Latest KFF Health News Stories
Viewpoints: Robin Williams’ ‘Wakeup Call’; Surprise In Medicaid Growth; Tools To Stop Ebola In U.S.
A selection of editorials and opinions on health care from around the country.
First Edition: August 12, 2014
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including stories about how the federal government’s experience with healthcare.gov has led to the creation of the U.S. Digital Service.
Health Law Funds New Search For Health Care Improvements
News outlets report on aspects of the health law designed to foster and test innovation in the nation’s health cared delivery system.
Exchange News: Oracle Sues Ore. For $23M; Mass. Sticks With State-Run Website
Oracle Corp., the primary developer behind Oregon’s dysfunctional health insurance website, sued Cover Oregon and accused Gov. John Kitzhaber of conducting a “smear campaign” against the company. Meanwhile, Massachusetts officials decided to replace that state’s failed exchange with another from a private company, rather than shifting to the federal marketplace.
Out-Of-State Clinic Key To Texas Abortion Law Battle
Challengers of a tough Texas law regulating abortion clinics argue that it would soon close El Paso’s sole abortion clinic. That, critics say, could leave women seeking abortions to drive 550 miles or else go to an out-of-state clinic where those state regulations do not apply, undermining the law’s patient-safety arguments and constituting an “undue burden” on women.
State Highlights: Mo. Drops Many From Medicaid; Mich. Medicaid Shift Savings
A selection of health policy stories from Texas, Missouri, Illinois, Michigan, Florida, Pennsylvania, North Carolina and Minnesota.
Efforts To Treat, Contain Ebola Virus Trigger Policy, Ethical Questions
A push to fast-track an experimental treatment is gaining momentum, but questions persist about this serum’s effectiveness, whether the drug should be brought to the places currently confronting outbreaks of the disease and who should have access to its limited supplies.
In what is emerging as an aggressive strategy for Congressional Republicans, these proposals would likely follow an early and largely symbolic vote to repeal the overhaul. Meanwhile, much is at stake in state-level elections.
New VA Secretary Orders Independent Audit Of Scheduling Practices
Robert McDonald promised to fix problems at the Department of Veterans Affairs that kept veterans from getting care. His comments came in a speech to a Disabled American Veterans conference and after touring the Phoenix veterans hospital at the epicenter of the scandal that prompted a change in VA leadership and a major increase in funding from Congress.
Medicaid, CHIP Enrollments Top 7 Million
The Department of Health and Human Services reported Friday that 7.2 million people gained insurance through these programs since the health law’s eligibility changes began last October. In addition, Arkansas and New Hampshire offer snapshots of their states’ enrollment pictures, while Kansas and Missouri hospitals brace for the price of state decisions not to expand the low-income health insurance program.
Viewpoints: The Doctor Is In — At Walmart; A ‘Hole’ In The Halbig Strategy
A selection of editorials and opinions on health care from around the country.
First Edition: August 11, 2014
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including reports about health exchange developments in Oregon and Massachusetts.
State Highlights: Partners HealthCare Explains Loss; Conn. Hospital Contract Fight
A selection of health policy stories from New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Georgia and California.
Obama Signs $16.3B Overhaul Of Vets’ Health Care System
Military veterans who have been suffering long waiting times for medical care or live significant distances from VA facilities should be able to turn to private doctors almost immediately as a result of this law, which President Barack Obama signed Thursday. The measure also provides funding to hire new health care professionals. Already, though, some say that recruiting physicians to come into the system will present a challenge.
Narrow Networks Still A Trouble Spot For Health Law Plans, Experts Say
The need for up-to-date information on participating providers, more training for navigators and the release of 2015 premium costs are some of the issues that continue to draw headlines.
Emails Sought In House Health Law Probe May Not Be ‘Retrievable’
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services acknowledged to the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee that the agency’s director Marilyn Tavenner may have deleted “most but not all” of the emails being sought by the panel in its investigation of problems associated with the rollout of healthcare.gov.
Research Roundup: Medicaid’s Hospital Readmissions; CHIP Enrollment
This week’s studies come from Health Affairs, The Urban Institute, JAMA Internal Medicine, JAMA Surgery and The Heritage Foundation.
Ariz. Gov. Backs GOP Candidate With Similar Medicaid Expansion Position
In the meantime, House Speaker John Boehner isn’t hammering the health law while making speaking appearances ahead of this year’s elections.
Hospitals Slow To Adopt Electronic Health Records
Few hospitals met strict federal guidelines intended to speed adoption of electronic health records, a new study finds.
Feds Delay Launch Of Database Showing Drugmakers’ Payments To Doctors
The system, which had been expected to go public on Sept. 30, will show payments from drug and medical device makers to doctors. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services says it temporarily took down the system to investigate a possible problem.
