Latest KFF Health News Stories
Private Companies Get Mixed Marks On Managed Medicaid
The Atlanta Journal Consitution reports on this development.
A Case Study In U.S. Health Care Costs
The New York Times offers this explainer.
Federal Judge Lifts Ban On Medicare Releasing Individual Doctor Data
A federal judge has lifted the ban on Medicare releasing data on individual doctors to the public. The end on the 33-year ban — after the publishers of The Wall Street Journal sued to end it — could mean closer scrutiny of doctor practices in the program.
MBA Program Offers Doctors Business Background Amid Health Law Changes
An Indiana business school is hoping to catch more doctors interested in learning something about business as the practice of medicine changes.
News outlets report on health exchange developments in California and Florida.
Medicaid Expansion Deepens GOP Intraparty Rifts
The different positions taken by various Republican governors on the health law’s Medicaid expansion underscore the political divisions in play.
HHS Limits Obamacare Options For Small Businesses
A final rule released Friday confirms that a provision of the health law aimed at helping small businesses provide insurance to their employees will be limited until 2015.
State Highlights: Calif. Bill Would Fine Big Employers with Employees on Medi-Cal
A selection of health care policy stories from California, New York, the District of Columbia, Massachusetts, Arizona and Minnesota.
States Grapple With Mental Health Care After Federal Inaction
Mental health legislation is taking the spotlight in states after federal lawmakers have failed so far to act. In Wisconsin, some mental health care changes gain momentum.
Today’s early morning highlights from major news organizations, including a number of stories detail health law implementation developments.
Slowdown In Medicare Spending Extends Trust Fund
Spending on Medicare and other entitlement programs remains a flash point in the ongoing debate over federal spending and deficit reduction.
D.C. Approves Two New Proton Therapy Centers
Two of Washington’s biggest hospital systems won approval Friday to build proton treatment facilities that will cost a total of $153 million despite questions about whether the treatment is any more effective than less expensive options.
Medicare Forecast: Solvent Until 2026, Though Baby Boomer Costs Loom
The annual report of the Social Security and Medicare Board of Trustees, released today, said the hospital trust fund has two years more life than they projected last year. KHN followed the coverage.
Analysts Predict Continued Medicare Cost Growth Slowdown
As Medicare and Social Security’s trustees prepare to release their annual report Friday, USA Today reports that the rate of increase in overall Medicare spending could continue to slow because of the 2010 health law. The Associated Press reports that a slowed upward curve only delays a day of reckoning for the popular programs, however.
Concerns Raised About Popular Blood Pressure, Diabetes Drugs
The Wall Street Journal reports that a senior FDA regulator is seeking stronger warnings about a class of blood pressure drugs that may be linked to higher cancer rates. Meanwhile, The New York Times details how a doctor hired by Merck to test a diabetes drug in rats found a possible link to pancreatic cancer, a discovery that turned the doctor into a crusader.
Health Law Next Steps: Transparency And ‘Compliance Programs’
Doctors and others await the dissemination of better price and quality information and details of “compliance programs” that doctors will be required to roll out.
Medicaid Expansion: Maine Looks At Another Plan; Advocates Lobby N.H., Missouri Lawmakers
States wrestle with the issue of expanding their Medicaid programs under the federal health law.
State Highlights: Mo. Gov. Worried Tax Cut Bill Raises Prescription Drug Sales Tax
A selection of health policy stories from Missouri, the District of Columbia, Florida, Virginia, Georgia, Pennsylvania, California and Oregon.
Next Battles Over Obamacare Predicted To Be Ugliest Yet
CNN reports that the White House and Republicans are preparing for an epic fight over the selling of Obamacare tied to the opening of online insurance marketplaces Oct. 1. Other media outlets describe how GOP lawmakers are escalating calls for an independent probe of fundraising appeals by Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius.
Health Care Questions: Do Medical Homes Improve Outcomes? Is High Tech Worth The Cost?
MedPage Today and KHN exmined two different aspects of the changing health care landscape.
