Trending News Today: The Challenge of Replacing the Affordable Care Act

Cases of mumps reported in 2016 have been the highest in 10 years. There have been 4000 cases reported this year, which is nearly triple the amount seen in 2015, Kaiser Health News reported. The increase in cases are largely fueled by spread among college students, and there are now questions about vaccine protocols due to the recent outbreak, according to the article.

While Republican lawmakers have vowed to repeal the Affordable Care Act, they may face difficulties funding a replacement plan. Republicans have previously said their plan to repeal the law will benefit Americans, and will not leave anyone without coverage. However, their plans to repeal taxes that fund the health law may prevent many from receiving proper health insurance, according to Kaiser Health News.

Medi-Cal’s Estate Recovery Program demands payment from enrollees for a range of services after the individual has died, and aims to recover medical costs, including payments that insurance makes to managed care plans on behalf of the enrollee, according to California Healthline. Due to the criticism from family members and patient advocates, Medi-Cal will reduce what will be collected from the individual’s estate after their death. Now, the state will only be able to receive repayment for costs relating to nursing home care and home- and community-based services.