Health Headlines for Wednesday, February 28
A Big Divergence Is Coming in Health Care Among States
New York Times
Little by little, the Trump administration is dismantling elements of the Affordable Care Act and creating a health care system that looks more like the one that preceded it.
States Need to Step In and Save Their Health Care Markets From Donald Trump
Slate
Since failing to repeal-and-replace Obamacare in its entirety, Donald Trump and the Republican Party have undertaken a marginally quieter, piece-by-piece dismantling of the law that’s weakened and removed some of its core features.
Opioid death toll grows; takes more time to count the bodies
Lohud
The opioid death toll in 2016 was even worse than previously reported in many New York communities, including Westchester and Putnam counties.
DFS Demands Info From Insurers About Alleged Coverage Denials to Users of HIV Prevention Meds
New York Law Journal
New York’s banking and insurance regulator is asking life and disability insurers to show actuarial justification for allegedly denying coverage to applicants who used pre-exposure prophylactic medication to reduce the risk of HIV infection.
New York State awards $10M to addiction treatment program providers
WKBW
A total of $10 million in state funding has been awarded to five providers who will offer detox programs for New Yorkers suffering from addiction withdrawal.
Democrats considering a new strategy to expand health coverage as frustrations build with Obamacare
Los Angeles Times
After spending most of 2017 defending the Affordable Care Act from GOP attacks, a growing number of Democrats believe the law’s reliance on private insurance markets won’t be enough and the party should focus instead on expanding popular government programs like Medicare and Medicaid.
Analysis: US Lacks Enough Mental Hospitals
Olean Times Herald
Following President Trump’s call to fund more mental institutions after a Florida high school massacre, mental health professionals acknowledge that a deficit of mental health facilities in the US is contributing to mass violent events