Latest KFF Health News Stories
Providers Search For New Ways To Diagnose, Treat Mental Illness
Health care providers are trying to find tests and create new smartphone and tablet apps to better diagnose and treat mental illness.
Viewpoints: Health Care’s Hidden Consensus; Examining The Fee-For-Service Payment System
A selection of editorials and opinions on health care from around the country.
Clinics Focus On Helping Pregnant Women Deal With Prescription Drug Addictions
The Wall Street Journal examines the growing number of women addicted to pain killers and efforts to help them through pregnancies.
Anti-Abortion Bills In Wisconsin, Texas, North Carolina Show GOP Muscle
Anti-abortion activists in Republican-dominated states have succeeded in pushing various bills that limit the procedure.
Advocates Raise Concerns About How States Handle Medicaid Managed Care
Patient advocates are urging greater oversight of the private programs. In other news, a Philadelphia couple details their struggle to get health insurance for their son.
HHS Awards Contract To British Company To Run Obamacare Exchanges
News outlets examined a variety of health law implementation issues over the holiday weekend.
A selection of health policy stories from Oregon, California, Massachusetts, Alaska, Kansas, North Carolina, Minnesota and Iowa.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including news about a new ad campaign against the health law, more reaction to the administration’s delay of the employer mandate provision and states efforts to restrict abortions.
How Baby Erik Got Health Insurance
It took his parents 86 phone calls and six months to get their newborn enrolled in a Pennsylvania program for children.
Democratic Senators Defend Delay Of Employer Mandate
Sens. Reed and Menendez say the decision will not stop other consumer changes in the health law and will allow officials to more carefully implement the overhaul. Meanwhile, a conservative group is planning an ad campaign against the law.
National Health Plans, Designed To Spur Competition, May Be Unavailable In Some States Next Year
The federal health law requires two plans in every state, but few insurers are lining up to play.
Advocates Urge More Government Oversight Of Medicaid Managed Care
The health law’s expansion of Medicaid is putting a spotlight on how regulators monitor the performance of privately-run plans.
A Busy ER Doctor Slows Down To Help Patients Cope With Pain
After 20 years as a busy ER doctor, Linda Smith now finds satisfaction guiding patients through treatment for life-threatening illnesses.
FAQ: What Workers And Employers Need To Know About The Postponed Employer Mandate
Companies with at least 50 workers now have until 2015 to provide coverage. Here’s what that change means – and doesn’t mean – for employees and employers.
Employers Get Extra Year To Carry Out Health Law Coverage Mandate
The Obama administration’s surprise announcement will delay penalties for one year — until after the mid-term elections — and raises doubts about the implementation process at a crucial moment. Officials said the extension was a response to business requests for more time to navigate complex regulations.
Businesses Welcome Delay For The Health Overhaul’s Employer Mandate
Large employers, many of which already provide coverage to full-time workers, cheered the news because it would relieve them of complex new reporting requirements. Businesses with fewer than 50 employees are not subject to the coverage mandate.
AMA To Do ‘Whatever We Can’ To Help Carry Out Health Law
The American Medical Association will do “whatever we can in our power” to help implement the 2010 health care law, the group’s president said Tuesday. In an interview taped for C-SPAN’s Newsmakers, Ardis Dee Hoven, who became the AMA’s 168th president last month, said the White House has not approached her or the AMA directly […]
Several outlets offer opinions on the Medicare system.
Announcement Of Delay In Health Law’s Employer Mandate Sparks Heated — And Contrary — Views
Among the range of perspectives offered by commentators: It is “the right thing to do” but the wrong way; “administration has undermined its sole claim to greatness;” “doesn’t have much effect.”
Employers Worry They’ll Pay Bill For Those Exempt From Contraceptive Mandate
Businesses are concerned that non-religious employers will end up covering the bill for religious groups that refuse to pay for contraception for their employees. Meanwhile, church leaders continue their push to broaden the exemption from the contraception coverage rule.