Latest KFF Health News Stories
Talk Of Budget ‘Grand Bargain’ Continues
Just as lawmakers prepared to depart for their August break, President Barack Obama sought to revive interest in a budget deal combining new tax revenue with cuts to health and retirement benefits. A group of Senate Republicans appeared interested, but there were no signs of engagement by the House GOP.
40th Repeal Vote Unlikely To Be Charm For House Republicans
The vote in the GOP-controlled House, scheduled for Friday, would prevent the Internal Revenue Service from enforcing any part of the health law. Some news outlets explore why GOP lawmakers continue pushing purely symbolic votes that will go nowhere in the Democrat-controlled Senate. Others report on the intra-party split regarding the strategy to shut down the government unless the law is defunded this fall.
A selection of editorials and opinions on health care from around the country.
Health Law Supporters Plan August Strategy To Counter Criticism
In response to efforts by some Republican lawmakers who are threatening to shut down the government as part of their attempt to stop the health law’s implementation, some progressive groups plan to organize their own town hall meetings and stage protests at GOP events, among other things, to tout the law’s perks. Others will go door to door to encourage consumers to enter the insurance market.
Spin Battle Over Obamacare Premiums Continues
Kaiser Health News offers five pointers to help you make sense of contradictory headlines about how much insurance could cost you when the Affordable Care Act marketplaces open for enrollment in October. Meanwhile, other media report on states’ projections of what premiums may cost in the online marketplaces next year.
Assessing Health Law’s Impact On Cities, People
Local reports examine what cities have to gain from the health law as well as the relative health of their residents.
Deal Will Keep Federal Contributions For Insurance When Congress Moves To Exchanges
Members of the House and Senate and aides are being switched to the online marketplaces set up by the health law.
Mich. Legislative Panel Moves Medicaid Expansion Forward
The approval for making at least 320,000 low-income adults eligible for Medicaid sets the stage for a crucial Senate vote later this month.
State Highlights: Working Parents Could Lose Medicaid In Fla.
A selection of health policy stories from New York, Florida, California and Oregon.
Tavenner Challenges GOP Health Law Claims During Capitol Hill Hearing
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services chief Marilyn Tavenner disputed statements by Republican lawmakers that the country’s health care reform law is causing workers to lose hours or benefits. She also said the health law rollout was proceeding as planned. The acting head of the Internal Revenue Service also testified.
Research Roundup: Making Sense (Or Not) Of Health Insurance
This week’s studies come from The Journal of Health Economics, The Kaiser Family Foundation, The Heritage Foundation, UCLA Center for Health Policy Research and news outlets.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including details about today’s health law repeal vote in the House. It comes just as lawmakers prepare to leave for the August break.
Health Costs Are Still Tame, Insurer Results Show
Some give all the credit to Obamacare. Others cite the poor economy or employers forcing workers to bear more of the cost of their medical expenses. Whatever the reason, health-cost increases stayed tame through the first half of the year, insurers say.
Obama Seeks To Calm ‘Jittery Democrats’ On Health Law Rollout
Meanwhile, senior GOP leaders plan more votes to chip away at Obamacare, in part to dissuade their rank and file from demanding a government shutdown this fall unless the health law is defunded.
Targeting The Health Law’s Enrollment Message
Though some view it as a difficult sell, new advertising from the 17 states that are setting up health insurance marketplaces tends to be upbeat and positive. First Lady Michelle Obama is also pitching in on efforts to reach very specific populations.
With The Weight Of The Employer Mandate Temporarily Gone, Small Businesses Are Eyeing Expansion
The Wall Street Journal reports on how the employer mandate delay is impacting small business hiring patterns.
For States, ‘Churn’ Is A Matter Of Concern
California Healthline reports on how life events can cause individuals’ incomes to change enough that it will also impact whether they qualify for subsidies to shop for insurance on the state’s health exchange, or whether they should apply for Medicaid. It’s an issue on which states are beginning to focus.
Lawsuit Alleges Hospital Operators Paid Kickbacks, Defrauded Medicaid
A whistleblower says two hospital operators paid clinics to direct to their hospitals pregnant mothers living in the U.S. illegally.
State Highlights: Brooklyn Hospital Files For Bankruptcy, Plans To Close
A selection of health policy stories from New York, North Dakota, Texas, Minnesota and California.
A selection of editorials and opinions on health care from around the country.
