Latest KFF Health News Stories
Tavnenner Moves Through Revolving Door, Accepts Top Lobbying Spot At Health Insurance Trade Group
Marilyn Tavenner, who stepped down from her position of administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services in February, was named president and CEO of America’s Health Insurance Plans.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Viewpoints: Lindsey Graham Returns To Simpson-Bowles; CVS Takes ‘High Road’
A selection of opinions on health care from around the nation.
Health care stories are reported from Florida, Illinois, California, Oregon, Texas, Washington, Iowa and Missouri.
Shopping Around For The Best Surgeon
New search tools offer consumers important information to weigh their options in making this choice. Meanwhile, Kiplinger’s Retirement Report offers a warning about how Medicare’s “observation status” can make for a hefty hospital bill, and the Atlanta Journal Constitution reports on the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ five-star ratings approach to nursing homes.
Walmart Facing Legal Action For Denying Health Insurance To Gay Worker’s Spouse
Civil rights groups are trying to build the case into a national class action lawsuit.
Biotech Shares Add To Stock Market’s Four-Day Winning Streak
In other marketplace news, Blue Cross and Blue Shield will begin offering identity protection services to all eligible members by the start of the New Year, while Johnson & Johnson is reviving its nonprescription drug business.
The video recorded a lunch between two antiabortion activists posing as biotech firm employees and Dr. Deborah Nucatola, Planned Parenthood’s senior director of medical services, in which Nucatola talked about the organization’s work donating fetal tissue to researchers. The activists pressed her on whether the clinics were charging for the organs.
McConnell: Senate Will Consider Using Budget Procedure To Undo Parts Of The Health Law
The Senate majority leader, however, did not say when he expected this action to take place. Elsewhere on Capitol Hill, former Bush officials urge confirmation of the Obama administration’s pick to head the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, and a House hearing alleges that the administration has been slow to implement the inspector general’s recommendations of fraud in the Medicare prescription drug program.
The decision is viewed as another win for the health law and the Obama administration.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Viewpoints: Rekindling The End-Of-Life Debate; Medicare Is Not An ATM For Congress
A selection of opinions on health care from around the country.
Health care stories are reported from Kansas, California, Oregon, New York, Florida, Kentucky, Missouri and North Carolina.
The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation took over medical responsibilities at Folsom State Prison — the first of many steps in ending a long-standing lawsuit.
Video Conferencing, Cell Phones And Novel Medical Apps — How Technology Is Changing Medical Practice
A range of news stories detail how new technology is touching medicine in positive and negative ways.
Wis. Gov. Scott Walker Launches Presidential Campaign
In his announcement, Walker said Washington leaders are out of touch with the nation, over-regulating businesses and forcing mandates such as President Obama’s health-care law. Meanwhile, Hillary Clinton, a Democratic presidential hopeful, offered a policy speech.
VA May Shutter Some Hospitals To Close Budget Gap
The Department of Veterans Affairs may have to take this step if Congress does not address the agency’s $2.5 billion, current-year budget shortfall. This news comes as the Huffington Post reports more than 238,000 of the 847,000 veterans in the backlog awaiting care may have already died.
Colorado’s Exchange Board Gets New Members; Republicans Seek More Oversight Of MNsure
News outlets report on developments related to the state health exchanges in Colorado and Minnesota.
Alaska Gov. To Announce Medicaid Expansion Plans Thursday
A spokesman for Gov. Bill Walker said the announcement won’t mark the beginning of the program but will explain how the governor will roll it out. News outlets also report on some Medicaid developments in Arkansas and Indiana.
Drug Makers, Insurers Could Feel Added Marketplace Merger Pressures
The Wall Street Journal notes that changes in the insurance market could lead to new pressures as doctors likely face stingier reimbursements, with cancer treatments a possible target. Meanwhile, Bloomberg reports that insurers, which have been hesitant to cover costly hepatitis C drugs, will also feel a push from a report that finds these therapies cost effective.
