Latest Morning Briefing Stories

Obamacare Sign-Ups Lag After Trump Election, Legal Challenges

KFF Health News Original

The number of new and returning enrollees using healthcare.gov — the federal marketplace that serves 31 states — is well below last year’s as of early December. Also, a Biden administration push to give “Dreamers” access to Obamacare coverage and subsidies is facing court challenges.

Democratic Senators Ask Watchdog Agency To Investigate Georgia’s Medicaid Work Rule

KFF Health News Original

A group of Democratic senators asked the Government Accountability Office to examine a Georgia program that requires some Medicaid enrollees to work, study, or volunteer 80 hours a month for coverage. They cited KFF Health News’ reporting, which has documented the program’s high costs and low enrollment.

New Colorado Gun Law Aims To Shore Up Victim Services

KFF Health News Original

A new tax on guns and ammunition in Colorado is set to take effect in the spring. Voters approved the tax, with most of the proceeds going to support services for crime victims and other social programs.

Trump’s Picks for Top Health Jobs Not Just Team of Rivals but ‘Team of Opponents’

KFF Health News Original

The president-elect’s choices to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, as well as agencies such as the National Institutes of Health, FDA, and CDC, hold positions on issues including abortion and vaccination that are often at odds.

Trump Threat to Immigrant Health Care Tempered by Economic Hopes

KFF Health News Original

Donald Trump’s second term is reigniting mistrust in health services among California immigrants, making it harder for community health workers to get people enrolled in Medi-Cal. Yet the president-elect is also seen as someone who could improve their lives with a better economy, even if that means forgoing health care.

How Are States Spending Opioid Settlement Cash? We Built a Database of Answers

KFF Health News Original

From addiction treatment to toy robot ambulances, we uncovered how billions in opioid settlement funds were used by state and local governments in 2022 and 2023. Find out where the money went.

Helicopters Rescued Patients in ‘Apocalyptic’ Flood. Other Hospitals Are at Risk, Too.

KFF Health News Original

The helicopter evacuation of 70 people from a Tennessee hospital during Hurricane Helene is considered a success story. The building was destroyed by floodwaters, but no one died. In hindsight, why was it built next to a river?

Removing a Splinter? Treating a Wart? If a Doctor Does It, It Can Be Billed as Surgery

KFF Health News Original

Minor interventions are increasingly being rebranded and billed as surgery, for profit. This means a neurologist spending 40 minutes with a patient to tease out a diagnosis can be paid less for that time than a dermatologist spending a few seconds squirting a dollop of liquid nitrogen onto the skin.

KFF Health News' 'What the Health?': A Killing Touches Off Backlash Against Health Insurers

Podcast

The shocking shooting death of UnitedHealthcare’s chief executive in Midtown Manhattan prompted a public outcry about the problems with the nation’s health care system, as stories of delayed and denied care filled social media. Meanwhile, President-elect Donald Trump continues to avoid providing specifics about his plans for the Affordable Care Act and other health issues. Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico, Sandhya Raman of CQ Roll Call, and Rachel Cohrs Zhang of Stat join KFF Health News’ Julie Rovner to discuss these stories and more. Also this week, Rovner interviews Francis Collins, who was the director of the National Institutes of Health and a science adviser to President Joe Biden.

Patients Couldn’t Pay Their Utility Bills. One Hospital Turned to Solar Power for Help.

KFF Health News Original

Doctors in Boston got tired of writing letters to utility companies asking for assistance for their medically vulnerable patients who need power and heat to stay healthy. So a hospital decided to share the power its solar panels generate with patients who needed help with their electricity and gas bills.

Former Montana Health Staffer Rebukes Oversight Rules as a Hospital ‘Wish List’

KFF Health News Original

The push-pull in Montana reflects a national tension as states try to decide what counts as fair checks on tax-exempt hospitals and industry players weigh in. The debate centers on whether nonprofit hospitals do enough good to earn their charitable status.

Toxic ‘Forever Chemicals’ Taint Rural California Drinking Water, Far From Known Sources

KFF Health News Original

Researchers found toxic “forever chemicals” in drinking water wells dotting California’s rural farming regions, far from known contamination sources. The discovery complicates the state’s drinking water problem, which disproportionately affects farmworkers and communities of color.

Federal Judge Halts Dreamers’ Brand-New Access to ACA Enrollment in 19 States

KFF Health News Original

A federal judge sided with 19 states seeking an injunction against a Biden administration rule allowing recipients of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals to enroll in Affordable Care Act coverage and qualify for subsidies amid the annual open enrollment period.

A Centenarian Thrives Living Alone, Active and Engaged

KFF Health News Original

Many older adults living alone, isolated and vulnerable, struggle with health issues. But a noteworthy slice of this growing group of seniors maintain a high degree of well-being. Meet Hilda Jaffe, age 102.

Resources Are Expanding for Older Adults on Their Own

KFF Health News Original

Aging alone, without a spouse, a partner, or children, requires careful planning. New programs for this growing population offer much-needed help.