With Divided Congress, Health Care Action Hightails It to the States

With Divided Congress, Health Care Action Hightails It to the States-rollcall: Newly-elected leaders in the states will be in a stronger position than those in Washington to steer significant shifts in health care policy over the next couple of years as a divided Congress struggles with gridlock.

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Athenahealth floats kickback carve-out that would allow physicians to pay for clinical data-fiercehealthcare: Athenahealth is asking federal regulators to create a fraud exemption that would allow doctors to pay “fair market value” for patient data, creating a business case for interoperability.

2018 Is The Year Democrats Got Comfortable Talking Health Care Again

2018 Is The Year Democrats Got Comfortable Talking Health Care Again-npr: Since the start of October, New York Democrat Antonio Delgado has posted 14 ads on YouTube. Some show him out greeting voters. Others are attack ads on his opponent, Republican Rep. John Faso. But the overwhelming majority — all but one of the ads — mention health care.

Health Care Tops Guns, Economy As Voters’ Top Issue

Health Care Tops Guns, Economy As Voters’ Top Issue-kaiserhealthnews: Health care has emerged as the top issue for voters headed into the midterm elections, but fewer than half of them say they are hearing a lot from candidates on the issue, according to a new poll released Thursday.

Midterm Election Could Reshape Health Policy

Midterm Election Could Reshape Health Policy-npr: Obamacare — as the Affordable Care Act is commonly known — won't be on the ballot next month. But the fate of the eight-year old health care law could be decided by which party wins control of Congress in November.

Trump battle over drug prices heats up

Trump battle over drug prices heats up - The Trump administration is taking credit for a series of announcements by drug companies to freeze drug prices for the remainder of 2018, arguing it is proof that the president’s tough talk is leading to results.

Trump meets with drug giant's CEO as part of price squeeze

Trump meets with drug giant's CEO as part of price squeeze - The CEO of drug giant Pfizer met with President Donald Trump at the White House today as the administration pressures drugmakers to voluntarily rein in prices, according to multiple industry sources.

Doctors and Health Workers Reflect on Rural America's Limited Access to Care

Doctors and Health Workers Reflect on Rural America's Limited Access to Care

House panel advances bill that would temporarily halt ObamaCare's employer mandate

House panel advances bill that would temporarily halt ObamaCare's employer mandate - The House Ways and Means Committee on Thursday approved legislation that would chip away at ObamaCare, including a measure that would temporarily repeal the law's employer mandate. 

Drugmakers defy Trump's call to drop prices

Drugmakers defy Trump's call to drop prices - President Donald Trump in May said that drugmakers would soon announce “massive” price cuts, and his administration rolled out a plan to bring down the cost of medicines. But the companies don’t appear to have gotten that message.

As Atul Gawande steps into a risky health CEO role, here are five challenges he faces

As Atul Gawande steps into a risky health CEO role, here are five challenges he faces - Dr. Atul Gawande will step out of health care’s limelight on Monday to put himself under its microscope.

Head of new U.S. corporate health plan cites surgery as biggest cost

Head of new U.S. corporate health plan cites surgery as biggest cost - Dr. Atul Gawande, a surgeon who was named this week to head the company being formed by Amazon, Berkshire Hathaway and JPMorgan Chase to trim employee healthcare costs, on Thursday cited surgery as the single biggest U.S. healthcare cost and said there are ways to both cut costs and improve patient care.

Atul Gawande Named CEO Of Health Venture By Amazon, Berkshire Hathaway And JPMorgan

Atul Gawande Named CEO Of Health Venture By Amazon, Berkshire Hathaway And JPMorgan - Surgeon, author and checklist-evangelist Atul Gawande has been picked to lead the health care venture formed by online giant Amazon, conglomerate Berkshire Hathaway and banking juggernaut JPMorgan.

Dems seek to leverage ObamaCare fight for midterms | TheHill

Dems seek to leverage ObamaCare fight for midterms | TheHill: Democrats are seizing on the Trump administration’s push in court to overturn ObamaCare’s protections for people with pre-existing conditions, hoping to leverage the issue ahead of November’s midterm elections as some Republicans rush to distance themselves from the move.

Opioid crisis: House to vote on bills to fight painkiller addiction

Opioid crisis: House to vote on bills to fight painkiller addiction: "The nation’s growing addiction to prescription painkillers will command much of Congress’ attention over the next two weeks as House lawmakers consider dozens of bills that they hope will help curb the deadly opioid epidemic."

"Right to try" bill passes with Trump support, but will it help terminally ill patients? - CBS News

"Right to try" bill passes with Trump support, but will it help terminally ill patients? - CBS News: After a year in which President Donald Trump devoted much of his health policy attention to efforts to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, Mr. Trump used part of his State of the Union address in January to press Congress to focus attention in 2018 on a new health priority – the passage of "right to try" legislation. Now, four months later, legislation is on its way to the president's desk.

On health care, Democrats are shifting to offense

On health care, Democrats are shifting to offense-washingtonpost: Democrats are shifting to offense on health care, emboldened by successes in defending the Affordable Care Act. They say their ultimate goal is a government guarantee of affordable coverage for all.

The Senate Finance Committee will hold a hearing next Tuesday on the confirmation of Alex Azar, President Trump's nominee to be secretary of Health and Human Services.

It's unclear what gets done this month on health care-axios: Congress still has the same long list of health care problems to solve as it has had since the fall. The Children's Health Insurance Program needs to be reauthorized, the individual insurance market likely needs to be stabilized, and the health care industry really wants some Affordable Care Act taxes to be delayed. But it's unclear how much of that will be addressed this month.

Trump to Scrap Critical Health Care Subsidies, Hitting Obamacare Again

Trump to Scrap Critical Health Care Subsidies, Hitting Obamacare Again-nytimes: President Trump will scrap subsidies to health insurance companies that help pay out-of-pocket costs of low-income people, the White House said late Thursday. His plans were disclosed hours after the president ordered potentially sweeping changes in the nation’s insurance system, including sales of cheaper policies with fewer benefits and fewer protections for consumers.

Trump phones a friend on health care

Trump phones a friend on health care-axios: A Trump tweet this morning confirms last night's Axios scoop: "I called Chuck Schumer yesterday to see if the Dems want to do a great HealthCare Bill. ObamaCare is badly broken, big premiums. Who knows!"