Latest KFF Health News Stories
Federal Gov’t. Moves Against Nevada Hospital For Alleged Patient Dumping
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services gave Nevada 10 days to correct problems at Rawson-Neal Psychiatric Hospital following reports it may have improperly discharged patients and bused them out of state.
Obama Tells Planned Parenthood He’ll Fight To Maintain Abortion Rights
President Obama told attendees of Planned Parenthood’s annual meeting that he will fight to maintain abortion rights and the group’s federal backing. In the meantime, an antiabortion group releases undercover videos it took at abortion clinics.
State Highlights: Ore. For-Profit Hospitals’ Charity Care Lags
A selection of health policy stories from Mississippi, Oregon, Connecticut and California.
CMS Plans To Increase Medicare Hospital Payments By 0.8%
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced the proposed increase Friday, which will raise payments for services that elderly and disabled patients receive after being admitted to hospitals.
Research Roundup: Young Women And Delays In Breast Cancer Diagnosis
This week’s studies come from JAMA Surgery, the American Journal of Public Health, Health Affairs, HHS and news outlets.
Some GOP Lawmakers Are Shifting Focus From Medicare To The Tax Code
House Republican leaders began a series of meetings last week to sell this idea to their rank-and-file members. Also in Capitol Hill news, cancer clinics argue that Congress should have addressed the cuts they took as a result of sequestration before turning to the spending reductions’ impact on air travel.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including a report that hospitals are questioning Medicare’s rules on readmissions.
Vangent Gets $28 Million Contract For Health Marketplace Call Center
The federal government has awarded a $28.2 million contract to a General Dynamics subsidiary to run a call center to handle consumer questions about the new online insurance marketplaces that are slated to begin selling insurance policies Oct. 1.
Dems Worry About Health Law Rollout, GOP Plans Attacks
For Democrats, anxieties are running high regarding the political impact of a messy rollout of the overhaul and expected premium increases for some groups. Meanwhile, GOP leaders push a series of bills aimed at dismantling or altering the law in an effort to publicize what they say are its shortcomings.
A Health Exchange Exemption: Capitol Hill’s Big Headache
There is talk around the halls of Congress regarding whether lawmakers and congressional aides will be given an exemption from a part of the health law that requires them to obtain their health coverage from online insurance marketplaces.
A selection of editorials and opinions on health care from around the country.
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.
