Latest KFF Health News Stories
You Paid What? How Negotiated Deals Hide Health Care’s Cost
A patient’s portion of a health care bill is a complicated equation – but it’s simple compared to the deals between insurers and hospitals.
State Health Insurance Exchanges Hope To Woo Urban Minorities
Tomorrow it begins again – open enrollment for Obamacare. Two very successful state health insurance exchanges, Connecticut’s and California’s, are both intent on reaching people who avoided signing up last year – especially young Latinos and African-Americans. “The big takeaway for us last year was that the uninsured were really pocketed in a couple of […]
Research Roundup: ‘Family Glitch’ And Subsidies; Depression Care By Home Health Aides
Each week, KHN compiles a selection of recently released health policy studies and briefs.
Viewpoints: Gruber’s ‘World-Class Cynicism’; ‘De-Fanging’ Obamacare; A Democrat’s Lament
A selection of opinions on health care from around the country.
A selection of health policy stories from New Jersey, Virginia, Maryland, New York and Massachusetts.
As Generic Drug Prices Soar, Many Call For Greater Scrutiny
Elsewhere, The Wall Street Journal looks at lobbying for rare disease research, and Vice President Joe Biden urges advocates to lobby Congress for $6.2 billion for Ebola aid.
Cancer Care Giant Faces Medicare Billing Probe
The Justice Department is investigating whether 21st Century Oncology “knowingly billed for services that were not medically necessary,” reports The Wall Street Journal. Other stories look at the government’s withdrawal of a rule regarding the 340B drug discount program, double-digit increases in the prices hospitals pay for technology and the increase in plans covering gender reassignment surgery.
Democrats, Republicans Battle Over Jonathan Gruber’s Role In Designing Obamacare
As Republicans demand hearings into the impolitic remarks of an MIT economist who helped advise the administration on the Affordable Care Act, Democrats challenge the description of him as an ‘architect’ of the bill. Meanwhile, a fourth video surfaces of Gruber questioning whether the law would curb health care costs.
Insurance Agents Hope Health Law’s Second Enrollment Season Runs More Smoothly
In some locations, like Washington state, brokers are expected to play a larger role.
GAO: Small Business Obamacare Enrollment Fell Far Short Of Administration Expectations
The Government Accountability Office examined totals for state-run online health insurance marketplaces for small business, known as SHOP exchanges. Tallies from the 33 state exchanges that the federal government operated are not available yet, but researchers predict those numbers will be low, too.
Enrollment Period Could Also Be An Open Season For ID Theft
The wealth of data that will be sent and received during the sign-up period could offer additional opportunities for high-tech criminals to steal data or trick customers into providing them with personal information. Also in the news, the latest on how the contraception mandate leagl cases are shaking out, and more on how the health law uses Medicare to improve health care quality.
Examining Medicaid Expansion’s Strain On Health Care System
In other Medicaid expansion news, former HHS head Kathleen Sebelius is confident more states will opt for expansion in 2015, and newly elected and soon-to-be appointed officials in Utah and Texas have their stances on the program for low-income Americans scrutinized.
With Memories Of Troubled Enrollment Process Last Year, Officials Promise Improvements
News outlets examine preparations for enrollment in Nevada, Minnesota, Iowa, Kentucky, Ohio, Colorado, Virginia and Missouri.
Administration’s 2015 Enrollment Outreach: Shorter, More Targeted, Lower Key
Last year’s high-wattage campaign that featured celebrities and used late-night television will be dialed back this year. On Saturday, the sign-up period kick-off, administration officials will fan out, but President Barack Obama will be out of the country. He will talk about open enrollment during his Saturday radio address, however.
What To Expect If You’re In The Market For New Coverage
News outlets set the scene for kick-off of the health law’s open enrollment period and offer consumers tips regarding what they’ll need to know when considering health insurance coverage.
Employers With Workers In Several States Face Challenge Using SHOP Exchanges
Each state may have different options and regulations.
First Edition: November 14, 2014
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
With Tight Enrollment Window, Consumers Seeking Coverage Should Sign Up Promptly
The online marketplaces open Saturday and officials say they will work better than at last year’s debut.
How The Health Law Is Using Medicare To Improve Hospital Quality
Among the tools: penalties for admitting patients too soon after they were discharged and a focus on reducing hospital-acquired infections.
Perry-Appointed Board Backs Health Coverage Expansion
Panel recommends that the state negotiate a Texas-specific agreement with the federal government to expand health coverage to the poor.