Latest Morning Briefing Stories

Georgians With Disabilities Are Still Being Institutionalized, Despite Federal Oversight

KFF Health News Original

For nearly 15 years, the feds have had oversight of Georgia’s treatment of people with mental illness and developmental disabilities. Observers say the state still jeopardizes some of its most marginalized residents by not meeting the terms of its settlement with the Justice Department.

KFF Health News' 'What the Health?': Trump’s Nontraditional Health Picks

Podcast

Not only has President-elect Donald Trump chosen prominent vaccine skeptic Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, Trump also has said he will nominate controversial TV host Mehmet Oz to run the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, which oversees coverage for nearly half of Americans. Meanwhile, the lame-duck Congress is back in Washington with just a few weeks to figure out how to wrap up work for the year. Rachel Cohrs Zhang of Stat, Sandhya Raman of CQ Roll Call, and Riley Ray Griffin of Bloomberg News join KFF Health News’ Julie Rovner to discuss these stories and more. Also this week, Rovner interviews Sarah Varney, who has been covering a trial in Idaho challenging the lack of medical exceptions in that state’s abortion ban.

Florida Gov. DeSantis’ Canadian Drug Import Plan Goes Nowhere After FDA Approval

KFF Health News Original

Florida sued the FDA over what it said was a “reckless delay” in approving its drug importation plan. Now, nearly a year after the FDA gave the state the green light, the program has yet to begin.

Washington Power Has Shifted. Here’s How the ACA May Shift, Too.

KFF Health News Original

With a new Trump administration poised to move into the White House and Republicans set to control both chambers of Congress, party leaders are making a to-do list for the Affordable Care Act.

Nearly All Vermonters Have Health Insurance, but Care Is Tough To Find

KFF Health News Original

Almost all people have health insurance in Vermont, a state famed for its maple syrup and Ben & Jerry’s ice cream, yet residents pay the nation’s highest insurance premiums for individual coverage and endure months-long waits for care — and most hospitals here are losing money, according to state reports and interviews with residents and […]

Ex-Eye Bank Workers Say Pressure, Lax Oversight Led to Errors

KFF Health News Original

Corneas, the windshields of the eye, are the most transplanted part of the human body. But four former employees at Rocky Mountain Lions Eye Bank told of numerous retrieval problems, including damage to eyes and removal from the wrong body.

FTC, Indiana Residents Pressure State To Block Hospital Merger

KFF Health News Original

Hundreds of people and the Federal Trade Commission weighed in on a proposed hospital merger in Terre Haute, Indiana, with most arguing that the creation of a monopoly would increase costs and worsen patient care.

Nationwide IV Fluid Shortage Could Change How Hospitals Manage Patient Hydration

KFF Health News Original

Many U.S. hospitals are conserving critical intravenous fluid supplies to cope with a shortage that may last months. Some hospital administrators say the shortage accelerated their plans to change IV fluid hydration protocols altogether.

Pagar primero, parir después: algunos servicios piden a las embarazadas que paguen fortunas antes del parto

KFF Health News Original

Es difícil saber con qué frecuencia ocurre porque se considera una transacción privada entre el proveedor y el paciente. Por lo tanto, los pagos no se registran en los datos de reclamos de seguros y, por ende, los expertos no los analizan.

After Congress Ended Extra Cash Aid for Families, Communities Tackle Child Poverty Alone

KFF Health News Original

The child tax credit passed by Congress at the height of covid has expired, but states and localities are trying to fill the gap with their own programs and funding. In Michigan, Rx Kids already covers every family with a new baby in Flint. Now, other communities aim to follow.

As California Taps Pandemic Stockpile for Bird Flu, Officials Keep Close Eye on Spending

KFF Health News Original

California health officials began providing protective clothing to farmworkers months before the state’s first bird flu transmission to humans was announced in October. It’s a reminder of the state’s struggle to remain prepared for health threats amid multibillion-dollar deficits.