Legislation Archives - Page 24 of 39

KHN’s ‘What the Health?’: The ACA Turns 12

Although its fate was in doubt more than a few times, the Affordable Care Act turned 12 this week. Year 13 could be pivotal in determining how many Americans receive ACA health insurance, and at what price. Meanwhile, three leading credit bureaus agreed to stop using most medical debt to measure U.S. consumers’ creditworthiness. Anna Edney of Bloomberg News, Rachel Cohrs of Stat, and KHN’s Mary Agnes Carey join KHN’s Julie Rovner to discuss these issues and more.

March 24, 2022

On the left side of the image, a Black woman with short, white dreadlocks leans over a senior man, her father, to help button his shirt. The woman wears a turquoise shirt, while the man sits in a red recliner. They are in their home living room.

Navigating Aging

To Families’ Dismay, Biden Nursing Home Reform Doesn’t View Them as Essential Caregivers

Relatives who often provide vital caregiving for nursing home residents say the lockdowns during the covid pandemic showed the need for family members to visit in person with their loved ones. About a dozen states have passed laws guaranteeing that right, and California is considering one.

By Judith Graham

March 22, 2022

Missouri Reps. Lynn Morris and Tricia Derges stand together in a room inside the Missouri Capitol building. Both are looking at the camera and smiling.

Missouri Tried to Fix Its Doctor Shortage. Now the Fix May Need Fixing.

Five states have created “assistant physician” licenses that allow medical school graduates to practice without completing residency training. But a federal indictment in Missouri of one assistant physician has some original supporters trying to rein in the medical specialty.

By Bram Sable-Smith

March 17, 2022

A woman is seen holding a bill in her hands while talking on the phone with a distraught expression. The camera shows her from a birds-eye view with a notebook and pen on the table beside her.

How to Avoid Surprise Bills — And the Pitfalls in the New Law

The No Surprises Act offers protection from many surprise medical bills — but that protection may be only as good as a patient’s knowledge of the law and ability to make sure it’s enforced. Here’s what you need to know.

By Dan Weissmann

March 16, 2022

Podcast

‘American Diagnosis’ Episode 5: A Fuller Moon Rising — Revised ‘Violence Against Women Act’ Offers Hope

The Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) was reauthorized on March 10, 2022, reaffirming tribes’ authority to prosecute non-Native perpetrators of sexual violence and certain other crimes. This episode looks at the history of VAWA, and how protections for Native women have been tangled in the fine print of the law.

March 16, 2022

13-year-old Joshua Davis stands up as people around him applaud and smile during the State of the Union address.

$35 Insulin Cap Is Welcome, Popular, and Bipartisan. But Congress May Not Pass It Anyway.

Spun off from the ailing but not-quite-dead Build Back Better legislation, a popular proposal to cap out-of-pocket insulin costs at $35 a month faces tough political realities that could kill it.

By Michael McAuliff

March 4, 2022

Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks from behind a podium, gesturing with his arms outside of a restaurant. A blue sign sits in front of the microphone at the podium that says, "The California Blueprint."

California Governor’s Big Promises on Drug Prices Are Slow to Materialize

Gov. Gavin Newsom has launched several initiatives to cut rising drug prices, but the savings haven’t been as monumental as he promised. And his plan to have California make its own generic drugs hasn’t gotten off the ground.

By Angela Hart, Rachel Bluth, and Samantha Young

March 4, 2022

Podcast

KHN’s ‘What the Health?’: A Health-Heavy State of the Union

President Joe Biden spent a large portion of his first State of the Union address talking about foreign affairs, but he also spent time on an array of health topics, including mental health, nursing home regulation, and toxic burn pits. Also this week, the administration unveiled a strategy to address the covid pandemic going forward. Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico, Amy Goldstein of The Washington Post, and Sarah Karlin-Smith of the Pink Sheet join KHN’s Julie Rovner to discuss these issues and more. Plus, for extra credit, the panelists recommend their favorite health policy stories of the week they think you should read, too.

March 3, 2022

President Joe Biden speaks from a podium with Vice President Kamala Harris and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi standing behind him.

Fact Check: Biden Sets High Bar in 1st State of the Union Speech

What a difference a year makes. The speech was delivered to a largely unmasked crowd of lawmakers, justices, and Cabinet members in the House chamber.

