Latest KFF Health News Stories
Wis. Lawmakers Poised To OK Bill That Will Require Ultrasound Before Abortion
Elsewhere, New York lawmakers consider nurse-patient staffing ratios, and North Carolina grapples with AIDS care and Medicaid funding.
Privacy, Medicaid Fraud Lawsuits Yield Settlements In Calif., N.Y.
Parties in health care court cases in California and New York reach settlements after privacy and Medicaid fraud lawsuits.
Calif. Budget Agreement Seeks Balance, But Leaves Off Some Health Care Items
A budget agreement in California between lawmakers and Governor Jerry Brown seeks to strike a balance between spending restraint and providing more health care for the needy, the Los Angeles Times reports. But the agreement lacks several health care line items lawmakers bandied about in recent weeks — including repeal of a 10 percent provider cut to Medi-Cal.
Questions Emerge As Dust Settles Surrounding Plan B Policy Change
News outlets offer day-after coverage of the Obama administration’s reversal on the morning-after contraceptive pill.
What Drives Costs In The Health Care Marketplace?
The New York Times examines how hospital mergers might be one of the health sector’s overlooked cost factors while Reuters reports on a recent study that examines what variables cause physicians to order unnecessary tests.
A selection of health policy stories from North Carolina, Alabama, New York, Georgia, Virginia and Maryland.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including reports about how the health law’s implementation played in a recent town hall meeting as well as the action taken by one business in anticipation of its some of the requirements that will take effect in 2014.
Obama Administration Changes Course On Plan B
Monday afternoon, the Justice Department announced it would accept recent court rulings and begin putting into effect a judge’s order to have the Food and Drug Administration certify the Plan B pill for use without prescription and without age restrictions on sales.
The Health Law’s Implementation Gains And Pains
As Democrats begin campaigns to tout the health law’s benefits and states work to implement some of the overhaul’s central provisions, concerns about state budget pressures, program costs and civil liberties draw headlines.
Organ Transplant Board Calls For Review Of Child Policy, Creates New Appeal System
A panel of officials that decides matters on organ transplants called Monday for a review of the guidelines for issuing organs to children and created a special appeals process after two cases of children who need lung transplants drew congressional and judicial attention.
State Highlights: Medi-Cal Rate Cuts Loom; Latin American Docs Help Meet Need
A selection of health policy stories from California and Massachusetts.
Medicaid Expansion Decisions Still Brewing In Some GOP States
News outlets also report on the latest expansion news from Mississippi and Arizona.
Hospitals Attempt To Address Patient Noise Complaints
The Wall Street Journal reports on how hospital noise may play into the patient experience and might lead to penalties.
States Consider Rates, Legislation On Health Insurance Marketplaces
Rates for coverage offered through the online marketplaces make news in Minnesota and the District of Columbia, while bills in California could hold up the exchange’s rollout.
Insider Probe Over Medicare Rate Decision Hits Congress
News outlets report on developments in the story of alleged insider trading after a Medicare rate decision.
A selection of editorials and opinions on health care from around the country.
Missed Savings Opportunities In Medicare Program
The Wall Street Journal reports that the Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General concluded that as mucha s $1 billion could have been saved in 2011 had lower prices been negotiated for lab tests. Meanwhile, Kaiser Health News reports on a study that details similar savings that could have been reaped through prescription drug costs.
Medicare Advantage Enrollment Reaches Record High
An analysis by the Kaiser Family Foundation and Mathematica Policy Research found that despite concerns the health law’s future payment cuts would have a chilling effect, Medicare Advantage enrollment increased by nearly 10 percent last year and by 30 percent since 2010.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including coverage of the Obama administration’s decision to drop the fight to keep age restrictions in place for Plan B emergency contraceptive pill sales.
During a Friday speech in California, President Barack Obama touted the health law’s benefits — highlighting the Golden State’s progress so far — in his effort to encourage young people and Latinos to sign up for coverage that will be available through new online insurance exchanges.
