Latest KFF Health News Stories
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.
Health IT Systems Being Used To Track Doctors, Too
Some physicians feel second-guessed by systems that track how they handle their patients. Also, in other coverage about health care delivery, the Fiscal Times examines the growth of minute clinics.
Research Roundup: PSA Testing Recommendations Often Ignored; Medicaid Expansion’s Impact
This week’s studies come from Health Affairs, The Kaiser Family Foundation, the Annals of Family Medicine, the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, and news outlets.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including articles on data tracking of doctors and comparing the rollout of the Medicare Part D drug plans to implementation of the federal health law.
Weekend Reading: Doctors Who Decide, Death Desires, and Decisions
Every week reporter Ankita Rao selects interesting reading from around the Web.
Viewpoints: ‘Implosion’ Of The ACA; Administration ‘Spin Machine’
A variety of opinions, editorials and analyses from around the country.
CMS To Settle Payment Fight Over Gamma Knife
The rule would end a provision — inserted into the fiscal cliff agreement — that would have helped a U.S. company by slashing payments to the Swedish maker of a similar device.
Maryland’s Action May Offer Middle Ground In Abortion Clinic Debate
After a woman was hurt during an abortion, the state tightened its oversight. Americans continue to hold complex views on the subject, even as lawmakers on Capitol Hill gear up for a possible Senate fight on a bill banning abortion after 20 weeks of pregnancy.
Community Health Centers Get $150 Million For Health Law Enrollment
Also, Walgreen and the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association announces a combined effort to help get information to consumers about getting insurance through the federal health law.
State Highlights: N.Y. Expects $20M Savings With Psychiatric Care Overhaul
A selection of health policy stories from New York, Michigan and California.
Longer Life For Americans, But Obesity Problem Persists
Americans are living longer than they did 20 years ago, but they still lag other countries on life expectancy and the obesity rate, a new study has found.
Analysis Finds Obamacare Opponents Outspent Supporters On Ads By 5-1
The study of television ads finds that critics have spent at least $385 million since the law was enacted in March 2010. Meanwhile, supporters are looking for innovative ways to attract young healthy people to join plans offered on the online marketplaces.
Several outlets look at physician practice issues.
UnitedHealth Sees Shift Toward Outcome-Based Incentives
The nation’s largest insurer predicts it will have $50 billion in accountable-care contracts with health care providers by 2017, up from $20 billion now.
Louisiana Blue Cross: Insurance Costs Will Drop For Many Under Health Law
The federal health law is having different effects in Louisiana, Florida, Ohio and Wisconsin.
Senate GOP Petitioning For ‘Permanent Delay’ Of Obamacare
Encouraged by the administration’s delay of the employer mandate provision by one year, Republicans were active on both sides of Capitol Hill Tuesday, renewing their calls for repeal.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations including reports from Capitol Hill about GOP efforts to repeal or delay the health law.
Tax Break Can Help With Health Coverage, But There’s A Catch
There are two kinds of financial help for lower-income people planning to enroll in the online health insurance marketplaces that will open this fall. One could put people at risk of having to pay some of the money back, while the other won’t.
