Latest KFF Health News Stories
How The Health Law Played On A Big Day For Primary Elections
Six states voted for candidates yesterday to run for congressional and Senate seats. Some viewed these contests as important to watch because they highlighted face-offs between the GOP establishment and its tea party wing. All in all, though, the health law still was part of the buzz.
Inspector General Says VA Probe Has Expanded To 26 Facilities
The controversy centers on new allegations of treatment delays at centers for veterans and suggestions that officials falsified records of waiting times.
AHIP Hits Hard On Cost Issue, Using Hepatitis C Drug As Example
Reuters reports that the health insurance trade group criticized the drug industry for the extremely high cost of new specialty medicines.
A selection of health policy stories from Colorado, California, the District of Columbia and New York.
Medicare Tightens Oversight Of Drug Prescribing
ProPublica reports the program can now expel physicians found to prescribe drugs in abusive ways. Another piece examines three California doctors who are among the top five nationally in billing Medicare for the most complex office visits.
Lawmakers Probe Hospital Pay For Short-Stay Patients
The House hearing was the first congressional inquiry into the consequences of Medicare’s “two-midnight rule,” which has drawn criticism from seniors and hospitals. An administration official said the agency is asking for ideas on how to design a different payment system for short-stay patients.
Finance Panel Scheduled To Vote Today To Recommend Confirmation Of Burwell As HHS Chief
CBS News reports on the relatively smooth path this Obama administration nominee has faces thus far.
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.
