Latest KFF Health News Stories
Kitzhaber Faces Questions From Congressional Panel About Cover Oregon
The House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform asks the departing governor to save all documents related to the shutdown of Oregon’s troubled insurance exchange. The panel wants to know whether campaign advisers played a role in the decision to switch to the federal health insurance exchange.
Wyo. House Speaker Looks To Expand Medicaid Through Budget Process
The powerful GOP leader of the Wyoming House says a Senate committee’s rejection of expansion did not, in fact, kill the prospects for expansion in his state. Meanwhile, media outlets in California, Wisconsin and North Carolina track Medicaid developments in those states.
Burwell Makes Enrollment Inroads In Texas
The HHS secretary has spent a lot of time in Texas seeking to sell her enrollment message and it seems to be paying off, Politico reports. News outlets also look at enrollment efforts and exchange issues in Washington state and Minnesota.
Millions In Health Coverage ‘Gap’ Won’t Be Penalized
Many low-income, working adults who fall into the so-called coverage gap — meaning they are ineligible for either federal subsidies or Medicaid — may qualify for an exemption to the health law’s penalty for not having insurance. Media outlets also look at how the health law is complicating tax season, why an Iowa co-op failed and how state Republican lawmakers have been more successful at undermining the law than their federal counterparts.
Some GOP Governors Vow To Make No Changes If High Court Invalidates Subsidies
Reuters surveyed officials in the states that would be directly affected if the Supreme Court strikes down federal health care subsidies and five Republican executives said they would not rescue the program. Other news outlets examine Republican strategies and the plaintiffs in the case.
Enrollment Deadline Extended For Those Who Encountered Hiccups
The Obama administration announced a one-week “special enrollment” period ending Feb. 22 for people trying to enroll through healthcare.gov who encountered technical glitches or faced long waits through the call center on the final weekend. Most state exchanges have outlined similar policies.
Meanwhile, Washington state became the first to extend the enrollment period to the April 15 tax filing deadline. Democrats are asking the federal government to do the same.
First Edition: February 17, 2015
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Viewpoints: Save CHIP; Pharmacy Benefits Managers; Doctors’ Role In End-Of-Life Debate
A selection of opinions on health care from around the country.
Research Roundup: Reporting Study Misconduct; Coordinating Mental Health Benefits
Each week, KHN compiles a selection of recently released health policy studies and briefs.
A selection of health policy stories from Minnesota, Georgia, Florida, Virginia, Texas, Delaware, Iowa, Colorado, Kansas and California.
Newtown Panel Offers Recommendations For State Mental Health System
The Connecticut commission created by Gov. Dannel P. Malloy after the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre released a draft report that included a wide-ranging list of action items.
VA Failed To Enact 15 Years Of Recommendations, GAO Says
Given the agency’s inability to enact previous reforms, the latest report by the Government Accountability Office urges Congress to exercise close oversight of the latest changes. Meanwhile, The Center For Investigative Reporting details how the agency gave an $8,025 bonus to the director of a troubled Wisconsin facility for 2013.
Exploring The Black Market For Health Care Data
President Barack Obama is hosting a cyber security summit today, which will focus on figuring out ways to protect consumers from hackers and data breaches. NPR takes a look at how the black market functions for personal health care information. Meanwhile, more news emerges about the Anthem data breach.
Nursing Home Star Ratings Likely To Fall Under New System
Starting immediately, the federal government is making it harder for nursing homes to get four- or five-star grades on the national website Nursing Home Compare, raising the bar on an array of quality measures. The administration also announced plans to move toward value-based oncology payments to address the spiraling costs of cancer care.
House Bill Focuses On Deleting Obamacare Tax On Insurers
Rep. Charles Boustany Jr., R-La., and Rep. Kyrsten Sinema, D-Ariz., have teamed up to introduce the measure. Meanwhile, Hillary Clinton is urging Congress to act on the Children’s Health Insurance Program, and Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., is continuing her push to use drug industry penalties to increase medical research funding.
In Moment Of Bipartisan Accord, President Signs Veterans’ Suicide Prevention Act Into Law
The measure is a response to the wave of suicides among veterans struggling with post-traumatic stress.
Obama Uses A Selfie Stick To Plug The Health Law’s Fast-Approaching Sign-Up Deadline
In what some say is an effort to “go viral” with his message about the Feb. 15 Affordable Care Act enrollment deadline, President Barack Obama used “meme cliches” in a video posted by Buzzfeed.
Public Split On Health Law Effects, Fox Poll Finds
The survey shows support for the health overhaul has increased over the year. In other health law news, a center created by the legislation is reviving a patient-safety initiative, the secretary of Health and Human Services renews her intent to work with states on expanding Medicaid and a call center problem is reported in Massachusetts.
Report: Medicaid Expansion Will Bring Kentucky A Seven-Year, $1B Windfall
The state’s Democratic governor released the report by Deloitte Consulting and the University of Louisville’s Urban Studies Institute, which projects the expansion brings the state a net gain, including 40,000 new jobs through 2021. News outlets from Vermont, Ohio and Texas also track debates related to expansion.
Supreme Court Health Law Decision Could Have High Costs For Consumers, Hospitals
The high court’s decision could result in millions of people losing access to financial assistance for health insurance, which would also add to hospital’s uncompensated care costs. Meanwhile, some legal experts who support the health law say the case, King v. Burwell, is unravelling because of questions about the plaintiffs.
