Latest KFF Health News Stories
Calif. Wrestles With Medicaid Backlog; Penn. Expansion Plans In Flux
Tens of thousands of applicants are still awaiting their official Medicaid cards in California. In Pennsylvania, officials are set on Jan.1 to start a new program developed by the outgoing Republican administration, but the new Democratic governor says he wants to move to a more traditional expansion program.
Enrollment Snapshots From 3 States
State officials in Maryland, Oregon and Michigan offer progress reports on sign-ups through the insurance exchanges.
Gruber Alone At The Witness Table?
GOP lawmakers may be looking forward to Tuesday’s House Oversight Committee hearing because it offers them another chance to put the Obama administration on the spot regarding the health law. But the Department of Health and Human Services is making it clear that it would like some distance between senior Medicare officials and Jonathan Gruber.
Device Makers Experiment With Risk Contracts
Hospitals are pushing the manufacturers to begin to take on risk for products such as pacemakers and other implantable devices, reports Modern Healthcare. Other stories look at contractors seeking new health law business, how health care has delivered the strongest mutual fund performance of any sector over the past five years and how H&R Block is now bundling tax and health care services.
First Edition: December 8, 2014
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Viewpoints: Schumer’s ‘Puzzling’ Comments; GOP Needs To Offer An Alternative Plan
A selection of opinions on health care from around the country.
Research Roundup: Inaccessible Clinical Trials; Post-Acute Care; Elderly And Disabilities
Each week, KHN compiles a selection of recently released health policy studies and briefs.
State Highlights: 2015 Financial Outlook Is “Stable,” But Medicaid Could Cause Pressure
A selection of health policy stories from California, Florida and North Dakota. News outlets also examine how states are eyeing Medicaid “super-utilizers” to reduce costs and take a look at a state-by-state ranking of mental health services.
Va. To Revise Strict Abortion Clinic Rules
The decision by the state board of health was a victory for Gov. Terry McAuliffe, a Democrat, who had campaigned on the promise that he would reverse regulations put in place during the administration of Republican Gov. Bob McDonnell. The process could take as long as two years.
Spending Bill Likely To Include Most Of Obama’s Request For Ebola-Fight Funding
Republican leaders are steering the measure toward a smoother path than last year’s effort, which led to a partial government shut-down.
Senate GOP Agenda On Health Law May Hinge On Supreme Court Decision
Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., who will lead the Senate, says getting the votes needed from Democrats to meet the GOP’s goal of repealing the law would be very difficult.
Minnesota Employer Gets Religious Exemption To Health Law’s Birth Control Mandate
American Manufacturing Co. won the exemption because its owner, Gregory Hall, is an ordained Catholic deacon in Texas. He fundamentally opposes the forms of birth control that are specified by the Affordable Care Act provision that requires this coverage.
Many Low-Wage Workers Fall In Coverage Gap
In states like Florida, North Carolina and Texas that declined to expand Medicaid, residents in low-wage jobs are discovering that they can’t afford coverage because they make too little to qualify for federal subsidies but too much to qualify for Medicaid. Meanwhile, The St. Louis Post-Dispatch chronicles a couple that got insurance in the nick of time and California Healthline looks at why some legal immigrants are not enrolling.
Federal Officials: Health Exchange Consumers Should Compare Plans To Find Best Deals
According to the Obama administration, consumers may need to be willing to switch plans to ensure that their coverage is affordable.
First Edition: December 5, 2014
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Viewpoints: Protect Pregnant Women’s Jobs; Eye-Opening Calorie Counts; Return Of Measles
A selection of opinions on health care from around the country.
Longer Looks: A Doctor’s Attire; Calorie Counts; What’s Prompting The Falling Abortion Rate?
Each week, KHN’s Shefali Luthra finds interesting reads from around the Web.
State Highlights: Calif. Governor Considers Medicaid For Immigrants; Iowa Kids’ Mental Health
A selection of health policy stories from California, Iowa, Kansas, North Carolina, Virginia and New York.
Doctors Who Unveiled VA Problems Are Honored
The three whistleblowers were instrumental in uncovering service delays and other problems for veterans, the Office of Special Counsel says. Also, the VA will examine allegations of misconduct at a Minnesota facility and a dying veteran confronts bureaucratic problems.
Administration Moves To Kick Medicare Abusers Out
The new rules would dump any doctor or medical provider with a pattern of bad billing the program. Elsewhere, the deadline to sign up for private Medicare plans looms.
