Latest Morning Briefing Stories
With Drug Costs In Crosshairs, Health Firms Gave Generously To Trump’s Inauguration
Led by Pfizer and Amgen, about 10 health care firms contributed to President Donald Trump’s inauguration, which earned them entry into private events with the president and vice president.
Readers: Training Patients To Advocate For Their Illnesses Is ‘A Virtue Not A Sin’
Kaiser Health News gives readers a chance to respond, react and comment on our stories.
California Hospitals Lose Ground In Quality Of Care, Report Card Shows
The nonprofit Leapfrog Group shows nearly half of California hospitals got a grade of C, D or F in patient safety measures — an increase from two years ago.
Grasping For The Middle Ground On Obamacare
A University of Southern California professor says conservatives and liberals should split the difference: Scrap the exchanges and expand Medicaid.
In Remote Idaho, A Tiny Facility Lights The Way For Stressed Rural Hospitals
In a region where bears outnumber people, a small medical facility sets a modern example for rural hospitals on life support.
California Presses Forward In Fight To Regulate Pharma
Such efforts have previously failed in the face of opposition from the drug industry, which questions their effectiveness and contends prices reflect research and development costs.
Drugmakers Help Turn Patients With Rare Diseases Into D.C. Lobbyists
Amplifying the “patient voice,” those with the rarest afflictions are trained to become powerful advocates for new drugs and legislation that would help the industry.
¿Es posible lograr un seguro de salud universal para todos?
Mientras los líderes republicanos se vuelven a organizar para reconsiderar sus planes de “derogar y reemplazar” el Obamacare, los defensores de la cobertura de salud universal avanzan con nuevos proyectos.
While Washington Fiddles, Calif. Leaders Forge Ideas For Universal Health Care
But it could take years to achieve coverage for everyone — if it happens at all.
‘It’s Not Like Other States’: High-Cost Alaska Sits In The Eye Of Health Reform Storm
With the most expensive medical care and health insurance premiums in the nation, Alaska seeks a novel way to bail out Obamacare.
Trump’s Effort To Lure Consumers To Exchanges Could Bring Skimpier Plans
The changes proposed by the administration for the health law marketplaces in 2018 could increase customers’ out-of-pocket costs and reduce the amount they receive in premium tax credits.
Missouri Rejects Federal Money In Order To Set Up Its Own Abortion Restrictions
Abortion is already heavily restricted in Missouri, but now the state is cutting more funding to organizations that provide abortions, even though it means rejecting millions of dollars from the federal government.
Markups On Care Can Fatten Hospital Budgets — Even If Few Patients Foot The Full Bill
A study finds that higher charges are associated with greater payments by private insurers, which can drive up costs for employers and consumers who pay their way.
Dispositivos que salvan vidas en los Estados Unidos se fabrican en México
Casi todos los estadounidenses con marcapasos -y personas en todo el mundo- caminan portando partes fabricadas en Tijuana, México, en donde se ha creado una industria que podría estar en riesgo si la administración Trump cambia el juego del comercio global.
Also Made In Mexico: Lifesaving Devices
The medical supply industry makes a particularly revelatory case study of the difficulties of untangling global trade.
The Next Obamacare Battleground: Subsidies For Out-Of-Pocket Costs
Exchange enrollees and insurers fret over a lawsuit that could end federal help with copays and deductibles.
La próxima batalla del Obamacare: subsidios para gastos de bolsillo
Los subsidios que ayudan a las personas con sus copagos y deducibles, distintos a los créditos impositivos para pagar las primas, están en medio de una batalla legal luego de una demanda republicana.
‘The Trump Of Georgia’ Goes To Washington
With high-level connections in the Capitol, Parker “Pete” Petit aims to resolve regulatory issues that have haunted his wound care company.
El básquetbol en “March Madness” anima a los hombres a hacerse la vasectomía
El evento deportivo y un programa radial en DC impulsan el procedimiento, promoviendo la camaradería masculina en derredor del básquetbol.
March Madness Vasectomies Encourage Guys To Take One For The Team
Some urologists use March Madness as an opportunity to market vasectomy services, offering men the excuse to sit on the sofa for three days to watch college basketball while they recover.
