Latest KFF Health News Stories
Wis. Senator Seeks To Appeal Recent Decision Regarding His Health Law Challenge
The focus of the lawsuit by Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., is an Office of Personnel Management regulation that allows congressional staffers to get their health care subsidized under the law’s exchanges. In other news, health issues are emerging as flashpoints in this year’s Arkansas senate race.
Calif. Insurers Team On Huge Digital Medical Records Plan
Blue Shield of California and Anthem Blue Cross are working together to keep and share digital records for about 9 million patients, which could cost $80 million over the first three years.
Viewpoints: Higher Costs Don’t Mean Better Health Quality; States And The Uninsured
A selection of editorials and opinions on health care from around the country.
State Highlights: Insurer Uses Tenn. Position For Bargaining Power; N.Y.’s Medicaid Cash Drain
A selection of state stories from Tennessee and New York.
Report Says Feds Stop Public Disclosure Of Serious Hospital Errors
USA Today reports the federal government has stopped publicly reporting when hospitals leave foreign objects in patients’ bodies or make other life-threatening mistakes. Meanwhile, Medicare spent more than $30 million on questionable HIV medications in 2012 and the agency is resuming audits for some fee-for-service claims.
Rural Residents Pay More For Exchange Plans
Rural residents paid slightly higher premiums for exchange health plans than their city counterparts, reports Modern Healthcare. Meanwhile, Vermont’s GOP leaders say they want the state’s health insurance exchange to succeed, but residents are fed up with problems.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including reports about the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index that details how politics play a role in the nation’s health care gap between red and blue states.
Hospitals See New Revenues, Stiffer Fines From Obamacare
A surge in insured patients using health services has increased hospital revenues, even as Medicare stiffens penalties for facilities with high readmission rates or patients who contract infections and injuries while admitted for other reasons.
California Insurance Giants Create Patient Database
Two major insurers — Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield of California — are creating a joint health-information exchange, making the medical records of about nine million plan members available to participating doctors and hospitals.
Tenn.-Based Hospital Company To Pay $98 Million To Settle Improper Billing Claims
Community Health Systems and the federal Justice Department announced the settlement Monday. In other hospital news, Tenet says its financial outlook is improving.
News outlets report on the behaviors and the satisfaction levels of people who have new insurance as a result of the health law.
GOP Operatives In Search Of Anti-Health Law Messages That Will Stick
Politico reports that, as the midterm elections are quickly approaching, Republican pollsters are testing out messages with likely voters in order to determine which ones resonated best with key target groups. Meanwhile, The New York Times examines the role of social issues as the campaign season heats up.
New Study Quantifies Impact Of ER Closures On Neighborhoods
The study, which appeared in Health Affairs, focused on California and is thought to be the first of its kind to examine the impact of emergency department closures on the quality of patient care.
Costly Specialty Drugs Drive Up Medicare Tab
ProPublica and The New York Times look at the explosive spending growth related to an obscure medication for treating multiple sclerosis and a rare kidney disease — and how several top prescribers have links to drugmaker, Questcor Pharmaceuticals. The Wall Street Journal examines the impact of new drugs to treat hepatitis C.
Florida Health Plan Rates To Rise 13.2% On Average; Calif. Regulator Seeks Greater Authority
Florida officials release rates for 2015 health plans to be sold on the individual market. Another story examines the voter initiative being pushed by California’s insurance commissioner to give his office greater power to regulate health insurance rates.
Federal Judge Strikes Down Alabama Abortion Clinic Law
U.S. District Judge Myron Thompson ruled Monday that state lawmakers exceeded their authority when they passed a law last year requiring doctors at abortion clinics to have hospital admitting privileges. He ruled that the state law, which would have led to the closure of three of the state’s five abortion clinics, was unconstitutional.
Texas Abortion Providers Ask Federal Court To Block Portion Of Stringent State Law
Owners of abortion clinics in the state are seeking relief from enforcement of a state law that is set to take effect Sept. 1. It sets out the same strict building and equipment regulations that are applied to ambulatory surgical centers. Monday marked the first day of court room action.
Medicaid Repayment Possibilities Put New York State Credit Rating At Risk
In related news, New York City will pay $1 million to settle Medicaid probe.
State Highlights: New York Hospital Mergers Surging
A selection of health policy stories from New York, California, Ohio, Wisconsin and Massachusetts.
Viewpoints: Treating Ebola Patients In The U.S.; Medicare Costs; Discouraging Medicaid Enrollment
A selection of editorials and opinions on health care from around the country.
