Latest KFF Health News Stories
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including reports about a new audit’s findings that the health law’s online insurance marketplaces did not adequately screen applicants seeking subsidies.
Justices Rule Home Health Care Aides Can’t Be Forced To Pay Union Dues
The high court’s ruling will make it more difficult for unions in some states to continue organizing the aides, a rapidly growing segment of the workforce.
Reform Roundup: Georgia Exchange Attracts More Insurers; Kansas Embraces One Part Of Health Law
Developments in Massachusetts and New Hampshire are also examined.
Other Challenges To Contraceptive Mandate Still Awaiting Review
Those cases generally involve nonprofit and religious organizations. Meanwhile, some employers who say their religious beliefs prevented them from complying with the contraceptive mandate say they plan to halt coverage of some methods following the Supreme Court decision.
UnitedHealth Subsidiary Helps Hospitals Get More From Medicare
The company, Executive Health Resources, is often at the center of battles between hospitals and Medicare over how the facilities bill, reports The New York Times. Meanwhile, more health providers are participating in Medicare’s experiments with bundled payments.
Businesses Prepare For Next Phase Of Health Law Implementation
Large employers around the country are hard at work to meet requirements that take effect in 2015. Also, in health law-related coverage, a look at proposals for cheaper plans on the marketplaces.
How Many Companies Might Be Affected By Contraceptive Ruling?
Although Justice Alito said the Hobby Lobby decision would affect only a narrow group, others say many firms could fit the definition of ‘closely held.’
White House, Members Of Congress, Candidates React To High Court Ruling
News outlets tracked the immediate political fallout of the Supreme Court’s Burwell v. Hobby Lobby Stores decision.
Viewpoints: Hobby Lobby Decision Celebrated And Panned; Gender And Religious Politics Explored
A selection of editorials and opinions on health care from around the country.
Court Decision Allows Some Employers To Bypass Contraceptive Mandate
The 5-4 ruling says some closely held corporations cannot be forced to provide services that are at odds with the owners’ religious beliefs.
American College Of Physicians: Doctors Should Not Perform Routine Pelvic Exams
The procedure is currently recommended as part of well-woman visits, but the group found no evidence that cancer is detected by pelvic exams alone.
Former Procter & Gamble CEO Tapped To Turn Around VA System
President Barack Obama highlighted Robert McDonald’s management experience at P&G more than his military career as an Army Ranger in the 82nd Airborne Division. However, the West Point graduate has never run a health care system, let alone a sprawling one with 1,700 hospitals and clinics.
News outlets report on health developments in New Jersey, Texas, Florida and Illinois.
First Edition: Tuesday, July 1, 2014
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including numerous reports about the Supreme Court’s decision on the health law’s contraception mandate and its effect for coverage and on national politics.
Hospitals Take Steps To Figure Per Patient Costs
New tools rely heavily on data to figure out just what it will cost to treat a patient — and in some cases, companies are buying additional information from “data brokers.”
Concerns Rise About Delays In Getting Generic Drugs To Market
PBS NewsHour explores concerns that settlements on patents for drugs sometimes delay the generic version getting to consumers.
Rule Issued For Small Business Health Insurance Tax Credit
The regulation sets eligibility requirements for businesses seeking tax credits to help them buy coverage for their workers. Meanwhile, a Republican House member complains about not getting information about how the Small Business Health Options Program (SHOP) is working.
23andMe Founder Working To Restore Firm’s Business, Improve Health Care
The FDA shut down the genetic company’s sales of personalized health reports, but CEO Anne Wojcicki is working to get that part of her business back up and running.
A selection of editorials and opinions on health care from around the country.
‘Pattern Of Errors’ Plagues Military Medicine
The New York Times’ investigation finds that on several important measures, the military system “has consistently had higher than expected rates of harm and complications.”
