Latest KFF Health News Stories
State News: Calif. To Probe Hospital/Doctor Consolidations
News outlets report on a variety of health issues in California, Illinois, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Oregon and Virginia.
Why Are Health Care Costs Increasing At A Slower Rate?
The National Journal offers an analysis of the various forces that could be behind this trend.
NYC Board Of Health OKs Nation’s First Ban Of Oversized Sugary Drinks
The mayoral-appointed panel outlawed the sale of sugary drinks in sizes larger than 16 ounces nearly everywhere, except in grocery and convenience stores.
A selection of editorials and opinions on health care from around the nation.
Court Denies Maine Medicaid Lawsuit, Says To Give CMS Time To Rule On Cuts
A federal appeals court rejected a Maine lawsuit Thursday and said the state — which wants to cut 30,000 from its Medicaid rolls — needs to allow the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services time to review its request.
First Edition: September 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.
Q&A: What’s The Difference Between A Doctor And A Nurse Practitioner?
Michelle Andrews answers a reader question about the differences in practice and qualifications between doctors and nurse practitioners. She discusses the movement to require nurse practitioners to have a clinical doctoral degree although the 2015 timeframe she describes is a goal, rather than a requirement.
Kansas Wrestles With Whether To Decide Which Health Insurance Benefits Are Essential
Officials say if the state wants to determine what benefits are available on all plans sold on the health exchanges, the governor needs to act by Sept. 30. But he wants to wait until after the presidential election.
Long-Term Care A Big Time Worry in California, Study Finds
It turns out Republicans and Democrats do have something they can agree on this election season – they’re worried about how to pay for long-term care when they or a family member can no longer live at home. A new poll released Wednesday by The SCAN Foundation and the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research […]
Family, Community Ties Key To Fighting Chronic Disease Among Latinos, Officials Say
Mayra Alvarez, one of four daughters, said her mother makes ends meet in California by cleaning houses during the week and caring for an elderly person on weekends. And when it comes to deciding between paying for a preventive screening test for herself or spending the money on her youngest daughter’s education, she said her […]
Long-Term Care A Big Time Worry In California, Study Finds
A new poll released Wednesday found half of Calif. voters say they won’t be able to afford the long-term care a family member will need.
Today’s Headlines – Sept. 13, 2012
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including news from the Census Bureau that, although record numbers of poor people persist, the number of uninsured Americans dropped by 1.3 million. The Washington Post: Number Of Uninsured Americans Drops By 1.3 Million, Census Report Shows One spot of good news in the census data […]
Kohl, Grassley Press CMS On Long-Delayed Physician Payment Sunshine Rule
In other hearings, Republican lawmakers pressed the IRS about the regulatory costs of the health law and criticized the requirement that all insurance plans cover birth control.
New Efforts To Improve Medicaid in California, Colorado
Advocates caution that California’s ambitious program for dual eligibles could be problematic, while
Colorado’s effort to move Medicaid patients into medical homes is showing savings.
Mo. Lawmakers Override Veto Of Bill Limiting Contraceptive Coverage
Gov. Jay Nixon had argued that state law already provided protections. Also, a religiously oriented business files suit against the Obama administration policy requiring employers to cover contraceptives.
Sebelius Found To Have Violated The Hatch Act
The U.S. Office of Special Counsel concludes that HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius violated the federal law that restricts political activity by government officials. Also in the news, the Wall Street Journal reports on some of the specific considerations in the mix as advisers to GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney look for candidates to lead the Department of Health and Human Services and to fill other Cabinet Spots — if Romney wins the presidency.
Politico Pro details findings from the Commonwealth Fund that these pools are providing a “bridge” to extend insurance coverage until key parts of the health law take effect in 2014.
New Ads, Campaign Appearances Deepen Political Lines In The Sand
As former President Bill Clinton concludes his two-day Florida campaign tour for President Barack Obama, he continued to hammer domestic themes including the importance of the health law and to criticize GOP statements regarding Medicare.
Number Of Uninsured Americans Drops By 1.3 million
New census data shows that for the first time since 2007, the number of Americans without health insurance declined. However, high rates of poverty persisted.
Automatic 2 Percent Medicare Cut Would Hurt Health Industry, Groups Warn
Health care provider organizations have joined forces to urge Congress to avert Medicare cuts. The result, they warn, will be more than 760,000 health-related jobs lost by 2021.