Latest KFF Health News Stories
Confusion, Anger And Criticism Mark Some Obamacare Attitudes
The public is still puzzled, tea party groups seeth with anger over the piecemeal chipping away of the health law and Sen. Mary Landrieu stands out among colleagues from the South for supporting the law. Meanwhile, a former Obama administration spokesman reveals criticism over the insurance exchange launches.
State News: Insurer Drop-Out To Affect 22,000 On N.Y. Medicaid Managed Care
A selection of health policy stories from New York and Texas.
Hospital Chiefs Earn Big Bucks For ‘Glitzier’ Medicine
A JAMA Internal Medicine study found that quality of patient care at a facility is less likely to be reflected in the CEO’s pay than other factors.
A selection of editorials and opinions on health care from around the country.
Shutdown Commentaries: Compromise May Take Nick Out Of Health Law; ‘The Party Of Gimme’
Opinion writers examine the efforts on Capitol Hill to solve the current budget impasse and its effect on health spending.
First Edition: October 15, 2013
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including reports about how the budget deal taking shape in the Senate would not derail the health law, but would include some tweaks.
Seniors Cautioned To Pay Close Attention To Details As Enrollment Begins In Medicare Plans
Costs, coverage details of different Medicare Advantage or prescription drug plans can vary significantly, so beneficiaries should weigh their options and consider switching plans for a better deal.
Health Insurance Co-Ops Offer New Option For Some Marketplace Shoppers
The nonprofit “consumer oriented and operated plans,” or co-ops, are run by their members and were created under the federal health law to enhance competition on the exchanges.
South Floridians’ Biggest Question About Marketplace Plans: Will They Be Affordable?
Consumers of different ages, health and income levels make different calculations about the costs and benefits of buying health coverage.
Pay For Hospital CEOs Linked More To Technology, Patient Satisfaction Than Quality, Study Finds
Harvard researchers find no difference in CEO compensation between hospitals that rate well in providing good care and those that do poorly.
How Consumers Are Navigating The Marketplaces
KHN’s Julie Appleby was on C-SPAN’s Washington Journal Monday discussing consumer issues with the new online insurance marketplaces that launched Oct. 1. Watch the video below. This is part of a regular Monday morning segment on Washington Journal. Tune in each week to stay informed about the latest developments in health policy.
New Options For Native Americans Under Health Law
Although tribal members are entitled to free health care, most Indian health facilities do not offer a full array of services.
Battle Lines Change As Negotiators Appear To Drop GOP Efforts To Derail The Health Law
As the nation approaches its debt limit and the federal government remains shut down, a deal continues to be elusive.
GOP Lawmakers Probe Marketplace Bugs
Republicans on both sides of the Capitol are investigating technical problems with the health law’s online health insurance marketplaces — with one senator going so far as to call for the resignation of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius. Others bemoan the lost opportunity to publicize the balky rollout because public attention was focused instead on the government shutdown.
Experts Worry About Other Trouble Spots With Health Law Marketplaces
Politico reports that other steps in the online enrollment process, including computing subsidies and transferring signup information to insurers may also have bugs. The Associated Press reports that some insiders predicted the problems well before the website launch, while The Washington Post notes that paper applications are increasingly popular because of the problems.
Asthma: The Costs Of Meds And Challenges Of Care
Although asthma can usually be controlled with prescription medications, being able to afford them requires good insurance or lots of disposable income. Meanwhile, reducing the emergency-room visits of children who suffer from asthma is a key to holding down costs and having better luck controlling the condition.
A New Alliance: Medicine And Finance
The New York Times reports on how health professionals are increasingly urging patients to pay costs not covered by insurance with lines of credit or special credit cards — all of which can be arranged in the provider’s office. Meanwhile, Bloomberg takes a look at a new trend regarding the payment of deductibles.
State-Run Marketplaces Rebounding From Opening Snags
Politico Pro examines how the marketplaces operated by states compare to the federally run operation. Other outlets look at some of the individual issues in states.
Health Law Impact: Some Consumers Likely To Run Into Penalties
News outlets look at a variety of policy issues surrounding the health overhaul, including what might lead people to not sign up and face a fine, how Virginia insurers priced their plans based on bariatric surgery costs and the campaign to sign up Native Americans.
Medicare Open Enrollment Starts Tuesday
Beneficiaries are encouraged to take a close look at their options during their upcoming enrollment period, which is separate from the sign-up in the health law’s marketplaces.