Latest KFF Health News Stories
Alabama Gov. Explores Block-Grant Approach To Medicaid Expansion
Gov. Robert Bentley emphasized Thursday that his administration is in the early stages of considering this approach. In other Medicaid news, members of a Wyoming state legislative panel endorsed an Indiana-style expansion plan.
Maryland Claiming Success With Its ‘Revamped’ Online Insurance Marketplace
Meanwhile, in Connecticut, ConnectiCare Benefits has claimed the largest share of new customers who enrolled in health plans via the state exchange, while MNsure officials report significant progress in signing Minnesotans up for coverage despite some difficulties with the exchange system. Also, in Florida, a conflict of interest emerges as federal officials raise concerns about a public relations firm’s effort to promote a state marketplace that doesn’t provide the health law’s subsidies.
First Edition: December 19, 2014
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Viewpoints: GOP Needs Subsidy Plan; Schumer Surprised By Reaction To His Health Law View
A selection of opinions on health care from around the country.
Longer Looks: Covering Mental Health; Doctors And Torture; Bogus Health Claims
Each week, KHN’s Shefali Luthra finds interesting reads from around the Web.
State Highlights: Patient Data Held For Ransom In Ill.; Senior Guardianship Law In Fla.
A selection of health policy highlights from Illinois, Florida, Michigan, Texas, Minnesota and New York.
Federal Grand Jury Indicts 14 People Linked To 2012 Meningitis Outbreak
The indictments were handed down against company officials, pharmacists and technicians who worked for the Massachusetts company responsible for tainted drugs that led to 64 deaths.
Vermont Gov. Drops Plan For Single-Payer Health System
After investing four years in the project, Gov. Peter Shumlin said the timing wasn’t right for a universal, publicly funded health care system in Vermont because the current state of the economy would have made the required tax increases difficult for Vermont residents and businesses to handle.
UnitedHealth, Humana Remain Medicare Advantage’s Major Players
The latest government data indicate that these insurers have more Medicare Advantage members than any others, and those numbers are likely to get even bigger when Medicare’s current open enrollment period closes.
CMS Database Will Add Industry Payments To Doctors For Medical Education Seminars
The payments will be reported on the new Open Payments database, which provides details about compensation to doctors from drugmakers and medical device companies.
Poll: 60 Percent Of Americans Have Positive Views Of The Health Law’s Employer Mandate
The latest tracking poll by the Kaiser Family Foundation found the majority of Americans like the requirement that large employers provide insurance for their workers. However, the poll also found that these opinions are easily swayed.
Ohio To Test Billing Improvements For Lower Costs, Better Care
The state will receive $75 million over four years to test a medical care billing model. Colorado, in the meantime, has won a $65 million grant to better treat people with mental illnesses.
Health Law’s Extra Funding To Pay Medicaid Doctors Disappears In 2015
The money was part of an effort to get more primary care doctors to participate in the Medicaid program but it was designed as a temporary pay raise. Also in the news is a look at how Arkansas is wrestling with the decision about continuing its landmark Medicaid expansion program.
State Exchanges Tally Their Enrollments For The First Month Of The Sign-Up Period
California’s number topped 144,000 while Colorado signed up 108,077 for private coverage. News outlets offer other specific tallies and exchange-related coverage from Connecticut, Minnesota and Washington.
First Edition: December 18, 2014
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Viewpoints: Playing Politics With Ebola Hyperbole; The Value Of Comparing Health Plans; E-Cigs
A selection of opinions on health care from around the country.
A selection of health policy stories from California, Georgia, Virginia, Missouri, New York, Massachusetts, Colorado and Missouri.
Justice Department Drops Drug Misbranding Case
Elsewhere, a woman accused of defrauding Medicaid to help an undocumented immigrant get prenatal care sees the case against her dismissed.
Companies Push Workers Harder To Lose Weight
The Wall Street Journal looks at how businesses are experimenting with more aggressive and personalized approaches to encourage employees to lose weight. Meanwhile, CVS projects strong earnings growth as a result of specialty drugs and acquisitions.
Congress Approves Tax-Free Bank Accounts For People With Disabilities
The accounts could be used to pay for education, housing and health care, among other needs. Also in news from Capitol Hill, House Democrats released a report showing how many people in each congressional district risk losing assistance if the Supreme Court upholds the challenge to premium subsidies in the health care law.
