Latest KFF Health News Stories
Trends: Nonprofit Hospital Challenges, Rules At Hospitals With Religious Affiliations
Nonprofit hospitals face a range of challenges related to increasing costs and diminishing resources, while hospitals with religious affiliations play by rules that can affect the care they deliver.
Health Law Leaving Mark On Campaigns
Chamber of Commerce prepares ads in a variety of congressional races that hit Democrats for supporting health law, among other issues. Meanwhile, the Obama campaing releases Spanish-language ads in three battleground states promoting the health overhaul.
Chicago Mayor To Minnesota Attorney General: Step Back From Accretive Probe
In response to a letter from Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel written on behalf of Accretive Health Inc., a Chicago-based company, Attorney General Lori Swanson vowed to press on in her investigation. Meanwhile, Sen. Al Franken, D-Minn., scolded the company for not yet answering questions he raised last month.
Obesity Report Proposes Sweeping Changes In Schools, Communities, Workplaces
The Institute of Medicine panel recommended five critical areas to focus on to lower obesity: physical activity, food and beverage, marketing, work and schools.
How Much Will A Retired Couple Spend On Health Care? $240,000
This estimate, released by Fidelity Investments, reflects a 4 percent increase over medical bill projections for a couple that retired last year. The amount doesn’t include long-term care costs or over-the-counter drug expenses, among other things.
States Grapple With Inadequacies In Mental Health Services
Advocates hope the fatal beating of a California homeless man by police, captured by a security camera, may spur changes. In the meantime, a D.C. report says thousands of children who need mental health services aren’t getting them, and New York state fines insurers over mental health notices.
How Much Muscle Is Behind HHS’ Power To ‘Scrutinize’ Rate Increases?
Politico examines HHS’s ability to protect consumers from “unreasonable” premium increases. Meanwhile, The Hill reports on a study analyzing how many insurance plans should be allowed in state-based health exchanges.
DOJ Probes Fraud At Parkland Hospital; Texas Group Calls Medicaid ‘Indispensable’
In other state news reports on Medicaid issues, Florida officials seek federal approval for changes in Medically Needy program, and Connecticut House passes budget that would cut $50 million from Medicaid programs.
Mass. Senate To Release Plan To Revamp Health Payments
The proposal, which will be formally unveiled today, follows suggested blueprints from the governor and the House on cutting the growth rate of health care costs.
A selection of editorials and opinions on health care policy from around the country.
State Roundup: Ga. Personal Care Homes In Peril; Texas Vets’ Wait For VA Disability
A selection of health policy stories from around the United States.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including details of the Institute of Medicine report on the nation’s obesity epidemic.
When Religious Rules And Women’s Health Collide
This story comes from our partner ‘s Shots blog. When you go to the hospital these days, chances are good that it will be affiliated with a religious organization. And while that may might just mean the chaplain will be of a specific denomination or some foods will be off limits, there may also be […]
These Health Law Bets Aren’t A Figure Of Speech
The stakes are high in the Supreme Court’s consideration of the 2010 health law, as countless commentators have observed. In some circles, however, the gambling metaphor has been pushed to its logical conclusion. Bernstein Research stock analyst Ana Gupte laid 50 percent odds recently on chances that the court will strike down the Affordable Care Act’s individual mandate along with strict […]
Today’s Headlines – May 8, 2012
Good morning! Los Angeles Times: Congress Returns To Fight For The Presidency Democrats will seek to portray Republicans as protecting the wealthy at the expense of the middle class. Republicans will use the sluggish economy and Obama’s healthcare law as prime examples of big government failures. … The fight over student loan interest rates, which […]
Study: Residents In Tenn., Fla. And Ga. Saw Biggest Jump In Access Problems
Adults in nearly every state saw their access to health services worsen during over the past decade, with Tennessee, Florida and Georgia having the greatest increase in people reporting having an unmet medical need, according to a study released Tuesday. The three states had at least a 9 percentage point jump in the proportion of adults under 65 who […]
House GOP Bill Cuts Medicaid To Protect Military Spending
The budget plan, developed by House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan, R- Wis., targets a number of Obama administration domestic initiatives. It trims an estimated $261 billion in domestic spending over the next decade and undoes elements of the health law.
Senate’s Student Loan Skirmish Will Include Health Law Funding Fight
Although both Democrats and Republicans agree on the idea of extending the current interest rate for student loans, they want to pay for it differently. Democrats would raise Medicare payroll taxes for some high-earning stock holders. Republicans would use health law funds. Pundits predict a showdown.
Former Model, Advocate Christy Turlington Burns Discusses ‘No Mother’s Day’ Advocacy Campaign
In his column, “The Common Good,” Forbes contributor Rahim Kanani interviews “former model, author and advocate for maternal and child health Christy Turlington Burns” regarding “the founding of her organization Every Mother Counts (EMC), lessons she’s learned around advocating for global change, her new campaign, titled ‘No Mother’s Day,’ advice to the class of 2012, and much more.” In the interview, Turlington Burns discusses the motivation behind EMC and her “advocacy and mobilization campaign to increase education and support for maternal mortality reduction globally”; highlights her 2010 documentary “No Woman, No Cry”; and encourages others to visit the campaign’s website to find ways to get involved.
Child Death Across Sub-Saharan Africa Declining At Accelerated Rate, Report Shows
“New statistics show that the rate of child death across sub-Saharan Africa is not just in decline — but that decline has massively accelerated, just in the last few years,” Michael Clemens, a senior fellow at the Center for Global Development (CGD), writes in the center’s “Global Development: Views from the Center” blog, citing a paper released last week by Gabriel Demombynes and Karina Trommlerova in the Kenya office of the World Bank. Clemens provides “figures for some of the recent changes in rates of child death across the continent” and concludes, “This will be startling news for anyone who still thinks sub-Saharan Africa is mired in unending poverty and death” (5/4).