Latest KFF Health News Stories
Study: Almost Half Of Working-Age Adults Have Inadequate Health Coverage
The Commonwealth Fund concluded that, while the number of uninsured adults dropped during the past two years, a large number of working-age adults had little or no coverage.
White House Chief Of Staff Holds Budget Meeting With Senate Republicans
There is some talk on Capitol Hill of developing a “broad framework” for moving toward a budget agreement, and then charging the Senate Finance Committee with the task of writing the specifics.
Doctors Assail Drugmakers For $100K Cancer Medicines
More than 100 cancer specialists call for pharmaceutical companies to lower the prices of these drugs that patients need to live.
Medicaid Expansion Challenges: Which States Are Facing Roadblocks, Running Out Of Time?
News outlets report on recent events in Florida, Ohio, Texas, Arizona and South Carolina.
Prescription Drug ‘Track And Trace’ Bill Splits House Lawmakers
House lawmakers are split on how the federal government should better track prescription drugs with one powerful Republican promising a “track and trace” law by August while Democrats press for stronger safeguards in the proposal.
States Mull Methods To Raise Health Exchange Awarenesss, Provide Consumer Assistance
News outlets report on developments in California and Maryland.
N.Y. Suspends Adult Day Care Enrollment; Texas Lawmakers Push Action On Medicaid Fraud
Fraud concerns in New York and Texas are sparking changes to health care programs: New York officials have suspended enrollment in an adult day care program, and lawmakers in Texas plan action on Medicaid fraud.
State Roundup: Md. Panel Says Hospitals Should Absorb Sequester Cuts
A selection of health policy stories from Maryland, Iowa, California, Oregon, Pennsylvania and the District of Columbia.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizaitons, including reports that some Democratic senators have concerns about the health law’s roll out as well as other news about the measure’s implementation.
GOP Leader Pulls Bill To Redirect Prevention Funds To Health Law’s High-Risk Pools
Shelving the measure to provide more money for coverage for people with pre-existing conditions, which faced strong opposition from conservatives, is viewed as a setback for House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, R-Va., and efforts to rebrand the Republican Party.
Will Lawmakers, Staff Be Exempt From Health Exchanges?
News outlets also report on whether health exchanges will end insurance monopolies; on efforts to address possible “churning” between Medicaid and the new insurance marketplaces; and the money states spent to decide against running their own exchanges.
Efforts Toward Common Ground On Budget Still Marked By Differences
The Associated Press reports that, across party lines, positions on new revenue as well as changes to Medicare and other entitlement programs are clouding the outlook for success. Meanwhile, The Medicare NewsGroup examines how certain Medicare proposals are playing.
Co-ops Face Historic Test, White House Makes Hire For Health Law PR Push
Politico notes the support and challenges of co-ops as alternatives to commercial insurance plans, while HealthyCal examines parts of the health law that may be giving pause to small businesses. Meanwhile, California Healthline examines whether the higher-than-expected costs and lower-than-expected enrollment in high-risk pools might foreshadow the future of new insurance exchanges.
A selection of editorials and opinions on health care from around the country.
Fla. Lawmakers Close In On Medicaid Expansion Deal
Florida lawmakers are closer to a deal that would OK a Medicaid expansion there — the state would use federal funds to cover more vulnerable residents while providing childless adults and adult parents with state money to buy private insurance.
Tavenner’s Smooth Path To Confirmation Hits A Bump
Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, has put a hold on the Obama administration’s pick to head the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services in order to highlight his concerns about the administration’s interest in raiding the health law’s prevention fund to pay for the costs of getting health exchanges up and running.
Md. Insurer Proposes 25% Rate Hike Because Of Health Reform
The state’s largest insurer — CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield — wants to raise rates for individuals buying coverage on their own in order to offset the cost of the health law requirement that insurers accept patients with pre-existing conditions.
House Measure Introduced To ‘Eliminate Consumer Confusion’ About Who Is, And Is Not, A Doctor
The measure would make it illegal for health care professionals to make false or deceptive advertising claims. In addition, two Senate committees are focusing on various aspects of either fraud within the health care marketplace, or misleading sales tactics, as a means to find savings in Medicare and Medicaid.
State Roundup: Mass. AG Warns On Hospital Sale Market Impact
A selection of health policy stories from California, Minnesota, Massachusetts, Oregon, Texas and Colorado.
Longer Looks: Plenty of Diagnostic Errors; A Patient Revolution
This week’s articles come from National Journal, Time, Forbes and The Atlantic.
