Latest KFF Health News Stories
As the stand-off continues between Capitol Hill Republicans and President Barack Obama over the government shutdown, the debt ceiling and GOP efforts to defund or delay the health law, Politico poses the question: what would be on the table if leaders did start talking.
Gov’t Shutdown Triggered By Capitol Hill Causes Damage To Public Health
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention calls in furloughed scientists after a salmonella outbreak in California sickened people in 18 states.
State Highlights: Maine To Allow Foreign Mail-Order Rx Drug Orders
A selection of health policy stories from Maine, North Carolina, Missouri, California, Washington, Kansas and Florida.
Hill GOP Blasts Coverage Costs, Seeks Numbers Of Obamacare Enrolees
The GOP on Capitol Hill is continuing targeted attacks on the health law.
How Obamacare Affects Children, Prisoners
Media reports explore how the health law requires that dental and vision care benefits for children be included in policies sold through new online insurance marketplaces and how the law may shift prisoners’ health care costs from local jurisdictions to the federal government. Other outlets track congressional oversight of the IRS’ role in enforcing the law’s requirement that most people carry insurance.
A selection of editorials and opinions on health care from around the country.
First Edition: September 9, 2013
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including reports on how some state health online insurance marketplaces are working as well as the latest from Capitol Hill on the budget standoff.
Software Crash Viewed As Root Cause Of Exchange Delays
The New York Times reports that a major software component crashed under the pressure posed by millions of visitors last week to the federal online insurance marketplace. Still, other technical issues beyond traffic also are at work, and some insurers say they are getting faulty and incomplete data from the new U.S.-run health exchange.
In addition, news outlets offer progress reports on state-based health exchanges in Minnesota, Washington and Michigan as well as how the federal exchange is working for other states that opted not to run their own online insurance marketplace.
Senate Democrats Ponder ‘Clean’ Debt Limit Bill; GOP Holds Obamacare Ground
Democratic leaders in the Senate are mulling passing a “clean” bill — one with no other policy changes — that would increase the nation’s debt limit. House Republican leadership continues to refuse any proposal that doesn’t strike some parts of the new health law. In the meantime, political posturing around the government shutdown sometimes ignores the health law’s role in it.
A selection of editorials and opinions on health care from around the country.
Report: States Lax In Taking Steps To Curb Prescription Drug Abuse
The number of deaths attributed to the abuse of painkillers and other prescription drugs has risen sharply in recent years.
Supreme Court Justices Seek Administration Views In Medical Device Case
Reuters reports on how this case is playing out in the high court.
Report: Even States Opting Out Of Medicaid Expansion Will See Enrollees, Costs Rise
Media outlets report on a Kaiser Family Foundation study that projected a 5 percent jump next year in the number of people enrolled in the state-federal insurance program for the poor, even in states that will not expand eligibility. Meanwhile, PBS NewsHour examines the impact on the uninsured of state decisions not to participate in the health law’s Medicaid expansion.
Cost Issues: Expensive Patients; Payoff From Delaying Aging; Approving New Treatments
Cost and quality issues in the news include research about the costliest U.S. patients, the potential that delaying aging instead of treating disease could have on extending life, and examining how the U.S. compares to other countries on approving new medical treatments.
HHS Sec. Sebelius: ‘I Don’t Know’ How Many Have Enrolled
Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said on The Daily Show Monday that she doesn’t know how many people have enrolled in health insurance exchanges, but that “hundreds of thousands” of accounts have been created and that officials will give monthly reports on enrollment.
The vets say a new tax aimed at helping pay for changes from the health overhaul is hurting them, according to KHN. Meanwhile, Healthy Cal looks at closing of the prescription drug coverage gap. CNN also explores the arguments over the law’s effect on overall health spending.
Despite Sales Efforts, Polls Show Continued Obamacare Doubts
Even as states like California push the health law exchanges, bolstered by a growing list of celebrity pitchmen, surveys of some groups — among them, physician practices and likely Virginia voters — show continued doubts about the marketplaces.
State Highlights: Mass. Law Shines Light On Health Care Prices
A selection of health policy stories from California, Massachusetts, Connecticut and North Carolina.
First Edition: October 8, 2013
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including the latest on how the health law’s online insurance marketplaces are operating and what caused the initial systemic problems.
