Latest KFF Health News Stories
Partisan Politics, Public Distrust Thwart Efforts To Carry Out Health Law
The New York Times reports that partisan gridlock will likely prevent Congress from making even small adjustments. Meanwhile, a CNN poll finds that a majority of Americans continue to oppose the measure, which adds to the Obama administration’s challenge of selling it to the public.
Medicare Paying For An Increasing Number Of ‘Functional’ Eye Lifts
The Center for Public Integrity reports on this trend.
Insurance Exchanges Become Health Law Opponents’ Latest Target
Also in the news, the latest developments from California, Mississippi, Vermont, Kansas, Minnesota and New Hampshire regarding the law’s online insurance marketplaces.
Texas Lawmakers Pass Bill To Stop Medicaid Expansion; Ariz. Debate Heats Up
The Republican-controlled Texas Legislature makes changes to a bill so that the state bans expansion under the Affordable Care Act but doesn’t violate current Medicaid law. In Arizona, meanwhile, Gov. Jan Brewer vetoes five bills to prod lawmakers to expand the program and pass a budget.
HHS Sees Cost Savings In The Cloud
The Wall Street Journal reports on this development.
The studies in JAMA Internal Medicine look at issues surrounding coordinated care between doctors and their patients.
Sebelius’ Actions Under Microscope As She Rolls Out Health Law
News outlets report how Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius has become a “lightning rod” for criticism as the administration’s central player responsible for implementing the high-stakes law.
Roundup: Maryland Hospital Rate System Faltering
News outlets cover a variety of health care issues in Maryland, D.C., New York, Oklahoma and North Carolina.
A selection of editorials and opinions on health care from around the country.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including stories about the strategies of some businesses — small and large — to blunt the health law’s impact.
Obamacare Partisan Fights Affecting Public Opinion, Capitol Hill, Health Coverage For Poor
As the health law comes closer to full implementation in 2014, the political parties are far apart and likely to stay there.
Coverage Gaps Can Hamper Access To Some Breast Cancer Screening, Care
Angelina Jolie’s announcement about her double mastectomy has raised interest in genetic testing. These expensive tests are generally covered for women with a family history, but other screenings and treatment needs may be limited by plans.
Obamacare Insurance Won’t Cover Weight-Loss Surgery In Many States
In more than two dozen states, obesity treatments
In Case Of Tornado, EHRs Can Be Just The Prescription
Everyone expects a hospital to be ready to jump into action when disaster strikes. But what about when the disaster devastates the hospital itself? Turns out, it helps a lot to have an electronic medical record system in place. At least that was the case at Moore Medical Center in Oklahoma, a small hospital right in […]
Mass. Advocates Want To Snuff Out Higher Premiums For Smokers
You’ve heard all the campaigns and statistics: Smoking Kills. It’s the leading cause of preventable death in the U.S. And it’s expensive. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says smoking costs the country $193 billion a year in lost productivity and health care spending. Add another $10 billion for secondhand smoking expenses. That’s why […]
Calif. Unveils Tentative Price Tags For Health Plans On The Exchange
The monthly cost for policies sold on the state-run exchange came in lower than the 30 percent rate increases some had anticipated, though some consumers will still experience sharply higher premiums. Blue Shield of California estimated that current customers would see rate increases of about 13 percent.
Tensions, Threats Emerge In Ariz. Medicaid Expansion Debate
In addition, the legislative debate continues in Texas while in Florida there’s speculation about what’s to become of the state’s uninsured population now that the legislature didn’t take action.
Research Roundup: Getting A Critical Care Doc At Night; Poverty Among Seniors
This week’s studies come from JAMA Internal Medicine, the New England Journal of Medicine, the Annals of Family Medicine, The Kaiser Family Foundation, the Health Care Cost Institute and various news outlets.
Viewpoints: We Need More ‘Socialism’; The IRS’s ‘Unwelcome Role’; ‘Fog Of Obamacare’
A selection of editorials and opinions on health care from around the country.
State Highlights: La. Grand Jury To Examine $200M Medicaid Contract
A selection of health policy stories from Louisiana, Oregon, Connecticut, Kansas, North Carolina, California, and New York.