Latest KFF Health News Stories
Appeals Court Reverses Conviction Of Drug Sales Rep Who Talked About Off-Label Uses
The federal judges said the conviction violates the salesman’s right to free speech. Meanwhile, the Food and Drug Administration announced it is partnering with industry and others to find a better way to evaluate medical devices.
Stakeholders Focus On Addressing Medicare Physician Payment Issues
Stakeholders worry that, although a “doc fix” is likely to be included in a broad deficit-reduction deal, steps also need to be taken immediately to prevent scheduled Medicare physician payment cuts from kicking in.
HHS: Health Law Changes To Medicare Drug Program Saved Seniors $5B
The administration announces that almost 2.8 million people have saved an average $677, because the law is closing the prescription drug doughnut hole.
Health Plans Welcome Some HHS Health Law Regs, Gear Up For Changes
Insurers are preparing for new approaches to selling plans directly to consumers and how some state exchanges will operate. They are also girding for additional guidance from the Department of Health and Human Services that could help stabilize the insurance market.
Study: Hospices And The Enrollment Of High-Cost Patients
Many hospices may be discouraging enrollment for the highest cost treatments, and Medicare’s way of paying them may be part of the problem, a new study finds.
State Roundup: Building More Texas Medical Schools
A selection of health policy stories from Texas, California, Illinois, Georgia, North Carolina, Kansas and Massachusetts.
First Edition: December 4, 2012
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including coverage of the GOP counteroffer in the fiscal talks, as well as the White House reaction to it.
House Republicans’ New Fiscal Cliff Plan Includes Raising Medicare Age
House Speaker John Boehner released a summary of the GOP’s proposal, which is based on Democrat Erskine Bowles’ ideas.
‘Fiscal Cliff’ Talks Morph Into High-Stakes Game Of Political Chicken
White House negotiators and GOP lawmakers remain at odds over a deficit-reduction plan with only weeks to go before automatic spending cuts and tax increases are triggered. Policymakers seek a two-step deal with an initial round of spending cuts and changes to the tax code in January, followed by an overhaul of the tax code and entitlement programs next year.
Political, Policy Issues Swirl Around State Plans For Exchanges, Medicaid Expansion
Even as the Department of Health and Human Services releases regulations offering guidance for the health law’s online insurance marketplaces, these health exchanges — as well as the overhaul’s Medicaid expansion — continue to be hot topics.
Roe, Gingrey To Lead GOP Doctors Caucus
Meanwhile, The Hill reports that House Republicans are likely to embrace the same Medicare cuts that GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney had assailed President Barack Obama over, but which are likely to be included again in the House Republican budget. And Rep. Jack Kingston, R-Ga., is getting encouragement to head the House Appropriations Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies Subcommittee.
Drug Makers Zero In On Diabetes Patients’ Social Media Connections
NPR reports on this social media trend.
Viewpoints: Disputing Obama’s and GOP’s Commitment To Cutting Spending And Avoiding Fiscal Cliff
A selection of opinions and editorials from around the country.
Scheduled Medicare Doctor Pay Cut Could Be Just A Few Weeks Away
Medscape and The Connecticut Mirror covered the looming 26.5 percent cut, mandated by the SGR law.
Hospital Mergers, Acquisitions And Delivery Of Care Make News
Hospitals in California, New York and across the nation deal with mergers, acquisitions, delivery of care and fines in the marketplace. In the meantime, doctors whose practices were purchased by hospital chains feel increasing pressure to meet financial goals.
State Roundup: Mental Health Care Fund Questioned In Calif.
A selection of health policy stories from Iowa, California, North Carolina, Kansas, Virginia, Michigan and Texas.
60 Minutes: HMA Pressures Doctors To Admit Patients, Defrauding Medicare
The CBS newsmagazine reported that it interviewed more than 100 current and former employees of Health Management Associates (HMA), who said they were pressured to admit patients, whether they needed hospital care or not, to increase revenues.
Psychiatrists’ Group Approves New DSM
The American Psychiatric Association’s new edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders will place what was called Asperger’s as part of the autism spectrum.
First Edition: December 3, 2012
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news outlets, including the latest press reports on the looming “fiscal cliff” and on how states are viewing the health law’s Medicaid expansion.
Fiscal Cliff: Dems, GOP Sparring Publicly Over Entitlement Cuts, Including Medicare
In the Sunday talk shows and via interviews with key news organizations, administration and congressional GOP leaders are talking about their must-haves in any fiscal cliff deal.
