Latest KFF Health News Stories
Viewpoints: Michelle Nunn’s Confusing Stance On Health Law; Seeking To Assess Wis. Experiment
A selection of editorials and opinions on health care from around the country.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including status reports on the health exchanges in Nevada and Oregon.
Indiana Gov. Pence Details His Medicaid Expansion Alternative
In a speech to the American Enterprise Institute, the governor outlined a plan that he says will expand health coverage for low-income state residents while also giving people more control over their health care choices. Meanwhile, the stand-off over Virginia’s Medicaid expansion is causing the budget situation to worsen. News outlets also provide related updates from Wisconsin, California and Missouri.
States Appear To Be Sticking To Health Exchange Choices
Modern Healthcare reports that states — whether they elected to run their own insurance marketplaces or use healthcare.gov — appear to be staying the course in terms of the health law’s exchanges. Meanwhile, the Massachusetts Connector is a hot topic on the campaign trail.
Health Law Figures Prominently In Today’s Primary Votes
In Georgia, Democratic Senate hopeful Michelle Nunn wouldn’t answer questions about what position she would have taken on the health law, and GOP candidates also swing it out over this issue. In all, six states have primary contests Tuesday.
Bundled Payments Could Reduce Costs, Fraud, Experts Say
Policy experts say switching to this type of payment system could save millions of dollars over the fee-for-service approach, reports USA Today. Meanwhile, The Center For Public Integrity says that federal investigators are probing alleged overbilling by Humana’s Medicare Advantage program.
State Highlights: Calif. Bill On Keeping Small Biz Health Plans; Colo. Rating Area Plan Approved
A selection of health policy stories from California, Colorado, Connecticut, Washington state and Massachusetts.
The White House Is In The Hot Seat As VA Problems Continue To Emerge
President Barack Obama will speak soon about the reports regarding delays and flaws in the Veterans’ Affairs health system. In the meantime, however, the administration is defending its nominee for a high-ranking VA position.
A selection of editorials and opinions on health care from around the country.
When Preventive Services Are Not Free
Politico takes a look at the difficulties of carrying out the overhaul’s mandate to provide free preventive services, while Kaiser Health News examines a study detailing how limited insurer competition increased consumer premiums. The Fiscal Times reports on a study projecting that high deductibles are likely to keep the premiums of exchange plans in check.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including the latest reports on various states’ challenges related to expanding the Medicaid program.
Subsidies May Be Too High Or Low For Some Who Got Coverage
More than a million Americans listed incomes on their health insurance applications that differ significantly from those on file with the Internal Revenue Service and therefore may be getting subsidies that are too high or low, The Washington Post says. Other media outlets report that states can decide whether to carry out a key part of the health law’s small business exchanges for 2015.
Study: Medicaid Patients’ Health Could Impact Health Law’s Bottom Line
The New York Times reports on a news study concluding that Medicaid surgery patients ultimately cost more than those on private insurance — a finding that may foreshadow what happens as the Medicaid rolls grow under the health law.
More Stressful To Care For Partner Than Parent, Poll Finds
Meanwhile, few medical schools teach students how to talk with disabled patients about their needs even though nearly 20 percent of Americans have physical or mental disabilities, NPR reports.
Fitness Tracking Apps And Devices Raise Privacy Concerns
The Washington Post reports on this development.
Health Overhaul Political Ads Total $445 Million
A report released by Kantar Media CMAG found that spending on negative ads related to the overhaul outpaced spending for positive ones 15 to 1. In other political news, two Senate Republicans are calling for a delay in the confirmation of Sylvia Mathews Burwell to head the Department of Health and Human Services until the Obama administration provides more information about the health law’s implementation.
AstraZeneca Rejects Pfizer’s ‘Final’ Bid
The British drug maker rejected a takeover bid from New York-based Pfizer in a deal that would have led to the world’s largest drug company.
Obama ‘Madder Than Hell’ Over Troubles With VA System
At the same time, lawmakers continue their push for answers over what happened, and a VA undersecretary resigns after allegations the VA health system kept secret lists to conceal long delays for care.
Some health policy experts, including those at the Center for American Progress, are urging the president to install a chief executive to oversee the law’s implementation to avoid any further difficulties.
Viewpoints: Pence On Medicaid Expansion; Jindal On Obamacare Repeal Efforts; ‘Long-Shot’ Lawsuits
A selection of editorials and opinions on health care from around the country.
