Latest KFF Health News Stories
GOP Lawmakers Investigate Aspects Of Health Law’s Implementation
House Republican lawmakers are questioning hiring practices at the Department of Health and Human Services as well as how the Internal Revenue Service will enforce provisions of the health law.
State Roundup: Mont. Settlement Money To Pay For Uninsured’s Prescription Drugs
A selection of health policy news from Montana, Massachusetts, Georgia, Minnesota, California and Arizona.
VP Candidate Ryan Levels Sharp Critique Of Obama Abortion Position
The GOP vice presidential pick made these comments while speaking to a conservative audience at the Values Voter Summit in Washington, D.C. Meanwhile, Planned Parenthood was quick to hit back.
Health Law Complexities Create Challenges For Va. Senate Candidates
The Washington Post reports on how the challenges surrounding the implementation of the overhaul are leading Senate candidates in Virginia to some nuanced positions. Meanwhile, Kaiser Health News tracked weekend news coverage of statement by House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi on why she thinks the GOP position on Medicare will help Democrats take back the House.
UnitedHealth To Become Part Of Dow Jones Industrial Average
The inclusion of the nation’s largest health insurer in the prestigious market index reflects the importance of health care spending on the economy.
Medicaid Primary Care Pay Raise ‘Coming Soon,’ According To CMS Official
Medpage Today reports that Centers for Medicaid & CHIP Services Director Cindy Mann said during a conference call last week that the rule is in the process of being finalized.
A selection of editorials and opinions on health policy from around the nation.
Medicare Upcoding Could Be Adding To Health Care Costs
The Center for Public Integrity reports on a trend in which many physicians and other medical professionals are billing Medicare for complicated and costly care. Some say this pattern signals an increase in medical billing abuse while others maintain it reflects seniors’ need for more complex care.
Mo. College Files Its Own Lawsuit Over Contraception Mandate
In the meantime, Texas and Virginia officials also consider the health law’s contraception rule as well as new abortion regulations.
Mass. Court Upholds Dismissal Of Lawsuits Challenging Medicaid Payments
The Massachusetts’ court upheld the dismissal of lawsuits brought by some hospitals alleging the state’s 2006 health law didn’t reimburse them enough for caring for Medicaid patients.
First Edition: September 17, 2012
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including a number of reports about how Medicare and other health policy issues are playing important roles on the campaign trail.
Recessions Harm Older Workers’ Long-Term Health, Data Show
There are 20 million Americans between 55 and 60. Nearly 1 million are unemployed, according to the Labor Department. Many more lack health coverage, suggests the Census Bureau’s new report on income, poverty and health insurance. Thanks to the lousy economy, the whole group is at higher risk for long-term health problems and earlier death, suggests new research from Wellesley College. Wellesley economist Phillip B. Levine and colleagues mashed mortality and […]
Colorado Gets Closer To Essential Health Benefit Benchmark
Colorado is moving forward with broad consensus among the state’s decision makers on the minimum level of health coverage people will be required to carry beginning in 2014.
Democrats Confident That Medicare Issue Will Help Them Win In November
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi said that Republican plans for Medicare will drive votes to Democratic candidates.
White House Details The Reach Of Automatic Spending Cuts
Among the reductions is a 2 percent hit on Medicare provider payments. KHN tracked the news coverage on the announcement.
Hospital Readmission Rates Dropping Slightly, New Study Finds
A new government analysis has found that hospital readmission rates of Medicare patients have fallen more than previously reported, bolstering hope that hospitals are having some success at tackling this stubborn and expensive problem. Hospital readmissions have been getting extensive attention as a new penalty program kicks in next month, which will cost hospitals as […]
Automatic Budget Cuts Will Reduce Medicare Payments To Doctors, Providers By $11 Billion
The Obama administration released a report Friday afternoon detailing the automatic cuts that would begin in January as part of deal to raise the debt ceiling made last summer by the administration and Congress, staff writer Mary Agnes Carey reports.
Workers’ Poor Health Costs Employers $344 Billion, Study Finds
Health costs aren’t just about how much employers pay to provide health insurance: Workers’ poor health costs employers $344 billion annually in lost productivity and absenteeism, a research group estimates. “Employers haven’t looked at the impact of health on absence from work or on performance while at work,” says Thomas Parry of the Integrated Benefits Institute, a […]
Today’s Headlines – Sept. 14, 2012
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including stories detailing the politics stirred up by GOP vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan’s return to Capitol Hill, as well as reports about new poll numbers and the latest about how health issues are playing on the campaign trail. The Wall Street Journal: Spending Package Passes […]
Spending Measure Passes House With Ryan’s Support
House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan, R-Wis., returned to the chamber Thursday for the first time since he became the GOP vice presidential candidate, casting his vote for a measure that raised spending above the levels in his own budget. Republicans hailed him, while Democrats released a video highlighting his proposal to overhaul Medicare as a fixed subsidy program.