Latest KFF Health News Stories
State News: Texas To Close High-Risk Pool; Baltimore Probes Complaint Against Aetna
A selection of health policy stories from Massachusetts, Texas, California, Oregon, Missouri and Maryland.
Hospitals Try New Tactics To Reduce Hospital Falls
The nation’s medical workforce grapples with preventing falls in the hospital to improve patient safety. In the meantime, seniors in some places of the country are more likely to fill prescriptions for high-risk drugs, and Miami’s seniors lead the nation in filling Medicare prescriptions.
Sebelius Says She Won’t Resign, Asks Public To Try Exchanges Again
Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius doesn’t intend to resign over the health law’s shaky rollout of insurance exchanges, despite GOP pressure. In the meantime, she is also calling on the public to renew their attempts at buying coverage on the exchanges.
Medicaid Expansion Still In Play In Ohio, New Hampshire
Some Ohio lawmakers push back against Gov. John Kasich’s move to bypass the legislature to expand Medicaid, and New Hampshire legislators plan to meet next month to hammer out what leaders hope will be a bipartisan deal to expand the state-federal program for the poor. Meanwhile, likely Virginia voters support expansion 51 percent to 42 percent with the divide falling along party lines, according to a new poll.
Viewpoints: ‘Surrender’ By Republicans; ‘Myth’ Of Income Verification; ‘This Fight Didn’t End’
A selection of editorials and opinions on health care from around the country.
Longer Looks: Making RomneyCare Work For Other States
This week’s studies come from The Boston Globe, The Atlantic, The New York Times and ProPublica.
First Edition: October 17, 2013
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including reports and analyses of the Capitol Hill deal to raise the debt limit and reopen the federal government, as well as the latest developments regarding the health law’s federal and state health insurance exchanges.
Tuesday Came And Went — Still No Agreement To Reopen The Gov’t, Raise The Debt Ceiling
Differences among House GOP lawmakers are a key factor in this ongoing Capitol Hill drama, as some members continue to push to delay and derail parts of the health law. The current proposal emerging from the Senate includes changes to the overhaul, but most say these provisions would not significantly alter the measure.
Congressional Health Coverage At Center Of House GOP Concerns
Conservatives argue that federal contributions to their health insurance, which the health law requires them to purchase in the new online marketplaces, is an unfair subsidy. But Democrats say the government is just providing the same support that it has in the past and is in line with what other big employers give workers.
5.2M Won’t Get Coverage In States Rejecting Medicaid Expansion
A new report projects that 5.2 million adults will not get health coverage next year because their states aren’t expanding Medicaid under the health law. In Wisconsin, expanding the program becomes an issue in the gubernatorial race, while in North Carolina, county commissioners ask state officials to reconsider their decision not to expand, and in Virginia, supporters of expansion outnumber opponents in a hearing.
Health Law Politics Are Far From Over
The Washington Post reports that the political winds in individual states will impact the health law’s chances for success or failure — maybe even more than the current technical challenges that have been a hallmark of its roll out.
Federal Exchange: Expectations Were Rosy, But Consumer Frustration Taking Root
The Washington Post reports that visits to healthcare.gov dropped 88 percent between Oct. 1 and Oct. 13. In an interview, President Barack Obama said the glitches consumers have experienced must be addressed.
What’s In? What’s Out? Tracking The Health Law Changes And The Budget Talks
After playing a central role in the negotiations, two health law tax provisions — one related to reinsurance and the other a levy on medical devices — appear to be off the table.
California Exchange Draws Strong Interest, While Hawaii’s Finally Opens
Media outlets report on the progress of state-run exchanges, ranging from the nearly 100,000 application starts in California, to Hawaii’s two weeks-delayed launch, to Oregon officials’ concern about sites using sound-alike names.
Sebelius Gets ‘Full Confidence’ From Obama Despite Shaky Exchange Rollout
Amid a Republicans chorus calling for her to be fired, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius got the “full confidence” of President Barack Obama Tuesday.
State Highlights: Calif. Gov. Vetoes ‘Biosimilars’ Bill
A selection of health policy stories from California.
Where Seniors Live Affects Their Health Care And The Medications They Get
The Associated Press examines how geography can make a key difference in the treatments that Medicare beneficiaries receive. Other outlets look at the annual open enrollment period for Medicare prescription drug plans. USA Today reports that thousands who rely on nursing home trust funds have had their savings mismanaged or stolen.
A selection of editorials and opinions on health care from around the country.
First Edition: October 16, 2013
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including stories detailing how certain health law provisions are factoring in to the continuing congressional budget stalemate.
Rocky Opening Leaves Health Law’s New Co-Ops Jittery
Nothing is more important for a startup burning through cash than winning customers and revenue. So problems with the Affordable Care Act’s online marketplaces aren’t just an inconvenience for new insurance co-ops; they’re a threat.
