Latest Morning Briefing Stories

Health Care Battle On Hill Has Veterans Defending Obamacare Benefits

KFF Health News Original

It’s too early to know just how many veterans might lose coverage as a result of the Medicaid reductions wrapped into the Republicans’ repeal effort. But many already feel boxed in.

Kaiser Permanente Cited — Again — For Mental Health Access Problems

KFF Health News Original

California’s HMO watchdog agency says the HMO giant still is making mental health patients wait too long for treatment despite previous warnings and a large fine.

Podcast: What The Health? Senate Bill Sparks Fireworks Before The Fourth

KFF Health News Original

Julie Rovner of Kaiser Health News, Joanne Kenen of Politico, Margot Sanger-Katz of The New York Times and Paige Winfield Cunningham of The Washington Post discuss the state of the Senate’s effort to replace Obamacare.

Safe Under The ACA, Patients With Preexisting Conditions Now Fear Bias

KFF Health News Original

Thinking they were protected from insurance discrimination, many people got tested to see if they were likely to develop serious diseases. Legislation pushed by Republican leaders in Congress would leave them vulnerable.

Drop In Sudden Cardiac Arrests Linked To Obamacare

KFF Health News Original

A study published by the Journal of the American Heart Association showed that sudden cardiac arrests dropped by 17 percent in one Oregon county after people gained health insurance through the Affordable Care Act.

Calif. Officials Sound Alarm, Envisioning $114B Hit To Medi-Cal Under U.S. Senate Bill

KFF Health News Original

“Nothing is safe — no population, no services,” the director of the nation’s largest Medicaid program said Wednesday. GOP leaders say they seek to cut costs and widen consumer choices.

Para los adultos jóvenes, el proyecto de salud del Senado tiene buenas y malas noticias

KFF Health News Original

El proyecto de salud del Senado podría ayudar a algunos jóvenes reduciendo el costo de sus primas, pero podría perjudicar a otros que lograron tener cobertura a través de una expansión masiva del Medicaid.

For Millennials, Both Good And Bad News In Senate’s GOP Health Bill

KFF Health News Original

Provisions in the Senate’s “repeal and replace” bill could help some young adults by lowering the cost of premiums but could hurt others who gained insurance through a massive expansion to Medicaid.

Analysis: Mitch McConnell Plans To Hide Trumpcare’s Pain Until After Midterms

KFF Health News Original

The Senate health bill to repeal Obamacare hews closely to the electoral calendar, delaying much of the pain until after Republicans face re-election in Congress, statehouses and the White House.

CBO Deals Blow To Senate Health Bill With Estimate Of 22 Million More Uninsured

KFF Health News Original

The much anticipated score by the nonpartisan agency could make it more difficult for Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to round up the 50 votes he needs to pass his plan to replace Obamacare.

Texas Hospitals Fear Losing $6.2B Medicaid Deal 

KFF Health News Original

Texas is asking the Trump administration to renew a 2011 agreement set to expire in December that helps pay hospitals’ costs of caring for the state’s uninsured residents.

Deep Cuts To Medicaid Put Rural Hospitals In The Crosshairs

KFF Health News Original

Since 2010, at least 79 rural hospitals have closed across the country, and nearly 700 more are at risk of closing. The Republican repeal of the health law could hasten their demise.