Latest KFF Health News Stories
House Speaker Boehner Quiets Critics With Budget, Medicare Victories
His Democratic counterpart, Rep. Nancy Pelosi, annoyed some in her party by her deal-making with Republicans, but could yield political benefits for her party over the next two years. Also, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich says the GOP doesn’t actually want to repeal Obamacare.
Senate Passes Budget, Obamacare Repeal In All-Night Session
The budget is not binding, and House and Senate leaders will now meet to reconcile their versions of the spending blueprint, which is used to set funding levels for spending bills considered in the session. In the meantime, senators voted to reject an amendment to stop more than $1.2 trillion in Medicaid cuts.
Medicare Pay Fix Bill Includes Higher Costs For Some Seniors
The measure includes a number of other provisions beyond its two big ticket items — the repeal of Medicare’s sustainable growth rate formula to pay doctors and the extension of the Children’s Health Insurance Program.
The Hill reports on the 37 lawmakers who voted against the House “doc fix” legislation. Also, The Fiscal Times details why some people are not happy with the agreement and the Connecticut Mirror notes that its two senators also have some questions.
House OKs Bipartisan Deal On ‘Doc Fix’
The measure, which is being billed as the most significant bipartisan policy legislation to gain House passage since the GOP gained control of the chamber, would establish a new formula in the Medicare program for paying physicians. The Senate will take up the measure when it returns to work after its two-week recess. Without congressional intervention, doctors face a 21 percent pay cut.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Viewpoints: The Cost Of Fixing Medicare’s Doctor Pay; Insuring Candidate Cruz
A selection of opinions on health care from around the country.
A selection of health policy stories from California, Indiana, Florida, New York, Iowa, Maryland and Kansas.
Ariz. Lawmakers OK Abortion Restrictions
The measure approved by the Arizona legislature would block women from buying insurance that includes abortion coverage through the federal exchange. It also would require abortion providers to inform women they can reverse the effects of drug-induced abortions. In other state news, New York lawmakers are set to approve a bill to codify abortion rights set by the Supreme Court, and Kansas legislators approved a ban on a common second-trimester abortion procedure.
Employers Offer Record $693 Annually In Wellness Incentives Per Worker
That figure is up from $430 per employee five years ago, according to a new report. Elsewhere, high-deductible plans are examined, and Cigna forms an alliance with SCAN Health Plan to provide Medicare Advantage benefits.
Report: Most Doctors Not Flooded With New, Sicker Patients Under ACA
The notion that expanded coverage under the Affordable Care Act would overwhelm physicians has not been borne out, according to a report by athenahealth, the Watertown, Mass.-based electronic record provider.
Senate Panels In Florida, Tenn. Move Medicaid Expansion Bills
The efforts come in statehouses that have been previously opposed to the expansion. The Tennessee legislation now goes to another committee while the Florida bill will move to the full Senate.
Obama Mocks GOP Critics While Marking A Health Law Milestone
President Barack Obama celebrated the fifth anniversary of the health law by chiding its critics and saying they were wrong about their predictions of doom. He also used the occasion to focus on a plan to revamp the way providers and health systems are paid.
VA Officials To Testify About Prescription Abuse At Tomah Facility
Rep. Ron Kind, a Wisconsin Democrat, proposes regional pain management boards through the VA to avoid such abuse and a Cherokee leader asks lawmakers for more funding for Indian Health Services.
House Set To Vote Today On Plan To Scrap Medicare’s Flawed Doctor Payment Formula
The proposal, hammered out by Speaker John Boehner and Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi along with others, is attracting growing support. But its fate in the Senate is still not clear.
House Approves GOP Budget Plan; Senate To Take Up Its Version
The House GOP blueprint, which won by a 228-199 vote in spite of fiscal hawks’ protests, would dramatically change Medicare and Medicaid and create a path to repeal Obamacare. Although there are differences between this and the Senate approach, both save trillions of dollars by undoing the health law and cutting Medicaid and other safety-net programs. The budget blueprints are largely symbolic and don’t have the force of law.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Longer Looks: Abortion Clinic Protests; Sitting With Patients; The Health Law 5 Years Out
Each week, KHN’s Shefali Luthra finds interesting reads from around the Web.
Viewpoints: Congressional Deadline Crisis; Abortion Stalemate; Ted Cruz’ Insurance Plans
A selection of opinions on health care from around the country.
A selection of health policy stories from California, Texas, Minnesota, Connecticut, Louisiana, Ohio, Washington and North Carolina.
