Latest KFF Health News Stories
CDC: All Baby Boomers Should Be Tested For Hepatitis C
When it comes to preventive screenings, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention wants baby boomers to add one more item to the list. The CDC is calling for all Americans born between 1945 and 1965 to be tested for the Hepatitis C virus as part of expanded recommendations to limit related illnesses and deaths that were released today. Hepatitis […]
Don’t Change Medicare, Most Republicans Say In Poll
As Rep. Paul Ryan’s plan to overhaul Medicare makes campaign headlines, a majority of Republicans oppose changing the government program for seniors, according to a new poll by the Kaiser Family Foundation and the Washington Post. (KHN is an editorially independent program of the foundation.) That could spell trouble for presumptive presidential nominee Mitt Romney and his designated running mate Ryan as […]
Today’s Headlines – August 16, 2012
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including reports about how Medicare has taken center stage in the presidential campaign. The Associated Press/Washington Post: Reversing Obama Medicare Cuts May Backfire On Romney By Speeding Up Program’s Insolvency GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney’s new promise to restore the Medicare cuts made by President Barack […]
Top-Of-The-Ticket Sparring Focuses On Medicare
In a Wednesday campaign appearance, President Barack Obama and GOP presidential hopeful Mitt Romney went on the attack, trading barbs over the Medicare program. For Romney, it included taking steps to distance himself from the ideas advanced in the House of Representatives by Rep. Paul Ryan, his pick for running mate.
Ryan Sees Medicare Issue As Opportunity
Paul Ryan addressed Medicare in a stump speech for the first time, saying the debate is one “we will win.” But Vice President Joe Biden offered a very different view of the Republicans’ Medicare plan, calling it a “voucher system.”
State Roundup: Insurer Earnings Drop In Mass.
A selection of health policy stories from Massachusetts, California, Kansas and Minnesota.
Denver Health: Low Readmission Rate Not Easy To Emulate
If Denver Health can do it, every hospital ought to be able to do it. That’s the implicit challenge of the new Medicare penalties for high hospital readmission rates that will be hitting 2,211 American hospitals come October. Denver Health, despite being a safety net hospital, won’t be paying a penalty: It has an enviably […]
A View From The Field: How Medicare Is Playing In Congressional, Senate Races
From Texas to Connecticut, members of Congress and their challengers are pressing their views on the federal health program for seniors.
How The Entertainment Industry Relates To Mental Illness
The Los Angeles Times reports on changing public perceptions regarding mental illness and how they are reflected in television characterizations.
Hospital Records Link C. Diff To 2 Times More Deaths Than Federal Estimates Indicate
According to USA Today, the incidence of C.Diff is far greater than federal reports suggest.
Hedge Funds See Investment Potential Resulting From Health Law
Fund managers appeared to be placing bets on health insurers — starting before the Supreme Court’s health law ruling.
Congressional Leaders Plan To Maximize This Election-Year Medicare Debate
House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, urged his fellow Republicans to “play offense” on the issue while their Democratic counterparts plan to keep the heat on.
Local news outlets report on developments at area hospitals.
A selection of editorials and opinions on health care from around the nation.
HHS Using Pharmacies To Sell Health Law Benefits To Seniors
The Department of Health and Human Services is touting a partnership with major retail pharmacies to tell seniors about health law benefits.
Study: Retail Clinic Popularity Spiking
Visits to retail clinics increased more than 400 percent from 2007-2009, when nearly 6 million visits were made to the clinics in drug stores, supermarkets or other stores, a new Rand study says.
Parsing Medicare Policy And Politics
GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney’s promise to restore the Medicare provisions cut by the 2010 health law would move the insolvency date of the program closer, reports The Associated Press. Other news outlets examine the Medicare policy specifics that Rep. Paul Ryan, the likely GOP vice presidential pick, has advanced in his House budget proposals.
Longer Looks: A Jack-Of-All-Trades Surgeon Takes Care Of Nantucket
This week’s articles come from WBUR, The Washington Post Magazine and The New York Times.
First Edition: August 16, 2012
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including reports about how Medicare has taken center stage in the presidential campaign.
Q&A: Paying For Ambulance Services
Michelle Andrews answers a reader question about what you can do when insurance only covers a portion of an ambulance bill.