By Victoria Knight and Colleen DeGuzman

March 2, 2022

Levi McAllister lies in a dental chair with a dog sitting on his lap.

A Dog Day at the Dentist’s: North Carolina Regulates Pups in Dentistry

Snuggle-ready dogs comfort anxious patients at dental offices, but some patients worry about the risks, from slobber to nips. North Carolina is thought to be the first state with regulations to ensure the dogs are appropriately trained.

By Michelle Crouch

March 1, 2022

KHN & PolitiFact HealthCheck

Biden’s Blanket Statement — ‘No More Surprise Billing’ — Doesn’t Quite Cover It

The president used broad language to say that Americans no longer needed to worry about surprise bills, but there are exceptions to the new law that could cost unsuspecting consumers.

By Victoria Knight

March 1, 2022

Charlie Apple sits on a bench outside his home.

Targeted by Politicians, Trans Youth Struggle With Growing Fear and Mental Health Concerns

Transgender young people and their parents have stepped up to testify against legislation targeting them. But as rhetoric escalates in the political fray, what does the anti-trans legislative push mean for their mental health?

By Sandy West

Feb. 23, 2022

Other States Keep Watchful Eye on Snags in Washington’s Pioneering Public-Option Plan

Washington was the first state in the U.S. to introduce a public option for health insurance, but the rollout hasn’t been smooth. Other states with public options in the works are taking notice.

By Markian Hawryluk

Feb. 23, 2022

COVID-19

As Politics Infects Public Health, Private Companies Profit

Localities in California and Colorado are contracting with private companies to create their own health departments, spurred by a disregard for regional covid safety mandates.

By Vignesh Ramachandran

Feb. 17, 2022

Two metal fences separate two sides of protesters standing in front of the U.S. Supreme Court. Anti-abortion protesters on the right hold signs and wave banners with sayings like "DE for life." Pro-abortion advocates stand on the left. One holds a sign that reads, "Liberate abortion." A police officer stands between the two fences.

State Constitutions Vex Conservatives’ Strategies for a Post-Roe World

Conservative lawmakers may find their anti-abortion agendas complicated by state constitutions that explicitly grant citizens the right to privacy, regardless of what the U.S. Supreme Court does.

By Nick Ehli

Feb. 17, 2022

A stethoscope rests on top of a sheet of health insurance paperwork.

Why Millions on Medicaid Are at Risk of Losing Coverage in the Months Ahead

State Medicaid agencies for months have been preparing for the end of a federal mandate that has prevented states from removing people from the safety-net program during the pandemic.

By Rachana Pradhan

Feb. 14, 2022

Podcast

KHN’s ‘What the Health?’: FDA Takes Center Stage

Congress is set to start its once-every-five-years review of the law that authorizes user fees to finance the hiring of personnel to speed the FDA review of drugs. The periodic renewals of “PDUFA” also give lawmakers a chance to make other changes to the agency at the hub of the pandemic. Meanwhile, the FDA could also find itself at the center of the abortion debate and a controversial new medication to treat Alzheimer’s disease. Anna Edney of Bloomberg News, Joanne Kenen of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and Politico, and Sarah Karlin-Smith of the Pink Sheet join KHN’s Julie Rovner to discuss these issues and more.

Feb. 10, 2022

The reflection of the U.S. Capitol on the side of an ambulance is seen.

Skirmish Between Biden and Red States Over Medicaid Leaves Enrollees in the Balance

The Biden administration is getting rid of several policies implemented by Trump-era appointees that restricted enrollment. Federal officials now say states can no longer charge premiums to low-income residents enrolled in Medicaid and have ruled out work requirements.

By Phil Galewitz and Andy Miller

Feb. 10, 2022

Missouri state Sen. Mike Moon speaks in his office.

COVID-19

Missouri’s War on Public Health Shows Extent of National Rift

A public health official who said he was anti-abortion and anti-mandate for masks and covid vaccines did not pass the purity test of a Missouri senator who opposes covid public health restrictions. The senator killed the official’s nomination to be state health director, highlighting how hands may be tied in the nationwide fight against infectious diseases.

By Lauren Weber

Feb. 8, 2022

Mental Health Therapists Seek Exemption From Part of Law to Ban Surprise Billing

Some practitioners object to the way upfront cost estimates are designed, saying they could affect access to care and are burdensome. Other experts disagree.

By Julie Appleby

Feb. 3, 2022

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