Latest KFF Health News Stories
A selection of editorials and opinions on health care from around the country.
A selection of health policy stories from California and Texas.
Poll Finds Very Mixed Views On Morning-After Pill; Black/White Breast Cancer Disparities Widen
Several stories this morning examine tricky problems in women’s health care.
Today’s studies and briefs come from the Urban Institute, JAMA Internal Medicine, the California HealthCare Foundation, Medical Care, BMJ, EBRI and Health Affairs.
First Edition: December 20, 2013
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including reports about the action taken by the administration to relax a health law requirement just four days before the deadline.
Insurers Extend Payment Deadline For Jan. 1 Coverage To Jan. 10
California, Connecticut and Washington, as well as some other states, have indicated that they will follow slightly different deadlines.
‘Deluge’ Of Signups Reported By Some State Exchanges
A handful of states with relatively smoothly operating insurance websites have seen enrollment increases of 30 percent to 40 percent this week. But others, including Massachusetts, Maryland and Colorado, continue to experience political as well as technical challenges.
Congress Closes In On Permanent Fix To Medicare Doctors’ Payments
With a bipartisan budget deal behind it, Congress may be on the verge of solving the way it makes Medicare payments to doctors. Meanwhile, national spending on health care is growing at the slowest pace ever recorded, according to The New York Times.
Value-Based Medicine Gains Momentum
Reuters reports on this development.
Poll Findings, Health Law Messagers Grab Headlines
Just as the latest New York Times/CBS poll concludes that people without insurance disapprove of the health law at just about the same rate as those who have it, the Obama administration turns to its “top seller” to promote the overhaul.
Minnesota’s Health Exchange Turmoil Continues
As of Dec. 1, fewer than 4,500 people had signed up for coverage through the state’s online insurance marketplace, leading to apologies from its new director and talk of postponing the deadline for enrollment for January coverage.
Medicaid Expansion: Wisconsin’s ‘Third Way’; Virginia’s Health Secretary Could Ease Path
News outlets report on various developments related to two state efforts to expand the health insurance program for low-income people.
Some Americans Reflect On Insurance They Had Pre-Health Law
Americans who are slated to have new insurance from the health law are reflecting on what their old coverage was like — if they had it at all. Also, an architect of the Massachusetts health law reflects on the federal health law.
Longer Looks: A ‘Biopsy Chaperone;’ Medical Errors At Assisted Living Homes
This week’s articles come from Billy Rubin’s Blog, UT San Diego, Health Affairs, The New Yorker and The Atlantic.
State Highlights: Calif. Midwives Prepare For New Independence
A selection of health policy stories from California, Minnesota, Colorado, Nebraska, Maryland and Massachusetts.
Web-Based Brokers Still Unable To Enroll Consumers
Despite promises of technical fixes by the federal government, Web-based brokers like eHealth are still unable to enroll consumers in Obamacare policies through their own sites as an alternative to healthcare.gov.
A selection of editorials and opinions on health care from around the country.
First Edition: December 18, 2013
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including reports that insurers will extend the payment deadline for Jan. 1 health coverage until Jan. 10.
Ex-Microsoft Exec Takes Over Healthcare.gov Fixes
Kurt DelBene, who previously was president of the Microsoft Office Division, was named by President Barack Obama to replace Jeffrey D. Zients and oversee efforts to rescue the federal government’s health care website.
Obama Talks Health Care Technology At Meeting With Executives
President Barack Obama met privately with executives from several technology companies to discuss the difficulties the administration has had with healthcare.gov.
