Latest KFF Health News Content

Latest KFF Health News Stories

The Enrollment Push Is On

Morning Briefing

During a Friday speech in California, President Barack Obama touted the health law’s benefits — highlighting the Golden State’s progress so far — in his effort to encourage young people and Latinos to sign up for coverage that will be available through new online insurance exchanges.

Going Viral With Public Health Messages

Morning Briefing

Kaiser Health News reports on how one doctor is using YouTube to communicate public health messages while The Washington Post reports on how a data event leads to consideration of health care cost solutions.

Grassley Continues Focus On Medicare Decision Trading Probe

Morning Briefing

Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, found that more than 400 people had access to information about the Medicare decision that triggered a spike in Wall Street trading more than two weeks before it was make public. Also on Capitol Hill, compounding pharmacies are lining up against legislation recently approved by the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee and a draft proposal to change Medicare’s sustainable growth rate formula draws critcisim.

Sequester’s Budget Cuts Slowing Alzheimer’s, Other Research

Morning Briefing

Media outlets analyze how budget cuts are undermining certain types of health research and how their bite in terms of non-discretionary spending could be even bigger in 2014. Also, it appears that the urgency surrounding a budget deal has faded.

The ‘Parallel Challenge:’ Coordinating Care For Mental And Physical Health Issues

Morning Briefing

The Los Angeles Times reports on how the needs of many patients who struggle with both physical and mental illnesses presents a challenge to the health care system in terms of contolling costs and improving the quality of care they receive. Additionally, the Boston Globe reports on a new approach to reduce hosptial readmissions.

First Edition: June 10, 2013

Morning Briefing

Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including reports about President Barack Obama’s efforts last week to urge uninsured people to sign up for the coverage that will soon become unavailable as a result of the health law.

A Doctor Goes Viral — On Purpose

KFF Health News Original

Dr. Zubin Damania, a.k.a. ZDoggMD, takes to YouTube to parody and pillory modern medicine. On his serious side, he’s founding a new kind of clinic to try to change primary care.

Obama: Health Law ‘Working The Way It’s Supposed To’ (Video)

KFF Health News Original

In California Friday, President Barack Obama praised the health law benefits already in place and talked about the state’s health insurance marketplace. He also placed a special emphasis on touting the law to the state’s Latino population.

Latinos Key To Obama’s Health Law Strategy

KFF Health News Original

President Barack Obama, who was re-elected with strong support from the Latino community, is in California today and will endorse a plan that focuses on getting Latino Americans signed up for coverage under his health care law. In remarks to the news media, slated to be given in San Jose, the president will lay out his […]

Obama To Tout California As Health Law Model

Morning Briefing

President Barack Obama is slated to speak in San Jose, Calif., about the implementation of the health law and point to the coordination among public and private groups there as a model for the rest of the country. Latinos — in California and across the nation — will be one of his target audiences.

Tech Experts Brace For Glitches When Health Exchange Websites Come Online

Morning Briefing

As planners race to finish building the online marketplaces that consumers can begin using Oct. 1 to shop for health insurance, experts expect some difficulties, according to The Wall Street Journal. Meanwhile, CQ HealthBeat examines whether the deductibles and out-of-pocket caps applied in these marketplaces will be too high.

Costs And Coverage: Trying To Discern Who Will Experience Health Law Gains Or Feel Its Pinch

Morning Briefing

The Wall Street Journal reports on how the law might impact small businesses that employ young and healthy workers as well as whether the measure’s new coverage might be too expensive for low-paid employees. Also in the news, a report concludes that U.S. consumers who purchase health insurance on the individual market saved $2.1 billion last year due to the overhaul’s rules.