Latest KFF Health News Stories
Senate Candidates Spar Over Medicare, Health Policies
Campaign debates in Virginia and Michigan focus on Medicare and health issues while the GOP candidate in Ohio says he has not yet signed on to Republican plan to revamp Medicare.
First Edition: October 9, 2012
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including reports about how a new poll indicates GOP presidential hopeful Mitt Romney gained a significant bounce from last week’s debate performance.
Federal Retiree Weighs Whether To Keep FEHB Or Switch To Medigap
Insurance columnist answers readers’ questions about federal workers’ best deal on supplementing Medicare and signing up for Medicare if you’re living abroad.
Today’s Headlines – Oct. 8, 2012
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including reports and analysis from the campaign trail regarding both the presidential contest as well as House and Senate races. Los Angeles Times: Obama’s Healthcare Law: Historic Reform And Signature Failure As the president seeks reelection, the Affordable Care Act, passed in 2010, stands as a […]
Presidential Candidates Focus Message On Medicare, Health Law
GOP presidential hopeful Mitt Romney campaigned in Florida and blasted the health law as a threat to seniors while President Barack Obama attempted to highlight Romney’s changes in position.
Feisty Campaign Ads, Debates In Congressional Races Take On Health Policy Themes
News outlets also report on how health policies are playing in specific contests, such as Senate campaigns in Connecticut, Arizona and Wisconsin, as well as the Bilbray-Peters House race in California.
Loose Oversight May Be To Blame In Meningitis Outbreak
The New York Times reports that “scant oversight” and “loose regulations” of a drug maker allowed a company to sell thousands of unsafe drug vials to pain clinics in 23 states.
UnitedHealth To Buy Brazilian Health Insurer
Bloomberg reports that UnitedHealth Group agreed to pay about $4.9 billion to buy 90 percent of Amil Participacoes SA, a Brazil-based insurer and hospitals operator.
Medicaid News: Florida Program Caught Between Feds And State Efforts
The Department of Health and Human Services and Florida officials negotiate changes to the state’s Medicaid plan. In the meantime, Arkansas doctors offer a cautious endorsement as the state tries “episodic” payments for some common conditions.
How The Health Law Could Play Into Consumers’ Decisions During Open Enrollment Season
The Fiscal Times details how the parts of the 2010 law will create new choices and responsibilities for employers, insurers and employees.
MedPAC Staffers Recommend Allowing Geographically Based Medicare Physician Payments To Proceed
These pay reductions have long been frozen, but that freeze is set to expire on Dec. 31. MedPAC, itself, has yet to vote on the issue. Meanwhile, a pair of KHN stories examine separate Medicare issues, including the difficult decisions in play as a family member enrolls in the program, as well as the details of a study about seniors’ ER visits.
Progress, Obstacles and Lawsuits Affecting Health Law Implementation
A stack of roadblocks confront federal officials implementing parts of the health care reform law including on health law exchanges, a free contraception coverage mandate rule and a board of Medicare spending growth board — IPAB.
Viewpoints: Romney’s Views On Health Care Still Mysterious; Treating The Dying Patient
A selection of editorials and opinions on health care from around the country.
State Roundup: Texas Docs Turn To Politics; Calif. Legislative Action On Health
News outlets provide health care news from California, Montana and Texas.
New Legislation Proposed To Improve Seniors’ Care Coordination
The bill backed by Rep. Allyson Schwartz, D-Pa., and Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., would promote better coordination between medical and social services for elderly people by building on the Older Americans Act.
First Edition: October 8, 2012
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including reports and analysis from the campaign trail regarding both the presidential contest as well as House and Senate races.
Critical Decisions Await Patient, Family Members When Medicare Deadline Looms
Every day, at least 10,000 people turn 65 and most become eligible for Medicare. That can raise lots of questions: for those still working, should they enroll or keep their company’s health plan? If they retire, how does that affect spouses and children?
Romney Takes Heat Over Debate Health Care Claims
The New York Times examined Mitt Romney’s claims that he was very effective at working with Democrats when he was governor of Massachusetts.
Study: Most Seniors’ ER Visits Could Be Avoided
Nearly 60 percent of Medicare beneficiary visits to emergency rooms and 25 percent of their hospital admissions were “potentially preventable”– had patients received better care at home or in outpatient settings — according to results of a study released Friday by a congressional advisory board. “These are spectacular rates,” said Scott Armstrong, a member of the […]
Today’s Headlines: Oct. 5, 2012
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including more coverage of how health policy issues were addressed during Wednesday’s presidential debate. The New York Times: Entering Stage Right, Romney Moved To Center He used the first presidential debate to speak out forcefully to its wide television audience against the idea of cutting taxes […]