Daily Edition for Friday, April 21, 2023
A covid outbreak, the Arcturus variant, fentanyl legislation, abortion pills, med school rankings, insulin costs, and more are in the news.
Tension Builds in Transgender Policy Debate in Montana
By Keely Larson
Two transgender lawmakers are trying to lay the groundwork for LGBTQ-friendly policies in a conservative state, but tensions are running high as the legislative session nears its end.
The Biden Administration Vowed to Be a Leading Voice on Opioid Settlements But Has Gone Quiet
By Aneri Pattani
Billions of dollars are headed to state and local governments to address the opioid crisis. Policy experts and advocates expect the federal government to play a role in overseeing the use of the money. Failure to do so, they say, could lead to wasted opportunities. And, since Medicaid helps pay health care costs, the feds could have a claim to portions of states’ opioid settlements.
KFF Health News' 'What the Health?': Will They or Won’t They (Block the Abortion Pill)?
The Supreme Court is considering the future of the abortion pill mifepristone, after GenBioPro sued the FDA over limitations that effectively block generic production of the drug, a major part of the market. Congress is considering proposals that would impose Medicaid work requirements, crack down on pharmacy benefit managers, and more. And President Joe Biden moved to expand health coverage to young immigrants known as “Dreamers.” Rachel Cohrs of Stat, Sandhya Raman of CQ Roll Call, and Joanne Kenen of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and Politico join KFF Health News’ Mary Agnes Carey to discuss these issues and more.
Daily Edition for Thursday, April 20, 2023
CARE Court Can Continue, California Supreme Court Rules: The state Supreme Court declined Wednesday to block a law sponsored by Gov. Gavin Newsom requiring thousands of mentally ill Californians to accept court-ordered treatment. Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle.
An Arm and a Leg: A $229,000 Medical Bill Goes to Court
By Dan Weissmann
In 2014, Lisa French had spinal surgery. Before the operation, she was told she would have to pay $1,337 in out-of-pocket costs and that her insurance would cover the rest. However, the hospital ended up sending French a bill for $229,000. When she didn’t pay, it sued her. The case went all the way to […]
Lose Weight, Gain Huge Debt: NY Provider Has Sued More Than 300 Patients Who Had Bariatric Surgery
By Fred Schulte
The private equity-backed practice has been known to demand more than $100,000 in charges or penalties. One patient is fighting back.
Daily Edition for Wednesday, April 19, 2023
Housing issues, TB exposure, abortion pill access, covid boosters, fentanyl, overdose deaths, long-term care, and more are in the news.
The CDC Lacks a Rural Focus. Researchers Hope a Newly Funded Office Will Help.
By Christina Saint Louis
Advocates for improving rural health pushed for the CDC to extend its rural health focus by creating an Office of Rural Health. They hope the agency will commit to rural health research and provide analyses that lead to good public health policies for rural communities.
Daily Edition for Tuesday, April 18, 2023
Medicaid, natural gas, homelessness spending, body shaming, medical supply shortages, variant XBB.1.16, ACA plans, and more are in the news.
