Latest KFF Health News Stories
Hospitals’ Purchase Of Doctors’ Practices Boosts Costs, Study Finds
Hospital ownership of physician groups increased patient care costs by as much as 20 percent, according to the UC Berkeley study. Meanwhile, another study by Harvard researchers finds that switching to for-profit status may boost hospitals’ financial health but has no effect on quality of care.
Kasich’s Public Medicaid Expansion Fracas Moves Into Its Second Day
The Ohio governor is engaged in a spat with The Associated Press after the news outlet published comments in which he said he didn’t think the health law would be repealed. He has since offered further explanation, saying that he doesn’t think the Medicaid expansion — which he views as separate from the overhaul — should be undone.
Viewpoints: Fund CHIP; Media Overdrive On Ebola; Slowdown In Medicare Costs
A selection of opinions on health care from around the country.
Longer Looks: Obamacare In The Midterm Campaign; Watching Ebola Mutate; Lessons On Dying
Each week, KHN finds interesting reads from around the web.
First Edition: October 22, 2014
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including reports about a new poll finding that that most likely voters expect GOP victories in November and that health care continues to be an important issue.
Hospitals’ Struggles To Beat Back Familiar Infections Began Before Ebola Arrived
Each year about 75,000 patients die from infections they caught in the hospital. A KHN analysis of federal data shows that nearly 700 hospitals have higher than expected rates of infection for at least one condition.
Kasich Retreats From Politically Charged Health Law Comments
After telling the Associated Press that he didn’t think a repeal of the health law was going to happen, Ohio Gov. John Kasich, a Republican, took aggressive steps to attempt to correct the record. His statement, he said, was meant only about attempts to repeal the Medicaid expansion, which Ohio has implemented.
ACA Knowledge Gap Greatest Among Uninsured
Most of the uninsured know little about the online insurance marketplaces, or that financial help is available for those with low incomes, finds a poll. Meanwhile, a West Virginia Medicaid official says new enrollees “come in with baggage,” such as a history of using free drug samples that aren’t covered by the program and The Washington Post looks at continuing legal challenges to the law.
Few California Inmates With Hepatitis C Get Costly Sovaldi
The drug is being given to fewer than 1 percent of the 17,000 inmates with the virus in California prisons, reports the San Francisco Chronicle. Meanwhile, a Senate Democrat plans a hearing on how VA hospitals are coping with its high cost.
Just In Time For Open Enrollment, A New Physician Rating Site
USA Today reports that the website uses about 500 million federal and private claims and patient reviews to rank doctors. Meanwhile, the failure of the $30 billion federal program to create interoperable electronic health record systems is examined by Politico.
Medicare, Health Care Getting Attention In Senate, Congressional Races
In Louisiana’s Senate race, Medicare is grabbing the spotlight. The powerful issue is also popping up in North Carolina and Iowa. Meanwhile, Michigan’s Senate race references to Medicare and the health law are checked for accuracy. And Obamacare is the subject of ads in an increasingly high-profile California House contest.
Medicaid Expansion, Health Exchanges Dominate Gubernatorial Debates
In Georgia, where a runoff is considered likely, Gov. Nathan Deal went on the offensive and criticized a third-party candidate’s support for expanding Medicaid. In Maryland, Republican candidate Larry Hogan slammed Democratic Lt. Governor Anthony Brown for his role in the state’s troubled health exchange launch.
State Highlights: Calif. Ballot Measure Updates; Va. Prison Health Care Budget Shortfall
A selection of health policy stories from California, Arizona, Maine, South Dakota, Virginia, Maryland, Louisiana, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, North Carolina, Texas, Washington state and Missouri.
Viewpoints: Health Care Opponent’s Legal Strategy; The Challenge For This Open Enrollment
A selection of opinions on health care from around the country.
Views On Ebola: America Needs To ‘Calm Down’; Political Criticism Is Off Base
News outlets offer a variety of perspectives on the response to Ebola.
Hill Republicans Refine Their Strategy On Foreign Travelers As CDC Tightens Ebola Guidelines
The GOP is now pressing to suspend visas for some travelers since the administration has so far rejected calls for a flight ban. Also Monday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention beefed-up its guidelines to protect health care workers.
California Nurses’ Union Pulls Ebola Into Contract Talks
The powerful California Nurses Association has put Ebola on the bargaining table in its negotiations for a new contract with Kaiser Permanente.
Uninsured Still Know Little About Health Law As 2nd Enrollment Period Draws Near
Almost nine of 10 uninsured Americans – the group most likely to benefit — don’t know that the law’s second open enrollment period begins Nov. 15, according to a poll released Tuesday.
First Edition: October 21, 2014
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including reports about health law positions taken by Republican governors — including Ohio Gov. John Kasich.
More Plans Setting Spending Limits For Some Medical Services
Insurers cap how much they will pay for certain routine procedures, such as knee replacements and lab tests, and if patients opt for an in-network facility that charges more, they must pick up the extra cost.