Latest Morning Briefing Stories
Despite Anger At Health Law’s Mandate, GOP Plans Could Also Have Penalties
President-elect Donald Trump has suggested that he would like to keep the health law’s ban on preexisting conditions. But that only works if insurers can be guaranteed a robust market, so Republicans must figure out a way to coax in healthy customers.
Community Paramedics Work To Link Patients With Mental Health Care
Training these first responders to identify people who are suffering from mental illness and connect them with treatment other than the emergency room could be part of the solution to gaps in the nation’s mental health system.
Ballot Initiatives: Voters Reject Calif. Drug Pricing Measure; Colo. Single-Payer System
Voters across the country also considered a variety of health policy questions as they decided state ballot measures.
Big Hospital Network Cracks Down On The Right To Sue
Some networks of hospitals, doctors and medical services are now so dominant in their region that they can hike their prices and force patients to waive the right to sue when things go wrong.
California’s Drug Price Initiative: Will Voters ‘Send A Signal To Washington’?
Despite heavy opposition from the pharmaceutical industry and skepticism from policy experts, many voters see Proposition 61 as a way to protest the nation’s mounting drug prices.
FDA’s Drug Approval Team Copes With 700 Unfilled Jobs As Industry Lures Staff
The FDA’s drug-approval team is short more than 700 people and losing skilled staff members to the drug industry.
Why Tobacco Companies Are Spending Millions To Boost A Cigarette Tax
R.J. Reynolds has put $12 million into an effort to raise tobacco taxes in Missouri. But the proposed 60-cents per pack tax, still among the lowest in the nation, is not likely to make many smokers quit.
Blue Shield Again Owes Californians Millions In Health Care Rebates
The insurer is on the hook for $25 million in refunds to about 240,000 enrollees with employer coverage.
7 Tips To Help Avoid Costly Health Plan Enrollment Headaches
Despite fears of rising costs and fewer insurers on the health law’s marketplaces, consumers can find the best deals by carefully evaluating plans and checking out the fine print.
Drug Prices, Not The Health Law, Top Voters’ Health Priorities For 2017
Majorities of Democrats, Republicans and independents support making sure high-cost drugs for chronic conditions are affordable.
Clinton Took More Conciliatory Tone With Health Care Industry In Paid Speeches
WikiLeaks documents show a cautious speaker who tried to avoid compromises on policy.
California’s RN Wages Now Highest In The Nation, Federal Data Show
Registered nurses in the state earn an average annual salary of $100,000, compared to a national average of $71,000.
West Virginia Grapples With High Drug Costs
Climbing drug prices are taking a toll on West Virginia’s budget, some state legislators say. Expensive drugs fuel an increase in Medicaid spending, which leaves less money for schools and roads.
An Idea Borrowed From South Africa: Ordinary Citizens Fill Gaps In Health Care
A New York group seeks to show that a health coach who is also a neighbor can help patients and save money.
Burwell Says Upcoming Enrollment Efforts Are Pivotal For Health Law
Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia Burwell announces that federal officials expect the number of people picking plans will grow by 1 million this year to nearly 14 million people, but she acknowledges that rising prices and fewer insurers are challenging the marketplaces.
Big Raises For Many Home Care Workers Won’t Necessarily Help Senior Citizens
A $15 minimum wage will almost double what many home care workers are paid but won’t solve other problems.
Are Blues’ Plans Benefiting Unfairly From Program To Offset Cost Of Sicker Patients?
Other insurers complain that Blue Cross Blue Shield plans have bloated overhead costs and reap too much from the Obamacare risk-adjustment fund, paid for by insurers. The companies deny it.
How Tiny Are Benefits From Many Tests And Pills? Researchers Paint A Picture
A Maryland physician teams up with an environmental scientist to help patients better understand the risks and benefits of medical tests and treatments.
Hospitals Say They’re Being Slammed By Drug Price Hikes
In a report out Tuesday, hospital groups said drug prices have skyrocketed since 2013, triggering a huge increase in what hospitals spend on pharmaceuticals.
Rising Health Premiums Rankle Individuals Paying Full Price
Insurance customers who don’t get federal subsidies are facing double-digit premium increases in many places this year and forced to make hard choices about coverage.
