Latest KFF Health News Stories
Clinton Papers Reveal Failed Health Law Efforts
Newly released papers offer a glimpse of how the former president’s team had hoped to win over moderate Republicans as well as Democrats, and also reassure Americans that the plan wouldn’t disrupt coverage if they already had it.
Internet Bug Spurs Healthcare.gov To Reset Customer Passwords
Federal officials say there is no evidence that any consumer’s information was compromised by the Heartbleed problem but they wanted to protect personal data.
States Have Limited Time For Decision On Setting Up Marketplaces
Those states that let the federal government run their health law insurance exchanges can still apply for federal money to set up a state-run one instead, but that funding opportunity expires in a few months, AP reports. Meanwhile, other outlets look at the deadline enrollment surge and its possible effect on health care costs.
Maryland Details Money Spent On Troubled Health Marketplace
The state spent nearly $130 million on the marketplace and more than $90 million of it on technology, according to the state’s breakdown, The Washington Post reports.
Cost Of Hep C Medicines Vexing Insurers
Insurers are issuing their first-quarter results, which reveal a chunk of spending on new Hepatitis C drugs.
An annual survey shows that doctors, on average, still make at least three times the annual median household income. Media outlets also describe other trends, including the return of house calls, often as part of hospital palliative care programs, the use of scribes to help with digital records, rushed doctors’ visits and a study finding that free drug samples influence doctors’ prescribing practices.
A collection of state health policy news from Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Texas, Washington state, Iowa and Kansas.
Health Law A Tough Sell, Although Millions Gain Benefits
A New York Times analysis points out that many of those helped most by the health law are the least likely to cast votes to preserve it. CNN notes that Obamacare is a tough sell for embattled Democrats, even as a political analyst questions whether Republicans can be successful if they run against the law but offer no other program.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including a GAO report on how the Obama administration raised money from outside groups to promote the health law.
At 8 Million Sign-Ups, Health Law Enrollment Surpasses Target
President Barack Obama hailed the latest tally of people who gained insurance as a result of the health law. News outlets also look inside this latest round of data to find out what information the administration is providing and what is still to come.
Sign-Up Figures Trigger New Round Of Health Law Political Spin
President Barack Obama uses the new enrollment numbers to urge Democrats to be proud of the health law and calls on Republicans to back off in their push to repeal the measure. GOP leaders, though, do not appear to soften their positions.
Physician Groups Deciding How To Spend Health Care Dollars
Some doctors, influenced by their professional societies, are considering how much procedures and medicines may cost the patient and the health care system.
Are Exchanges More Appealing To Insurers Now?
Elsewhere, in Colorado, new fees on consumers and insurance plans would raise $13 million to help run that state’s exchange next year.
California Officials Announce Enrollee Tally, Note Last-Minute Surge
Covered California, the state’s online health insurance marketplace, signed up 200,000 people for coverage during the two-week deadline extension — bringing the state’s total to 1.4 million. The state’s initial goal was about 815,900 for the six-month enrollment period that began Oct. 1, 2013.
Obama Presses Scrutiny Of 2015 Health Insurance Rates
The president made his appeal to state insurance commissioners at a meeting Thursday. Elsewhere, consumer spending related to the health law jumps, the GOP again demands to know the White House’s involvement in the healthcare.gov rollout, and hospitals try their hand as insurers.
Sebelius Says No To Kansas Senate Run
Despite recent appeals from Democrats for outgoing Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius to run against Sen. Pat Roberts, R-Kan., she has declined. Meanwhile, The New York Times reports that political attack ads are now trying to offer positive alternatives.
UnitedHealth Cites Health Law, Costly Hepatitis Drug In Reporting Lower Earnings
The health law’s effect was mixed, officials said, because the company did not participate in many of the online marketplaces, but it did see more customers for its Medicaid plans. Officials are considering a bigger role in the marketplaces next year.
A selection of editorials and opinions on health care from around the country.
This week’s studies come from JAMA Surgery, JAMA Dermatology, the Employee Benefit Research Institute, the Georgetown University Health Policy Institute, Mathematica, American Economic Journal and the Kaiser Family Foundation.
State Highlights: Diabetes Telemedicine in Miss.
A collection of health policy stories from Massachusetts, Oregon and Mississippi.
