Latest KFF Health News Stories
States Consider New Mental Health Care Services, Parity For Seniors, Prisoners
State leaders in Oregon, North Carolina and California consider new legislation or studies on what better mental health care for their residents could mean for quality of life and health care costs.
Many Uninsured Don’t Know They Must Buy Coverage Next Year
News outlets report on a poll finding that more than 40 percent of the uninsured are unaware they could be required to buy health coverage in 2014, while another study calculates how many young people are benefiting from the provision allowing adult children to stay on their parents’ policies up to age 26.
State Highlights: Dartmouth Joins N.H. Medicaid Managed Care
A selection of health policy stories from New Hampshire, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Colorado, Illinois and California.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including various reports about changes afoot in the insurance marketplace.
What Do Moms, Librarians And Local Officials Have In Common?
News outlets report on how a range of organizations and professions could play a role in advancing the Obama administration’s effort to get more people to enroll in the health insurance that will become available as a result of the health law.
NFL Says It Has No Plans To Help With Obamacare Promotion
After receiving letters from Republican senators urging it to stay out of a political fight, the National Football League said Friday that it will not work with administration officials on the effort. HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius suggested earlier that the league was enthusiastic to help.
Budget Cuts Likely To Undermine Medicare Anti-Fraud Efforts
The Center For Public Integrity reports on this development
Several news outlets offer opinions on the Texas debate on abortion and other states’ efforts to tighten restrictions.
A selection of editorials and opinions on health care from around the country.
Contraceptive Exemption For Religious Groups Finalized
The rule, issued under the health care law, attempts to quell the controversy by balancing the interests of women with the concerns of the Roman Catholic Church and other employers with religious objections to providing coverage for contraceptives.
Hospitals, Doctors Consider Changes Amid Medicare Hospital Readmissions Scrutiny
Hospitals and doctors are feeling the health care law heat as officials try to reduce readmissions and increase quality of care in the Medicare program. PBS NewsHour looks at the law’s hospital readmissions penalties and Medpage Today explains what the hospitals are doing.
Health Law Has Businesses, Health Systems Weighing Tough Decisions
News outlets also attempt to “demystify” the health law and report on recent poll results.
Nearly Half Of States Opt Not To Expand Medicaid
With most state legislative sessions coming to a close, 23 states and the District of Columbia have agreed to expand the program, as laid out under the health law. Many of the others will leave billions of federal dollars on the table, while a handful are still undecided.
Lawmakers Gird For New Abortion Fight As Texas Special Session Convenes
Texas lawmakers resume debate on proposed abortion legislation as the state legislature opens a special session Monday. Republicans say they will quickly pass new abortion restrictions despite opponents’ efforts. Meanwhile, the Congressional Budget Office projected that a House bill that would ban abortions after 20 weeks would increase Medicaid costs by as much as $400 million.
State Highlights: Calif. Bill To Fine Firms With Workers On Medi-Cal Fails
A collection of health policy stories from California, Pennsylvania, Oregon, Mississippi, Massachusetts, Georgia and Iowa.
Stakes Are High For Rollout Of Health Exchanges
An estimated 7 million people will shop for individual health coverage this fall in the new online health insurance marketplaces, with another 2 million seeking coverage through the law’s small business program. Federal and state officials are working full tilt to have them ready in time.
This week’s studies come from Health Affairs, the Urban Institute, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, The Kaiser Family Foundation, the University of California, Berkeley, the University of California, Los Angeles, The Center of Excellence in Public Health Workforce Studies and news outlets.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including coverage of the Obama administration’s final contraceptive coverage rule as well as a range of other stories on health law implementation issues.
GOP Senators Press Sebelius To Back Away From Helping Nonprofit
The group of 28 senators are also seeking more information about the health secretary’s efforts to help the nonprofit Enroll America to get more people signed up for coverage available through the health law. Meanwhile, the head of the House Republican Study Committee urged the NBA and the NFL not to promote the health care law.
Impact Of Health Law On Costs Reaches Beyond Premium Pricetags
Much of the debate about the overhaul’s costs has focused on “rate shock,” but other issues also are in play.
