Latest KFF Health News Stories
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.
A selection of health policy stories from Texas, Ohio, Colorado, North Carolina, Massachusetts, Alabama, Connecticut and Kansas.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including a report about federal health care subsidies and an update on states small business health exchanges.
Indiana Gov. Offers Alternative Medicaid Expansion Plan
Gov. Mike Pence announced a major push to expand Medicaid — but in his own way — to cover an additional 350,000 low-income Indiana adults.
Insurers Feel Pinch From New Exchange Enrollees, Other Health Law Factors
In Oregon, insurers note the hardship caused when new Cover Oregon policy holders don’t pay their premiums. Also, Massachusetts’ top three insurers posted steep first quarter losses they link to the health law’s new taxes and fees.
Using Health Data To Identify People In Need During Emergencies
The New York Times reports on how federal officials examined Medicare claims to pinpoint people who might have health needs, and shared these names with local public health authorities for outreach during disaster drills.
Novartis Successfully Delays Generic Version Of Leukemia Drug
In the meantime, Gentiva Health Services — a health and hospice company — rejects a takeover bid by Kindred Healthcare.
Employer Health Costs May Rise 9% This Year
But a separate study says better health care transparency could save more than $100 billion in the health system over 10 years.
Detailing Which Doctors Are Frequent Billers For Medicare High-End Office Visits
Propublica digs into recently released Medicare pricing data.
Health Law Reverberations Continue On The Campaign Trail
Politico reports how Scott Brown, in his current New Hampshire senatorial campaign, is being haunted by both the Massachusetts and federal health overhauls. Meanwhile, the Associated Press reports on an attack ad in South Dakota.
Consumers Sue Blue Shield Of California Over Doctor, Hospital Network
Elsewhere, California extends the deadline for people on COBRA to get health exchange coverage, and the Associated Press looks at “reference pricing” that could mean bigger bills for some consumers.
Report: Women Unaware Of Health Law’s Benefits; Obstacles To Care Remain
The study from the Kaiser Family Foundation also found that one in five women were uninsured late in 2013 and that structural barriers to getting care remain.
Lawmakers Question VA Secretary Over Wait Times, Possible Deaths
Amid growing calls for his resignation, VA Secretary Eric Shinseki answered a Senate panel’s questions Thursday over allegations that a VA hospital in Phoenix kept secret lists to make wait times seem shorter.
Lawmakers Call For Investigation Of ‘Do Nothing’ Health Law Workers
GOP Sens. Roy Blunt and Lamar Alexander want an investigation into what’s happening at a health law insurance processing center in Kentucky after some employees say they sit idle. Their company, Serco, was awarded up to $1.25 billion to process health law insurance applications.
