Latest KFF Health News Stories
Don Berwick’s Newest Phase: Candidate, But Still Dr. Quality
The former acting administrator of CMS, now running for governor of Massachusetts, explains his “Letter to the People of England,” a call for continuous learning to improve quality within Britain’s National Health Service.
Michigan Senate Approves Expansion Of Medicaid
The vote was a victory for Republican Gov. Rick Snyder, who pushed for passage, bucking the sentiments of many in his party. It is now all but certain that nearly half a million residents will gain coverage when Michigan joins the list of states opting to expand the program under the federal health law.
Obama Administration Releases Final Rules For Individual Mandate
The rules codify the penalties under the 2010 Affordable Care Act, as well as who will be exempt from them.
ACOs’ Coordinated Care Savings May Be Contagious
Accountable care organizations (ACOs) may actually be the unicorns we’ve been waiting for, spreading their cost-saving magic throughout the health system. An early cost-sharing program in Massachusetts designed to cut costs for private Blue Cross Blue Shield patients also lowered costs for Medicare patients who were seen by the same providers, according to a study published […]
Survey: Big Business May Shift Retirees, Part-Timers To Insurance Exchanges
The National Business Group On Health’s annual survey of large employers asked whether they expected various groups currently covered by their plans to choose the health law’s new coverage in 2014.
Americans Hear More About Health Law, But Not From Most-Trusted Sources
The public’s awareness of new marketplaces is growing, but potential customers are getting much of their information about the health law from sources they don’t trust very much, according to a poll released Wednesday. Starting Oct. 1, people lacking insurance can begin enrolling in plans through online marketplaces, also called exchanges, which will be run by the […]
Deadline Delayed For Finalizing Details With Insurance Plans On Federal Exchanges
Reuters reports these agreements are not likely to be signed until mid-September. Also in the news, the race is on to train navigators while in Washington state, Group Health will omit abortion coverage in exchange plans. And Republicans on Capitol Hill offer a new plan for insuring government officials.
Sarah Palin Signs Up To Boost ‘Defund Obamacare’ Effort
Battles over funding Obamacare continue as both sides lay plans to raise their voices over the other. In the meantime, former vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin backs a GOP plan to deny federal government operating funds unless Obamacare funding is left out.
Wal-Mart To Offer Health Benefits To Same-Sex Partners Of Employees
The nation’s largest private employer said it’s making the move to have one policy for the entire company, which must otherwise navigate each state’s laws regarding civil unions and domestic partnerships.
Polls Offer Insights About How The Health Law Is Playing Out
One poll, conducted by the Kaiser Family Foundation, found that the public is increasingly aware of the health law and its online insurance marketplaces, but what they are hearing is not necessarily from sources they trust the most. Another survey by Deft Research found that older people are more likely to duck the individual mandate due to cost concerns.
New Models For Care Coordination And Accountability Cut Costs, Study Finds
The study, published in Tuesday’s Journal of the American Medical Association, examined how some approaches that lower spending and improve quality for one set of patients could spill over and benefit other patients.
Viewpoints: Upton Says GOP Health Ideas Overlooked; Tying Insurance To Jobs Is A Bad Idea
A selection of editorials and opinions on health care from around the country.
State Highlights: Fla. Nursing Homes Quietly Drop Pediatric Units
A selection of health policy stories from New York, Florida, Virginia, California, Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
Pennsylvania Blues Plan Pinpoints Potential Customers Using Data
With less than five weeks before the online exchanges created by the Affordable Care Act open for enrollment, insurers are using tools pioneered by political campaigns to identify potential customers and analyze their needs.
First Edition: August 28, 2013
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including reports about the vote by Michigan lawmakers to expand Medicaid.
Administration Releases New Rules To Implement Health Law’s Individual Mandate
As congressional Republicans push for a delay in the 2010 health law’s individual mandate, the Obama administration Tuesday announced final regulations implementing the requirement that most Americans have health insurance coverage by Jan. 1 or pay a fine. The document from the Treasury Department and the Internal Revenue Service is in addition to regulations the Department of […]
CDC Study: Schools Are Getting Healthier
Nowadays, the hub for developing healthy habits isn’t just the gym or home. For kids, at least, it’s increasingly their schools, according to a study released this week by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. School districts across the country are demonstrating a range of improvements in terms of nutrition, exercise and tobacco policies. For instance, after […]
Many Breast-Feeding Moms Unaware Of Health Law Help
This story was produced in partnership with New moms crave information, whether it’s car-seat safety ratings, the pros and cons of pacifiers or how best to sooth a colicky infant. So it’s a little surprising that many moms aren’t up to speed on how the Affordable Care Act could benefit them. The law has specific […]
Colorado’s Insurance Commissioner Braces For Bumps In The Road
Colorado, which is preparing for the Oct. 1 launch of its new online insurance marketplace, expects bumps in the road as residents start enrolling in new health coverage options created by the Affordable Care Act. “We’re going to have 500,000 new customers,” said Marguerite Salazar, the state’s new insurance commissioner, during an Aug. 19 interview […]
Health Law In Cross Hairs As Debt-Limit Deadline Approaches
Treasury Secretary Jack Lew said Monday the nation will hit its debt limit in mid-October, setting up a potential clash between the White House and some House Republicans who say they will tie their votes on raising the debt ceiling to defunding the health law. Also in the news, a survey of business economists cites future deficits as the nation’s most pressing problem, which will be exacerbated by aging baby boomers reliant on Social Security and Medicare.