Latest KFF Health News Stories
The first confirmation hearing for Sylvia Mathews Burwell, President Barack Obama’s pick to head the Department of Health and Human Services, will be next week.
House Passes Bill To Loosen Health Law Rule For Insurers Who Sell To Expat Workers
The White House, however, opposes the bill on grounds that it could weaken the health law’s consumer protections, although it stopped short of threatening a veto.
Increased Awareness Drives Up Kansas Medicaid Enrollment
State officials say it is a result of the “woodwork effect.” Meanwhile, Modern Healthcare reports that some state Medicaid managed care plans are looking for help dealing with the cost of Sovaldi, the new hepatitis C drug.
Minn. Unseats Mass. As Top Place For Health Care
News outlets around the country reported on The Commonwealth Fund’s score card, which graded states on 42 measures, including access to care, quality and costs. USA Today looked at the report’s contention that states’ decisions not to expand Medicaid risk widening the health care gap with states that have expanded coverage.
A selection of health policy stories from Virginia, Arizona, Missouri and Connecticut.
WellPoint’s Profits Fall On Investments In Health Law Plans
Still, the company, which is closely watched because it is a big provider of plans to individuals through the law’s marketplaces, beat analysts’ expectations and raised its outlook for the year. Also out are earnings statements from hospital giant HCA and Express Scripts.
Oregon, Oracle Officials Thought They Might Have A Federal Exchange Fix
Emails show that a former Oregon official believed in early October that the state’s troubled exchange was just weeks away from a fix that might also be used to rescue the federal website, reports The Oregonian. Meanwhile, Fox News writes about an announcement by contractor Accenture that it will cost $121 million to get the federal exchange site ready for a second open enrollment and MNsure makes coverage retroactive for some people.
Viewpoints: Fauxbamacare; Virginia’s ‘Game Of Chicken’
A selection of editorials and opinions on health care from around the country.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including a new round of articles exploring recent polls and politics related to the public’s view of the health law.
Post-ABC News Poll: Half Of Americans Say Health Law Working Worse Than Expected
Meanwhile, a Kaiser Family Foundation poll concludes that there is a disconnect between people’s perception of the health law’s enrollment and the actual sign up total. In addition, Fox News reports on a Bankrate survey finding people don’t appear to mind paying added fees if those costs increase workers’ access to health insurance.
Administration Looking For New Companies To Run Health Marketplace
Federal officials lay out specifications for companies who will take over the website as they seek to make sure the sign-up effort does not run into repeat problems during next fall’s enrollment season.
Panel: Medicare’s ‘Quality’ Metrics Penalize Hospitals Serving Poor Areas
Federal pay-for-performance programs should take into account patients’ income, race and other factors when deciding how to reward or penalize hospitals, the panel’s recommendations say.
Pfizer Proposing $99 Billion Acquisition of British Competitor AstraZeneca
But news outlets note that the deal, which would allow Pfizer to escape the U.S. corporate tax rate, could be difficult to pull off. AstraZeneca says it rebuffed the American drug maker’s advances earlier.
Biden Swings At Ryan Budget, House GOP Hits Back
Vice President Joe Biden warned that the plan drafted by House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan, R-Wisconsin, would hurt Medicare and Medicaid, while a Republican spokesman criticized Biden for his support of a blueprint that leaves the health law in place.
Missouri Gov. Makes Last-Ditch Medicaid Expansion Effort
Gov. Jay Nixon, a Democrat, proposed using the federal money to pay a portion of the private insurance costs for businesses with fewer than 150 employees, but the idea was quickly shot down by Republican legislators. Meanwhile, health providers in Kansas said their state’s decision not to expand the program is denying care to thousands and costing hospitals millions.
Federal Appeals Panel Weighs Mississippi Abortion Law
Elsewhere, Google has agreed to remove advertisements for “crisis pregnancy centers,” which opponents say discourage people from having abortions.
State Highlights: Mixed Reaction To New Telehealth Guideline
A selection of health policy stories from California, Connecticut, Georgia, Florida and Kansas.
Washington State Requires Insurers To Spell Out Networks
The insurance commissioner issued controversial rules mandating that insurers explain referral and authorization practices to consumers. Meanwhile, a study details how nearly half the plans available through federal and state exchanges didn’t list what drugs patients had access to on their websites and Politico Pro questions whether more states will join the federal exchange.
A selection of editorials and opinions on health care from around the country.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including a report that the Obama administration is looking for new talent to run healthcare.gov.
