Latest KFF Health News Stories
Controversial Navigators Are Central In Health Law’s Outreach Efforts
State officials opposed to federal overhaul target nonprofit groups that the federal government is counting on to help consumers.
A selection of editorials and opinions on health care from around the country.
Sen. Barrasso Warns Of Health Insurance Marketplace Cost ‘Sticker Shock’
The former orthopedic surgeon from Wyoming also warned that the law is too expensive and used the weekly GOP address Saturday to push for its repeal.
For Veterans, Malpractice Payouts Reach 12-Year High
Bloomberg reports on this news development.
Medicaid Expansion Continues To Make Political And Policy Waves In The Carolinas, Pennsylvania
While South Carolina works on its own “plan b” to pursue instead of the health law’s Medicaid expansion, a North Carolina hospital plans to close its doors. Its parent company blames the state’s decision against the expansion.
Seniors Can Ignore New Health Insurance Marketplaces
Officials are reminding those on Medicare that they don’t need to sign up for health insurance coverage in Obamacare’s marketplaces starting Oct. 1. In the meantime, a new study says Rochester, N.Y., has the lowest Medicare spending, and the notion of investing a portion of the money in your Health Savings Account gains steam.
What Does The Health Law’s Future Hold For Workers, Uninsured People, Employers And Others?
News outlets examine a variety of issues related to the health law’s implementation, ranging from how it might impact workers in the year ahead, to those who will not gain any benefit from the law as well as the importance of location and other news about how the overhaul will affect the health care marketplace.
IBM, Time Warner Move Retirees To Private Health Exchanges
IBM and Time Warner are moving retirees out of company-sponsored health plans and giving them money to buy coverage in private health insurance exchanges. The companies will allocate funds that retirees can use to shop for coverage in marketplaces similar to those being set up under the federal health care law.
State Highlights: Democratic Gov. Hopefuls Spar Over Hospitals In N.Y.
A selection of health policy stories from New York, Indiana, South Carolina, California and Kansas.
First Edition: September 9, 2013
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including reports about how Time Warner and IBM are planning to move retirees to private health insurance exchanges to cut costs.
IRS Proposes Rules For Health Law’s Employer Mandate
On Thursday, the Internal Revenue Service published proposed rules for how companies with more than 50 employees must report health coverage for their workers. That provision was delayed a year until 2015.
HHS Readies $12M Ad Campaign To Promote Health Law In 13 States
The advertisements, which will begin airing Sept. 30, will encourage consumers in a group of predominantly red states to sign up for insurance available through the health law’s new online marketplaces.
Research Roundup: The Financial Burden Of Hospital Acquired Infections
This week’s studies come from JAMA Internal Medicine, The Kaiser Family Foundation, Preventing Chronic Disease, The Commonwealth Fund and news outlets.
Effort To Fix Doc’s Medicare Pay Formula Gains Momentum
A bill now pending in the House that has cleared the Energy and Commerce Committee would repeal the sustainable growth rate — SGR — formula and replace it with a more quality-based system.
State Highlights: N.M. High Court Rules Malpractice Law Covers Doc Businesses
A selection of health policy stories from Texas, New Mexico, California, South Carolina, Iowa, Florida, Minnesota and Massachusetts.
‘Flurry’ Of New Reports Show Wide Variations On Insurance Rate Costs
News outlets continue to follow recent studies released by several health policy groups about the expected premiums for plans offered on the new online insurance marketplaces.
In States Resistant To The Health Law, Poorest Residents Unlikely To Get Aid
USA Today reports on how, in states that opted not to pursue the health law’s Medicaid expansion, many of the poorest residents may fall through the cracks. Meanwhile, the San Jose Mercury News looks at some of the states that have been the most resistant to implementing the health law.
A selection of editorials and opinions on health care from around the country.
For Health Exchanges, Will Soft Launches Lead To Hard Landings?
CQ HealthBeat examines whether the new online insurance marketplaces will be ready to go on Oct. 1, and what possible delays might emerge and how those delays could impact the exchanges’ effectiveness. Also in the headlines, reports from Delaware, Kentucky, Washington, Pennsylvania and Arizona.
First Edition: September 6, 2013
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including a report on the White House’s proposal about how to gather information that would allow the government to enforce the employer mandate, which requires companies with 50 or more workers to provide affordable health insurance to their full-time employees.