Latest KFF Health News Stories
Nearly Half Of States Opt Not To Expand Medicaid
With most state legislative sessions coming to a close, 23 states and the District of Columbia have agreed to expand the program, as laid out under the health law. Many of the others will leave billions of federal dollars on the table, while a handful are still undecided.
Lawmakers Gird For New Abortion Fight As Texas Special Session Convenes
Texas lawmakers resume debate on proposed abortion legislation as the state legislature opens a special session Monday. Republicans say they will quickly pass new abortion restrictions despite opponents’ efforts. Meanwhile, the Congressional Budget Office projected that a House bill that would ban abortions after 20 weeks would increase Medicaid costs by as much as $400 million.
State Highlights: Calif. Bill To Fine Firms With Workers On Medi-Cal Fails
A collection of health policy stories from California, Pennsylvania, Oregon, Mississippi, Massachusetts, Georgia and Iowa.
This week’s studies come from Health Affairs, the Urban Institute, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, The Kaiser Family Foundation, the University of California, Berkeley, the University of California, Los Angeles, The Center of Excellence in Public Health Workforce Studies and news outlets.
Stakes Are High For Rollout Of Health Exchanges
An estimated 7 million people will shop for individual health coverage this fall in the new online health insurance marketplaces, with another 2 million seeking coverage through the law’s small business program. Federal and state officials are working full tilt to have them ready in time.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including coverage of the Obama administration’s final contraceptive coverage rule as well as a range of other stories on health law implementation issues.
Mississippi Dems: We Were ‘Bamboozled’ On Medicaid
With just two days to spare, and with plenty of political drama, Mississippi lawmakers approved a plan late Friday to renew Medicaid for another year. The joint federal-state program, which provides health insurance to some 700,000 poor Mississippians, was set to expire Sunday night. Democrats had pushed hard to expand coverage to 300,000 more people, […]
Thousands Of Mississippi Consumers May Not Be Offered Insurance Subsidies
No insurer is offering to sell plans in dozens of mostly rural counties, which would prevent residents from obtaining subsidies through a federal online marketplace.
Map: Where Insurance Options May Be Lacking In Mississippi Marketplace
Thirty-six of Mississippi’s 82 counties may lack a subsidized health insurance option when a new marketplace opens this fall. Humana and Centene’s Magnolia Health Plan are expected to be available the remaining counties, noted by the dots on the map.
HHS Seeks To Address Religious Employers’ Concerns In Contraceptive Coverage Final Rule
Updated at 3:45 p.m. The Obama administration issued final rules Friday governing contraception coverage in the sweeping 2010 health care law that officials said more clearly respond to concerns from religious groups that object to this requirement. But it’s unclear if the new rules will shield the administration from charges that requiring employers who oppose contraception […]
GOP Senators Press Sebelius To Back Away From Helping Nonprofit
The group of 28 senators are also seeking more information about the health secretary’s efforts to help the nonprofit Enroll America to get more people signed up for coverage available through the health law. Meanwhile, the head of the House Republican Study Committee urged the NBA and the NFL not to promote the health care law.
Impact Of Health Law On Costs Reaches Beyond Premium Pricetags
Much of the debate about the overhaul’s costs has focused on “rate shock,” but other issues also are in play.
What The High Court’s Affirmative Action Decision Might Mean To Med Schools
Wylie Lopez said he often has to prove himself. If classmates suggest that he got an internship placement because he’s Hispanic, the to-be second year medical school student said he has no problem showing them his grades, or MCAT scores. “It’s a fair argument,” said Lopez, who grew up in a rough, working-class neighborhood. “If […]
Feds Shut Down More Than 1,600 Fake Online Pharmacies
Authorities from the Food and Drug Administration closed these illegal pharmacy websites and sent letters to hundreds more that sell counterfeit prescription drugs and dangerous supplements.
CMS Proposes Medicare Payment Adjustment For Home Health Agencies
A proposed rule released Thursday would cause home health agencies to experience a 1.5 percent reduction in their Medicare payments for 2014, which the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services estimates could reduce payments to these facilities by $290 million next year.
Panel Studying Long-Term Care Issues Holds First Meeting
The commission, established by Congress in January, faces some hurdles in getting a report done by September.
High Court Moves Tentatively Toward Hearing Case On Abortion-Inducing Drugs
The Supreme Court asked Oklahoma’s Supreme Court to clarify a law that state judges had struck down as an unwarranted curb on medical practice and the right to abortion.
A selection of editorials and opinions on health care from around the country.
Appeals Court Green Lights Hobby Lobby’s Legal Challenge To Contraceptive Rule
A federal appeals court in Denver said Thursday that companies, whether they are for profit or not, have religious rights and that the challenge brought by Hobby Lobby Stores Inc. and its sister company can go forward.
Texas Steels For New Abortion Bill Fight — Set For Monday
A special session set for Monday in Texas will reignite debate over a controversial abortion bill that was blocked this week after a marathon filibuster and shouting fracas by the bill’s detractors. Texas Gov. Rick Perry was critical of the lawmaker who led the filibuster.