Latest KFF Health News Stories
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.
Health Exchanges Grapple With Software, Server Issues
The Wall Street Journal reported that the Obama administration acknowledged Sunday that it needs to make design, as well as capacity, fixes to the website set up to help consumers shop for health coverage. Other news outlets examined the capacity challenges faced both by the federal and state exchanges and the adjustments made over the weekend.
State Websites Stumble With First Steps; Provider Rates, Coverage Questions Emerge
News outlets report on state efforts to smooth out glitches in health insurance web sites.
Drug Companies Paid To Attend FDA Advisory Panel Meeting On Painkillers’ Safety And Effectiveness
The Washington Post reports on this develoment.
Although many people think of the federal health law’s focus on the uninsured, it also is driving changes for those who have coverage. Meanwhile, two news outlets look at the importance of signing up young, healthy individuals in Texas and California.
With Marketplace Open, Outreach Efforts Swing Into Full Gear
A navigator in Philadelphia finds strong interest among consumers in the health law’s coverage options. Meanwhile in Minnesota, diverse groups of advocates prepare to help insurance buyers.
The Health Law And Older Americans
In this pair of stories, The Wall Street Journal takes a look at what the health law does in an effort toclose Medicare’s prescription drug “doughnut hole” as well as what might change for people who are approaching retirement age, but not yet eligible for Medicare.
State Medicaid Programs Pose Problems For Federal Insurance Markeplace
Communications issues between the state agencies that administer the program and the federal exchange are interfering with the concept of one-stop shopping.
Obama Asks Americans To Give Exchanges And Obamacare Time To Work
President Barack Obama defended the problem-plagued rollout of the health law’s insurance exchanges late last week. In an interview with The Associated Press, he asked Americans to not give up on changes the law is making and to give it time to work. Later, Obama said he didn’t know how many people had signed up for coverage through the exchanges and reiterated his unwillingness to repeal parts of the law to get Republicans to help reopen the federal government.
Boehner: No Change In Shutdown, No Debt Vote Without Health Law Concessions
House Speaker John Boehner on Sunday said he will not reopen the federal government or vote to refinance it until President Obama makes concessions on repealing parts of the new health care law. The White House hit back, saying Obama is willing to negotiate over the budget but not until the government reopens and Republicans drop the health care fight. Some cracks are appearing in the GOP stance among tea-party aligned members, however.
