Latest KFF Health News Stories
Utah’s Medicaid Expansion Plan Fails In Key Vote Among GOP Legislators
In a closed-door meeting, only seven GOP legislators said they favored the plan, which appears to have killed any action on the expansion for this year.
McConnell Likely To Seek Entitlement Changes In Return For Budget Deal
CNN reports that, according to sources, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., will seek major revisions to Social Security and Medicare in return for legislation to raise the debt ceiling and keep the government open. In other news, Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, is pushing for a bill designed to lower drug costs.
Bush Steps Up ‘Obamacare’ Attacks, Offers 10-Page Replacement Plan
Republican presidential hopeful Jeb Bush filled in some of the details regarding how he would repeal and replace the 2010 health law.
Democratic Presidential Hopefuls Face Off In First Debate; Health Policies Drew Little Attention
Candidates briefly touched on issues such as the high costs of prescription drugs, but little mention was given to the 2010 health law.
First Edition: October 14, 2015
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Viewpoints: Concerns About Bush’s Obamacare Replacement; Bring Health Issues To The Debate
A selection of opinions on health care from around the country.
News outlets report on health issues in Connecticut, Missouri, Indiana, New York, Kansas, Maryland, North Carolina, Michigan, Wisconsin and California.
N.D.’s New Medicaid Management Information System Goes Live
The multimillion-dollar IT system began operating Monday after a two-month transition from North Datkota’s 35-year-old system. Now questions are emerging as to how much better it will be. News outlets also report on Medicaid developments in Texas and North Carolina.
Nursing Homes Become New Focus In Efforts To Curb Antibiotic Overuse
Health officials and executives, whose attention in recent years has been on antibiotic use in hospitals, will expand that focus to nursing homes. But addressing antibiotic overuse in these facilities will be a significant challenge. In other public health news, The Washington Post reports on what makes the best ambulances.
On Capitol Hill, Uneasy Republicans Weigh Leadership Choices
The New York Times reports that some members of the right wing of the Republican Party are wringing their hands over whether Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., is conservative enough to be the new speaker of the House. For his part, Ryan is still publicly saying he is not interested in the job.
Democratic Presidential Hopefuls To Take Debate Stage In Candidate Forum
Health policies are among the issues likely to come up during this first contest, which is being held in Las Vegas. One such topic — the cost of prescription drugs — will likely be discussed by candidates and is examined by Reuters.
Time For Tips On Saving Money As Open Enrollment Begins Oct. 15
CBS News offers tips for comparison shopping for Medicare coverage. And Kiplinger’s Personal Finance reminds all consumers not to ignore dental coverage options when choosing plans during employers’ open enrollment periods.
Utah’s Medicaid Expansion Plan To Face Critical Closed-Door Vote
Gov. Gary Herbert maintains optimism that the vote by state House Republicans won’t end Utah’s expansion efforts, but some in the GOP caucus aim to pull the plug on the initiative.
The Shuttering Of Health Republic Sends Ripples Through New York’s Insurance Industry
Health Republic was New York’s only nonprofit insurance cooperative and the largest one established by the 2010 health law. Its demise leaves 215,000 people in need of a health plan. Meanwhile, another co-op, this one in Ohio, will be under “enhanced oversight” after reporting a loss of more than $9 million during the first six months of the year.
Healthcare.gov Revamped To Make Shopping For Insurance Easier
In other health law news, a new state-by-state analysis finds that nearly half of the 32.3 million uninsured Americans are likely eligible for subsidized coverage. They’re disproportionately young, poor adults, with 40 percent residing in California, Texas, Florida, New York and Pennsylvania.
Vowing To Repeal And Replace The Health Law, Jeb Bush Makes Health Policy Pitch
The GOP presidential candidate’s health policy proposals embrace a number of traditional Republican themes, but remain quiet on the key question of how he would go about overturning the 2010 overhaul.
First Edition: October 13, 2015
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organization.
Viewpoints: Rising Medicare Premiums; Fairness For Entitlements; High-Priced Stem Cell Therapy
A selection of opinions on health care from around the country.
News outlets report on health issues in Texas, Virginia, Colorado, California, Maryland, Kansas, Ohio, North Carolina and Florida.
Calif. Gov. Brown Signs Array Of Laws Indicating What’s Next On His To-Do List
The state measures Gov. Jerry Brown signed include one that cements the state’s expansion of public health care to children who are in the country illegally as well as another that requires crisis pregnancy centers that discourage women from getting abortions to provide information about abortions and other services. He rejected a bill that would have allowed terminally ill patients who have exhausted all other options to access experimental drugs, products or devices that have not yet been OK’d by the Food and Drug Administration.
