Health Plan
By Alex Smith, KCUR
March 22, 2017
KFF Health News Original
Ford Inbody has a degenerative disease and is carefully watching the GOP replacement health care bill. Though it covers preexisting conditions, it could still mean he’ll get less care for more money.
Travel Ban Adds Stress To ‘Match Week’ For Some Doctors
By Elana Gordon, WHYY
March 20, 2017
KFF Health News Original
Matching with a residency program had an added layer of stress this year for doctors-in-training from the countries affected by President Donald Trump’s travel ban.
Anti-Abortion Advocates Pleased By Modest, But Sustained, Gains From Trump Administration
September 18, 2017
Morning Briefing
“Even with what’s already been done—add that to what we think will be done—I would say this is the most pro-life presidency in the modern era,” says Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of the Susan B. Anthony List. “We’d be hard-pressed to say any other administration has made more gains.”
Insurers Were Reluctant To Criticize Previous GOP Efforts, But New Bill Prompts Them To Speak Out
September 21, 2017
Morning Briefing
Not only would the legislation further destabilize the marketplace and jeopardize patient care, but it could potentially allow “government-controlled single payer health care to grow,” said AHIP’s Marilyn B. Tavenner. Among the other groups opposed to the bill are the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, the American Heart Association, the American Medical Association and more.
To Bring Down Big Pharma, This BioHacker Wants To Teach Patients To Make Own Medications
October 12, 2017
Morning Briefing
Michael Laufer’s latest plan involves developing a desktop lab and a recipe book meant to equip patients to cook up a range of medicines, including a homemade version of the expensive hepatitis C drug Sovaldi, on their kitchen counters. In other news: an old FDA program is responsible for higher drug prices and lawmakers want more oversight over the 340B program, which allows hospitals to purchase drugs at a discounted rate.
Faring Better Than Many ACA Insurers, Molina Backs Health Law ‘Tuneup’
By April Dembosky, KQED
March 2, 2017
KFF Health News Original
The health insurance company, which operates in 12 states plus Puerto Rico, grew out of a network of Southern California clinics founded in 1980. Molina’s track record of working with low-income patients has served it well under Obamacare.
HHS Secretary: Give Medicare Authority To Negotiate Drug Prices
By Rachel Bluth
January 9, 2017
KFF Health News Original
More work is needed to improve health care in U.S., but there are no “silver bullets” to get the job done, Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia Burwell tells the National Press Club in a farewell speech defending Obamacare.
Officials Warn Some Older Marketplace Customers To Switch To Medicare
By Susan Jaffe
October 14, 2016
KFF Health News Original
The government is sending emails and letters to some seniors to warn them that if they are eligible for Medicare and stay on the health law’s exchange, they will have to repay any subsidies they receive and if they miss their Medicare enrollment opportunity, they will face a life-long penalty.
California’s RN Wages Now Highest In The Nation, Federal Data Show
By Ana B. Ibarra
October 24, 2016
KFF Health News Original
Registered nurses in the state earn an average annual salary of $100,000, compared to a national average of $71,000.
En un estado diverso, médicos latinos de California impulsan por más de ellos mismos
By Ana B. Ibarra
October 21, 2016
KFF Health News Original
Los latinos representan el 40 por ciento de la población de California, pero hay pocos doctores hispanos. Un grupo de profesionales busca cambiar esta realidad.
California’s Latino Doctors Push For More Of Their Own
By Ana B. Ibarra
October 21, 2016
KFF Health News Original
More than one-third of the state’s Latino physicians plan to retire within the next 10 years, according to a new survey.
Lawmakers Meet To Discuss $4B Extension Of VA Choice Program
July 19, 2017
Morning Briefing
Funding for the program is set to run out in mid-August.
Elections 2016
November 8, 2016
Page
Latest Stories Repealing The Affordable Care Act Could Be More Complicated Than It Looks By Julie Rovner | November 9 Republicans will likely chip away at the ACA piecemeal and say they will try to provide a soft exit. Concerned About Losing Your Marketplace Plan? ACA Repeal May Take Awhile By Michelle Andrews | November […]
Aging And Addicted: The Opioid Epidemic Affects Older Adults, Too
By Jenny Gold
Photos by Heidi de Marco
December 21, 2016
KFF Health News Original
Using opioids to treat pain in seniors has been common, and that has led some to dependence disorders in later life.
Signed Out Of Prison But Not Signed Up For Insurance, Inmates Fall Prey To Ills
By Jay Hancock and Beth Schwartzapfel, The Marshall Project
December 6, 2016
KFF Health News Original
States that expanded eligibility for Medicaid have failed to enroll large numbers of a significant group that stood to benefit: ex-inmates.
How To Enroll In Medicare And Avoid Costly Mistakes
By Judith Graham
October 27, 2016
KFF Health News Original
Enrolling in Medicare is confusing and mind-boggling if you don’t act at the right time and avoid costly mistakes.