Latest KFF Health News Stories
Viewpoints: Health Costs And Income Inequality; Vital Matters When Approaching Life’s End
A selection of opinions on health care from around the country.
First Edition: October 6, 2014
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including an announcement by Walmart that it will provide services to help customers evaluate and enroll in health plans and Indiana’s efforts to get the federal government to approve its controversial plan to expand Medicaid.
Financial Ties Between Doctors And Health Firms Explored
Federal data show that doctors and other health care professionals made more than $212 million in speaking and consulting fees from drug and device makers in the five months at the end of last year, reports The New York Times. But The Wall Street Journal examines one doctor’s record to demonstrate that not all the payments reveal potential conflicts of interest.
U.S. Ebola Case Spurs Preparedness, Policy Questions
Although Congress gave the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention an emergency boost of $30 million last month, the agency has been hit hard by budget cuts. Texas media also question the preparedness of state and local public health agencies. Meanwhile, The Dallas Morning News reports that Texas Health Presbyterian — which initially released the Liberian man who turned out to have the virus — scored significantly worse than state and national averages for emergency care.
Silicon Valley Using Health Care Perks To Lure Talent
Also, Facebook is readying a move into health care by offering online “support communities” and preventive care applications.
Research Roundup: Virtual Medicine And Readmissions; Lack Of Women, Elderly In Heart Studies
Each week, KHN compiles a selection of recently released health policy studies and briefs.
Obamacare Could Be On High Court’s Docket Again
The U.S. Supreme Court begins a new term Monday, and justices have been asked to consider several challenges to the Affordable Care Act, including whether subsidies can go to residents of states that rely on the federally run insurance marketplace. Meanwhile, insurers are notifying thousands of consumers of canceled plans, and the new CEO of healthcare.gov says it will become more user-friendly.
Viewpoints: Key Exchange Questions Unanswered; Ongoing Need For CHIP
A selection of opinions on health care from around the country.
Supreme Court To Hear Idaho Medicaid Rate Case
The case centers on whether private health care providers can force the state to raise its Medicaid rates because of the rising cost of services.
A selection of health policy stories from Connecticut, Wisconsin, California, Illinois and New York.
Medicare Fines 2,610 Hospitals For Excessive Readmissions
The readmissions rate is dropping, but average fines will be higher this year.
Obama, Health Law Star In Campaign Ads
The Center for Public Integrity says there have been more than 300,000 Obama-related ads this election cycle. Elsewhere, abortion figures prominently in Senate races such as Colorado’s where Democrats look to push their differences with the GOP.
Minn. Cracks Down On Enrollment Contractors
Minnesota officials announced that they are cutting grants to more than a dozen groups that enlisted last year to help with health insurance enrollment. Meanwhile, groups in Connecticut and Illinois have filed discrimination complaints charging that the federal government did not properly alert some immigrant groups before it canceled their health premium subsidies.
13 Of 20 Texas Abortion Clinics Likely To Close After Court Ruling
Federal appeals court overturns an order by a district court judge and says the state can enforce a controversial abortion law while the court evaluates it.
First Edition: October 3, 2014
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including results of the latest round of Medicare penalties for hospital readmissions and a federal appeals court ruling that could have a major impact on abortion services in Texas.
Health Exchange’s One-Year Mark: Looking Forward, Looking Back
As of Oct. 1, the health law’s online marketplaces have been up and running for a year. News outlets offer status reports on what appears to have gone well, what problems remain as the second open enrollment period approaches and how these factors are playing politically.
Missouri Consumer Group Sues Feds To Get Health Insurance Rates
The Consumers Council of Missouri brought suit to force the public disclosure of health insurance rate information ahead of open enrollment, which begins Nov. 15. The group said the Affordable Care Act requires officials to make rate information public so consumers have the opportunity to challenge the price of coverage.
Pentagon Targets Poorly Performing Military Hospitals, Clinics
After a review found wide disparities in the quality of care provided by military-run hospitals and clinics, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel ordered improvement plans for under-performing facilities. Some parts of the system performed better than in civilian-run ones, but treatment fells short in others.
First Ebola Case Slipped Through Hospital Cracks
Doctors at the Texas hospital that initially treated the man who visited West Africa and contracted the disease sent him home with antibiotics after a lapse in communication. The miss is drawing scrutiny of the U.S.’s readiness to handle an outbreak.
Study: Abortion Restrictions Lead To Poorer Health
The study, however, was paid for by groups that support abortion rights. Elsewhere, California’s Catholic Church leadership files a civil-rights complaint over making insurance plans cover abortion.
