Latest KFF Health News Stories
Progressive Group Recommends $385 Billion In Health Cuts
Center for American Progress says proposal would be a better for health industry groups than cuts under sequestration.
Employer Health Costs Rise 4 Percent, Lowest Increase Since 1997
Furnishing new evidence of slower growth in health costs, consulting firm Mercer said Wednesday that employers spent 4.1 percent more on health benefits this year than in 2011.
Obama, GOP Leaders Stake Out Positions In ‘Fiscal Cliff’ Face-Off
President Barack Obama and GOP congressional leaders signal what they’re looking for in a budget deal to avert the looming “fiscal cliff,” offering their respective takes on tax increases, spending cuts and changes to entitlement programs.
States Wrestle With Health Exchange Decisions
Even as state officials decide whether they will set up online insurance markets or allow the Obama administration to do it for them, some wonder if the federal government is up to the task. Decisions about the health law’s Medicaid expansion are also on governors’ minds.
Hospitals Directed To Step Up Protections For Kidney Donors
The New York Times reports on a new action by the body that regulates transplants in the United States.
Alliance Of Medicare Providers Urge Link Between Payment Changes, Quality
The Premier healthcare alliance is urging that, if scheduled 2 percent cuts take effect, they not apply to hospitals that have already reduced costs.
ACO Tally Could Double By January, Says CMS Official
CQ Healthbeat reports on a prediction by a Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services official about how many accountable care organizations will contract with Medicare.
Subcommittee Chair Presses For Answers About Health IT-Related Injury
Rep. Renee Ellmers, R-N.C., says she has been waiting for the Department of Health and Human Services to respond to her questions for five months.
Despite Modest Improvement, Premature Birth Rates Cause Concern
A new report from the March of Dimes gives the U.S. a ‘C’ in preterm birth rate reductions.
Poll: Health Care Not Main Motivation For Voters Choosing President
Voters cited the health law as the third most important topic they considered — behind both the economy and personal characteristics of the candidates — when casting their presidential ballot last week, according to a new poll.
As Health Law’s Fate Becomes More Clear, Insurers, Medical Device Makers Try To Stem New Taxes
Insurers and medical device makers are planning ad campaigns and intense lobbying to try to stop taxes in the health law from cutting at their bottom lines.
Pharmaceutical Compounding Problems Spread Under Lax Regulation
News outlets report that congressional oversight was lacking and the Boston Globe uncovers documents about the company that started the meningitis outbreak.
U.S. Bishops Promise To Continue Fight Against Birth Control Mandate
Cardinal Dolan, the nation’s top bishop, made clear that the Roman Catholic church will not comply with the Obama administration requirement regarding contraception coverage and will continue to challenge it — both legislatively and in court.
State Roundup: Disparity In States’ Fiscal Health; Ark. Medicaid Shortfall Threatens Care
A selection of health policy news from Michigan, Arkansas, Massachusetts, Oklahoma, Oregon, Kansas and California.
A selection of editorials and opinions on health policy from around the nation.
First Edition: November 14, 2012
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including details about how lines are being drawn regarding the ‘fiscal cliff’ negotiations.
Health Law Was A Wash In The Election, Poll Finds
Even after Obama was declared the winner, the public’s view about the law remains about evenly divided.
U.S. Lowering Rate Of Premature Births, But Slowly
The national rate fell to 11.7 percent in 2011, but public health advocates would like to see further reductions.
Some news outlets examine the impact of looming tax increases and spending cuts if a budget deal is not struck by the end of the year. Others examine the positions being staked out by powerful groups over issues such as Medicare and other entitlement programs.
Obama Administration Gives States More Time To Decide On Health Exchanges
On Friday afternoon, the Department of Health and Human Services extended the deadline until Dec. 14 for states to submit plans to set up state-based health insurance exchanges under the health care law. Those states that want to partner with the federal government have until Feb. 15 to outline the duties the state government would handle in running the exchanges.
