Latest KFF Health News Stories
Health Law Opponents Using Campaign-Style Maneuvers
NBC News looks at the political tactics of conservatives hoping to derail the health overhaul. Meanwhile, one senator’s attempt fails to cut funding and stop implementation.
ACO Pioneers Face Decision Deadline
Modern Healthcare reports that Medicare Pioneers have until July 15 to let the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services know if they plan to stay in the program for a second year. Meanwhile, the Connecticut Mirror offers a picture of how accountable care organizations work.
A selection of editorials and opinions on health care from around the country.
Health Overhaul Scam Opportunities Emerge
As the health law roll-out continues, more attention is being paid to the opportunities it may create for scammers and fraudsters.
Insurers Could Be Caught In Health Law’s Smoker Glitch
As the health overhaul’s implementation marches on, the Obama administration has limited a provision relating to the cost of smokers’ premiums and one news outlet looks at the effects on plans available to college students.
Texas Senate Passes Abortion Restrictions, Opponents Vow Legal Fight
Texas Senate lawmakers have followed their House counterparts in approving a series of abortion restrictions. The move has opponents vowing to take their fight to the courtroom and doctors at abortion clinics are worried the legislation could force them to shut down.
State Roundup: Ore. Seniors Get Special Medical Deduction, But Less Generous Than Hoped
A selection of health policy stories from Oregon, Connecticut, Kentucky, Texas and California.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including reports about the health law’s implementation and status checks on how the measure’s online insurance marketplaces are taking shape.
Reid Defends Obamacare As McConnell Goes On Attack
On “Meet the Press,” the leaders of the Senate disagreed sharply on the future of the president’s signature legislation.
Texas’ Strict New Abortion Law Heads To Gov. Perry For Signature
The Republican-dominated legislature passed the bill, which would ban most abortions past 20 weeks of pregnancy. Democrats and activists say the law could shut down most clinics in the state.
Upcoming House Votes Part Of GOP Assault On Health Law
Emboldened by the Obama administration’s delay by one year of the employer mandate provision of the health law, House Speaker John Boehner is scheduling two votes next week to delay all or part of the entire law.
Federal Appeals Court Upholds Health Law’s Employer Mandate
A panel of the 4th Circuit threw out a lawsuit from Liberty University that challenged both the law’s requirement of large employers to provide insurance for workers and the administration’s contraception coverage requirement.
Rollout Resembles Some Of The Problems Of Medicare Part D
NPR examines how the implementation of that last big government health program might offer lessons for the health law. Also, two stories explore outreach to people needing insurance, and the grocery chain Wegmans reportedly is cutting health benefits to part-time workers.
‘Defanged’ HIV Used To Deliver Gene Therapy
Researchers are having success using a vector that is derived from HIV to deliver gene therapy to children suffering from genetic diseases, a development that could improve other such care.
Gay Men Plan Blood Donation Protest
Gay men plan to try to donate blood Friday in protest to a 1977 policy that bans them from doing so. In the meantime, gay health care issues are considered in light of the Supreme Court’s recent ruling striking part of the Defense of Marriage Act.
State Highlights: Calif. Insurers, Lawmakers Fight Over Premium Disclosure
A selection of health policy stories from California, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Michigan, Wisconsin and Oregon.
Viewpoints: GOP Should Focus On Fixing Health Law; Bishops Refuse To Accept Victory
A selection of editorials and opinions on health care from around the country.
Texas Abortion Vote Near; N.C. House Passes Restrictions
The contentious abortion issue gets continued attention from state legislatures and courts.
Mass. Employer Health Insurance Mandate Repeal Moves Forward
Gov. Deval Patrick has agreed to end a state mandate that employers provide health insurance to their employees, included in Massachusetts’ 2006 health care overhaul, because a federal law — which is now delayed a year — was set to impose a similar mandate on employers. The repeal is included in the 2014 budget.
WellPoint Agrees To $1.7M Fine After Patient Data Exposure
HHS announced that the insurance company has agreed to the penalty after personal data for more than 600,000 people enrolled in plans was found accessible over the Internet.
