Latest KFF Health News Stories
Some Experts Dispute Claims Of Looming Doctor Shortage
Nurse practitioners and physician assistants can fill some primary care gaps, but specialists say an aging population will need more intensive care.
Wall Street Is Bullish On 2015 Obamacare Enrollment
Analysts project that 11 million people will sign up in 2015 — and more will be younger and healthier.
Viewpoints: Effects Of A ‘Market-Driven’ Health System; Administration’s Poor Accounting
A selection of opinions on health care from around the country.
Research Roundup: Mastectomies; Hospital Drug Discounts; Homeless Coverage
Each week, KHN compiles a selection of recently released health policy studies and briefs.
A selection of health policy stories from Minnesota, Georgia, Washington state, Nebraska, North Carolina, New York and Virginia.
State Spending Swells — Mostly Driven By Medicaid Expansion Fund Infusion
According to a report from the National Association of State Budget Officers, state spending has not increased at a rate this fast since before the recession.
Senate Panel Examines Soaring Generic Drug Prices
In other Capitol Hill news, lawmakers continue to meet about — but report no agreements on — the Labor-HHS appropriations bill, as well as other spending measures, for fiscal year 2015.
Who Uncovered The Gruber Videos?
Fox News reports on the person who found the politically damaging videos of Jonathan Gruber. It turns out he wasn’t an operative, but a normal person who feels like he lost his coverage as a result of the health law.
Poll: Almost Quarter Of Uninsured Say They Can’t Afford Coverage
Nearly a quarter of those without insurance said they expected to stay that way because of the cost of coverage, according to a Kaiser Family Foundation poll done just before the health law’s insurance exchanges opened.
Immigrants Here Illegally Will Not Get Access To Health Law But May Get Other Coverage
Politico reports that once these immigrants don’t face deportation threats, they may be able to take regular jobs with health insurance. Also in the news, some anti-abortion activists are charging that states are not complying with the health law’s provisions to offer one plan that does not cover abortion and a former administration officials talks about making narrow provider networks smarter.
Oklahoma Asks Supreme Court To Hear Its Health Law Challenge, Too
Oklahoma’s attorney general said Thursday he has asked the high court to hear his arguments that parts of the health law don’t apply to his state, at the same time they consider the subsidy challenge in King v. Burwell. Meanwhile, thousands of Missouri and Illinois residents would lose more than $2 billion in health insurance subsidies if the court were to rule in favor of the plaintiffs.
Parsing Claims About The Cost Of Obamacare Plans
Factcheck.org examines competing claims about the cost of Obamacare plans while The Fiscal Times reports on an analysis examining the cost of deductibles in 2015 plans sold through the health law’s insurance exchanges.
HHS Acknowledges Health Law Enrollment Overcounting Mistake
The Obama administration said Thursday that it incorrectly tallied health law sign-ups by accidentally adding about 380,000 dental-plan customers to its overall enrollment numbers. It reduced the overall number of people who enrolled in new coverage to about 6.7 million.
First Edition: November 21, 2014
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
A Quarter Of Uninsured Say They Can’t Afford To Buy Coverage
Poll finds that the high cost was the biggest obstacle noted by Americans who lack insurance and don’t expect to buy it next year. About half of the uninsured hope to get coverage in 2015.
Researchers Campaign Against Americans’ Sweet Tooth With Public Health Initiative
The Sugar Science webpage spells out dangers from average consumption of sugar, including increased risks of diabetes, heart disease and liver problems.
Former HHS Official Calls For ‘Smarter’ Networks That Deliver Cost-Effective Care
Gary Cohen, a former deputy administrator for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, says the challenge for regulators and insurers is to create networks that not only save money but also deliver better patient outcomes.
Hospitals And Pharmacies Grapple With Rising Drug Prices
Spending on drugs by Ascension, a large Midwestern health care system, has increased $36 million in the last year — with two-thirds of that attributed to costlier generics.
Viewpoints: GOP Lessons From Health Battle; High Court Could Affect Coverage For Millions
A selection of opinions on health care from around the United States.
Longer Looks: Disappointments In Drug Design; The Black Death; History Of The Speculum
Each week, KHN’s Shefali Luthra finds interesting reads from around the Web.