Latest KFF Health News Content

Latest KFF Health News Stories

Hospitals, Health Systems Announce Sales, New Joint Ventures

Morning Briefing

Louisville-based Kindred Healthcare announced it will sell 12 long-term acute care hospitals, while LHC Group, a Louisiana company, announced a joint venture with two of Northern Arizona Healthcare’s home health agencies and a hospice. Changes are also afoot in Minnesota and Ohio.

Florida Settles Lawsuit And Agrees To Improve Medicaid Services For Children

Morning Briefing

Under terms of the agreement, the state will raise its reimbursements to doctors in an effort to get more providers to see Medicaid patients and will set benchmarks for preventive and dental treatment. The settlement ends an 11-year class action lawsuit.

Increasing Number Of HIV Patients Over Age Of 50 Is Shifting Concerns About Care

Morning Briefing

People who are older when the disease is diagnosed tend to be sicker. Also in public health developments, news reports today focus on electroconvulsive therapy for depression and regulations for restaurant calorie counts.

Calif. Agents Search Home Of Man Behind Planned Parenthood Videos

Morning Briefing

David Daleiden says the investigators took all of his video footage and other personal information. State Attorney General Kamala Harris could not comment on an ongoing investigation, but had previously announced that she would look into whether Daleiden broke any laws with his sting operation, which has also led to an indictment in Texas. Meanwhile, the National Abortion Federation has attributed a surge in violence and threats directed at abortion clinics to the videos.

‘Mother Of COBRA’ Helps Push Administration’s Financial-Advice Rule

Morning Briefing

Phyllis Borzi, who drafted large portions of the law that helps workers who lose their jobs keep their health insurance, says that experience helped make her sensitive to the problems many consumers face when looking at retirement savings.

From Cost Of Visit To Staff Compassion, Yelp Hospital Ratings Go Beyond ‘Gold Standard’ Survey

Morning Briefing

Yelp reviewers offer information on 12 criteria not used by Medicare in assessing hospitals. Meanwhile, in information security news, MedStar hackers took advantage of a system flaw that hospitals had been warned about since 2007 while attacks on three California hospitals expose additional vulnerabilities.

In Special Session, Ark. Lawmakers Weigh Modifications To Medicaid Expansion

Morning Briefing

The governor has called the legislature into session today to consider his plan to revamp the program Arkansas set up under the federal health law to expand health coverage for low-income residents. Also, in New Hampshire, the governor has signed legislation extending the Medicaid expansion program.

White House Plans To Use Ebola Funds To Help Fight Zika

Morning Briefing

Officials say the administration will transfer much of the $600 million to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. President Barack Obama had asked for about $1.9 billion to combat the virus, but Congress stalled on the request saying the country should use up the leftover funding for Ebola.