Latest KFF Health News Stories
House GOP Seeks Details On Administration Health Spending
Members of the House Ways and Means and Energy and Commerce committees ask for information on health law implementation spending by a CMS office and on the Medicare Advantage bonus payments program.
Health Insurer Rebates: Where Has The Money Gone?
The New York Times reports that many consumers who get health coverage through their employers wonder what happened to the insurer rebates that were part of “the great health insurance giveback” under the health law. Also in the news, The Associated Press details who will be hit the hardest by the health law’s tax provisions.
Hospital Debt, Financial Practices Draw Investors’ Attention
Also in the news, The Wall Street Journal reports that consumers may be returning to the doctor after a period during which the difficult economy appeared to keep them away.
Pressure Builds On Presidential Nominees On Health Care Issues
The presidential race picks up with conservatives pushing presumptive GOP nominee Mitt Romney to pick Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., as his running mate while Romney’s latest TV ad accuses President Obama of using his health law to “declare war” on religion.
Anxiety Index: Survey Examines Baby Boomers’ Concerns About Medicare
The AARP found that health expenses ranked fourth on the list of concerns.
Medicare Payments For Anemia Drug Too High
News outlets report on Medicare policy developments.
States Set Standards, Continue Health Insurance Exchanges Fight
State officials in California are moving to define standards for insurers hoping to participate in the insurance exchanges, while a legislative committee in Colorado gives the state permission to continue building its exchange.
State Officials Seek Medicaid Savings In Cuts, Payment Methods, Managed Care
Facing budget pressures, state officials in Georgia, Minnesota, Kansas and West Virginia are among those making cuts and switching to new payment methods as well as to managed care to cut the cost of the state-federal health care program for the poor and disabled.
A selection of editorials and opinions on health care from around the nation.
State News: Mammogram Rates Did Not Rise Under Expanded Mass. Coverage
News outlets report on health care news in California, Kansas, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, South Carolina, Texas and Wisconsin.
Research Roundup: Unnecessary Heart Tests; Americans Hit The Walkway
News outlets reported this week on a variety of studies dealing with health care policies.
KHN periodically shares readers’ comments on recent original stories.
First Edition: August 10, 2012
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including reports about the health law’s tax provisions and insurance rebates.
Medicare Seeks To Cut Number Of Seniors Denied Nursing Home Coverage After Hospital Stays
The government is testing new hospital payment rules to see if fewer beneficiaries will be classified as observation patients, which can be a costly designation for seniors.
Colorado Pursues Insurance Exchange-But Keeps Fighting About It
A special legislative committee gave Colorado the green light on Thursday to continue working on its health insurance exchange by allowing it to apply for a $43 million federal grant. But first the lawmakers had to fight about it.
Survey: Boomers Worry About Medicare’s Future, Want More Details From Candidates
A new AARP survey suggests that baby boomers aren’t confident they can retire as planned – or that they will have access to Medicare when they do. The organization asked registered voters, including an oversample of people age 50-plus, about their five top financial concerns to measure what they call an “Anxiety Index.” Health expenses ranked […]
Today’s Headlines – August 9, 2012
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including news about campaign trail sparring over women’s health issues, a political ad that has drawn criticism and a Romney aide’s response. Los Angeles Times: Survey: 61% Of Employers Expect Cost Increase From Healthcare Law More than 60% of employers in a new survey anticipate some […]
Rep. Courtney Pushes Bill To Expand Medicare Coverage Of Nursing Home Stays
Congress may be in recess, but Rep. Joe Courtney (D-Conn.) isn’t taking a vacation just yet. He went to a New London nursing home Wednesday to drum up support for legislation that would help residents such as a 98-year-old woman whose life savings were wiped out by nursing home bills Medicare wouldn’t pay. That woman’s niece, […]
In Colorado, Obama Focuses On Women’s Health Issues
Campaigning in the western swing state, President Barack Obama said his opponent, GOP presidential hopeful Mitt Romney, would take women’s health care back to the 1950s.
As Flap Continues Over Pro-Obama PAC’s Ad, Romney Aide Praises Mass. Health Law
The ad, which highlights the death of a steelworker’s wife after Bain closed his plant, triggered criticism from Republicans. But a Romney aide’s comments about how that family would have benefited from the Massachusetts health reforms signed into law by then-Gov. Mitt Romney was not well received in conservative circles.