Latest KFF Health News Stories
Budget Changes To Medicare, HHS Programs Would Garner $399 Billion In 10 Years
President Barack Obama’s budget request includes proposals that would increase spending for some Medicare beneficiaries, including co-payments for new Medicare beneficiaries who receive home health care services and a surcharge on premiums for new beneficiaries who buy private insurance to supplement Medicare. The budget also calls on the federal government to use its buying power to negotiate drug prices.
Obama Fiscal Blueprint Highlights Liberal Priorities, Draws GOP Criticism
News reports note that President Barack Obama’s budget proposal outlines a set of goals that could help shape the 2016 presidential election debate.
First Edition: February 3, 2015
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Viewpoints: ‘Lunacy’ In Vaccine Views; Jindal Blasts Some Health Law Replacement Efforts
A selection of opinions on health care from around the country.
A selection of health policy stories from California, Hawaii, Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota and Virginia.
Efforts To Contain Measles Outbreak Involve Infection Control Expertise And Detective Work
Health officials work to track measles patients in order to identify people who may have come into contact with them and therefore may be at risk. In some cases, parents are being advised to keep babies who may have been exposed at home for 21 days. Meanwhile, parents who have opted not to vaccinate their children are defending this choice.
HHS Pushes Information Sharing For Electronic Health Record Systems
The Obama administration released a draft plan requiring most providers to adhere to information-sharing standards by the end of 2017. Meanwhile, a report by congressional staffers contends that companies such as Google, Twitter and Yahoo are grabbing data from consumers when they use healthcare.gov.
Administration’s Pledge To Pay For ‘Quality’ Health Care Faces Obstacles
Much of the success of the federal effort will revolve around the difficult issues of the definition of quality and how it is measured. Also, as it moves forward in its push for better care, Medicare will continue to publish yearly physician payment data.
Making Too Much For Medicaid, Some Choose More Work To Get Subsidies
A quirk of the health law sometimes means people who make too much money to qualify for Medicaid also make too little to qualify for federal insurance subsidies. Also in the news coverage about the law, at the White House, worries build over Americans’ health law anger during tax season.
Minn. Lawmakers Want A More Accountable Health Exchange
One proposal would dissolve MNsure’s board, put a commissioner in charge and have it run like any other executive department. Meanwhile, Connecticut’s exchange has been unable to mail tax forms to about 3,600 customers and Oregonians are warned of the Feb. 15 enrollment deadline.
States Continue — In Fits And Starts — To Contemplate Medicaid Expansion
News outlets report on the latest developments in Missouri, Tennessee, Ohio and Iowa.
Obama Outlines Ambitious ‘Precision Medicine’ Initiative
This $215 million biomedical research effort announced Friday by President Barack Obama includes plans to collect genetic data on a million Americans with the hope of gaining insights into the causes of diseases and how to treat them.
As Obama Unveils His Budget, Rift With GOP On Entitlement Spending Remains
Republicans want a program that drives down federal spending on food stamps, health programs and other safety-net costs, but Democrats argue that the health law is pushing health costs down.
For GOP, Dismantling The Health Law Remains Top Priority
The House will vote this week on a measure to repeal the overhaul, while Republican lawmakers continue debating whether they should use the controversial process known as reconciliation and then replace the law with their own alternative.
First Edition: February 2, 2015
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Viewpoints: Misguided Efforts On Medical Device Tax; Tighten Vaccine Regs; Abortion Switch
A selection of opinions on health care from around the country.
Measles Outbreak Tally Continues To Grow
NPR reports that some health experts say this is a critical time in efforts to control the spread of this outbreak. Meanwhile, The Washington Post highlights an anti-vaccine physician.
A selection of health policy stories from Massachusetts, Iowa, Mississippi, Georgia, Florida, New York, Kansas and Maryland.
Research Roundup: Patient Costs And Medicaid; ER Co-Payments
Each week, KHN compiles a selection of recently released health policy studies and briefs.
Scrutiny Given To Surgeries To Relieve Blockages In Arms, Legs
Some are questioning the necessity of these treatments, which can be done in doctors’ offices and are very lucrative. Meanwhile, federal regulators say they will ease up on an electronic health records program in response to complaints from doctors’ groups and medical homes show mixed results after one year.
