Latest KFF Health News Stories
$600M For Health Law Implementation In President’s Proposed Budget
In the meantime, the budget also proposes $5.5 billion for “risk corridors” in 2015 to pay insurers who find themselves with a higher number of sicker and older people they must insure. Some call that program a bailout.
CBO Projects Lower Health Law Cost; Oregon Lawmakers Seek Exchange Review
The cost estimate from the Congressional Budget Office takes into account lower-than-projected enrollment this year. Meanwhile, Oregon’s Democratic senators ask the Government Accountability Office to examine federal funding of that state’s website a day after House Republicans make a similar request.
President Obama’s Budget: Medicare Means Testing And Lower Drug Costs
The budget proposal includes a provision to make wealthier seniors in Medicare pay more as well and another to try to drive down the cost of prescription drugs. A rival Republican plan is also expected to propose cuts to Medicare and Medicaid.
News outlets report on these and other state efforts to address issues related to expanding the state-federal health insurance program for low-income people.
Va. House Republicans Press For Special Session To Debate Expansion Proposal
The expansion is currently being tackled as part of the state’s two-year budget blueprint, but the House GOP is urging that it be considered separately in order to avert a potential government shutdown.
Highlights: L.A. Nursing Homes Scrutiny
A selection of health policy stories from Texas, California, Arizona, Wisconsin, Connecticut, Virginia and Georgia.
Obama’s Budget Eyes Provider Cuts To Save Money
The president’s proposal would save $402 billion from Medicare and Medicaid over 10 years, mostly from lower reimbursements to health care providers and drugmakers.
Poll: Public Is Split On Candidates Who Backed Obamacare
But support has significantly increased for lawmakers who voted for the law, according to the Washington Post/ABC News poll. Meanwhile, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, a potential GOP presidential candidate, tells a constituent worried about Obamacare to “elect a new president,” and former White House adviser Ezekiel Emanuel writes in a new book that many of the early problems with the law were “self-inflicted.”
Viewpoints: Obama’s Budget Punts On Entitlements; Medicaid Debate Rankles States
A selection of editorials and opinions on health care from around the country.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including reports about President Barack Obama’s 2015 budget as well as the latest state-level Medicaid expansion developments.
With Final Enrollment Push, Obama Focuses On Latinos
President Barack Obama will participate in a Thursday town hall meeting with Latinos, which will include an in-depth discussion about the law’s impact on this population. Still, some consumers — many of whom might fall into the coveted young adult category — are getting health coverage outside of the state and federal health exchanges. And reports continue regarding consumer confusion about the health law and its deadlines.
Is Another Health Law Delay On The Horizon?
The Hill reports that the Obama administration is preparing to announce as early as this week a directive that would allow insurers to continue offering plans that do not meet the overhaul’s minimum coverage requirements.
Medicare Drug Program Falls Short In Tracking Fraud
Medicare’s drug program continues to be in the news, from a report finding that it fails to adequately track fraud, to continued opposition to an administration proposal that would revamp the program.
Study: Nearly 1 in 5 Had Mental Illness Before Military Enlistment
The findings, published as three papers in JAMA Psychiatry, show that soldiers who join the military come in with much higher rates of mental illness than the general public.
One Third Of Nursing Home Patients Harmed By Caregivers
The finding by the Health and Human Services Inspector General emphasizes the extent of medication errors, preventable infections and other care issues in skilled nursing facilities. Also, California’s Sutter Health system says it has developed a program to make end of life care both more caring and more economical.
Viewpoints: Ryan’s Attack On Medicaid; Time To Fix Medicare’s Doc Pay
A selection of editorials and opinions on health care from around the country.
Ore. Health Exchange, Oracle Begin ‘Transition’ Agreement; Md. Marketplace Wrestles With Next Steps
Updates on state-based exchanges in Minnesota and Washington as well as news from Wyoming regarding the Medicaid expansion.
Drug Firms Trimming Speaking Fees To Doctors
ProPublica examines a shift in the money that pharmaceutical companies gave physicans for promotional speeches.
President’s Budget Expected To Outline Health Law Spending
President Barack Obama’s proposed budget will lay out steps to prevent illegal immigrants from obtaining Medicare and is expected to lay out how much has been spent to carry out the health law so far. It will also seek more money for anti-poverty programs.
3.5 Million Estimated Medicaid Signups Under Health Law
Avalere Health projects that of the 8.9 million people “determined eligible” for Medicaid starting last Oct. 1, the number of new enrollees under the health law is likely much smaller — between 2.4 million and 3.5 million. Other reports look at how health insurance could result in nearly half a million more Americans getting tested for HIV by 2017 — but how 60,000 people with the virus will be left uninsured in states not expanding Medicaid.
