Latest KFF Health News Stories
State Roundup: AP Probes Va. Hospital’s Actions In Woman’s Death
A selection of health policy stories from Nebraska, Missouri, Virginia, California, Kansas and Minnesota.
For Patients, What A Difference A Note Makes
Doctors are required by federal law to provide patients with a copy of their medical notes upon request, but few patients ask and doctors generally don’t make the process easy. When patients were offered online access, however, 90 percent read their doctors’ notes with some impressive results. A study published in the most recent issue […]
Senate Leaders Working On Post-Election Plan To Avoid ‘Fiscal Cliff’
The New York Times reports that a bipartisan group is trying to find a path to a deficit reduction deal, but Democrats and Republicans still remain far apart on details.
Washington Post Buys Major Stake In Celtic Healthcare Inc.; Tenet Plans Buybacks
News outlets report on these health business developments.
Post Office’s Retiree Health Benefits Hole Gets Deeper
On Monday, the agency defaulted on a $5.6 billion payment for its future retiree health benefits.
Clouds And Venture Capital: Both Sides Of Health Technology News
NPR reports on how cloud computing is making the discovery of new drugs and new medical treatments easier and less expensive, but Reuters reports that venture captial funding for health technology is getting harder to come by.
Census Reports Americans Go To The Doctor Less Often
A study of working-age people found that the average number of doctor appointments dropped from 4.8 visits a year in 2001 to 3.9 visits in 2010.
Study Finds Access To Doctors’ Notes Helps Patients Manage Their Health
Consumers are more likely to understand health issues and maintain medication schedules.
Study Finds Medicare May Favor Skilled-Nursing Facilities Over Hospice
According to findings published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, almost a third of Medicare beneficiaries getting end-of-life care use their benefits to pay for nursing home services.
Liberty University Hopes To Revive Health Law Challenge
The school says its suit raises questions not answered by the Supreme Court in its June decision and is asking the high court to order an appeals court to hear the case.
A selection of editorials and opinions on health care from around the nation.
First Edition: October 2, 2012
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including reports about states’ readiness to implement the health law.
Insurance Dependents Can Face Special Challenges On Privacy
The health law may create new challenges for maintaining dependents’ medical confidentiality.
Drug Coupons: A Good Deal For The Patient, But Not The Insurer
Makers of brand-name prescription drugs often offer discounts to help defray patients’ co-pay costs, but insurers say that drives up their overall health spending.
Today’s Headlines – Oct. 1, 2012
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including reports about the start of a Medicare pay-for-performance effort as well as the latest from the campaign trail. The Associated Press: Why It Matters: Issues At Stake In Election America’s health care system is unsustainable. It’s not one problem, but three: cost, quality and coverage. […]
Eyes Turn To Arkansas’ Bold Effort To Cut Medicaid Costs, Add Transparency
Arkansas hopes a unique collaboration with the state’s big insurers can help them and the state.
Campaign Issues And Answers: Health Coverage, Costs, Quality
Policy positions related to the future of the nation’s health system have taken on significance for presidential candidates, as have issues related to women’s health, entitlement spending and deficit reduction.
Medicare Begins Latest Pay-For-Performance Effort; Hospital Readmissions Among Program Targets
Medicare is beginning to withhold funding if hospitals readmit too many patients within 30 days of their release. It’s part of a broader federal push to improve health care quality.
Medicare’s Pay For Performance Effort Begins, Targeting Quality and Readmissions
Monday is the start of the federal fiscal year, and with it begins Medicare’s biggest effort yet at paying for performance. Starting Oct. 1, Medicare is withholding 1 percent of its regular hospital reimbursements in the new Value-Based Purchasing Program, which was created by the 2010 health care law. Over the course of the year, […]
Missouri, Wisconsin Senate Races Grab Headlines
News outlets report on the Missouri Senate race pitting Democratic Sen. Claire McCaskill against GOP challenger Todd Akin and the Wisconsin contest between Democratic Rep. Tammy Baldwin and former Gov. Tommy Thompson. In both cases, themes of the health law are playing an important role.