Latest KFF Health News Stories
Medicare: Small Pay Raises For Family Care, Hospital Outpatient Services
Family physicians will get a 7 percent increase in Medicare payments while others who provide family care services will get 3 to 5 percent boosts. Hospital outpatient payments will grow 1.8 percent.
Legislation Planned To Tighten Oversight Of Compounding Pharmacies
Rep. Edward J. Markey, D-Mass., will introduce legislation requiring compounding pharmacies to meet the sterility, record-keeping and manufacturing standards faced by large drug makers.
AHA Sues Medicare Over Audit Program Aimed At Trimming Improper Payments
The American Hospital Association says the audit program is preventing hospitals from being reimbursed for care they provide.
CMS Raises Medicaid Rates For Some Doctors
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services announced that, as a part of the health law, primary care and other physicians will see higher payments.
Mass. Adopts Stricter Rules, Penalties For Compounding Pharmacies
The emergency regulations will allow the state to monitor contamination and the volume of medicines being made.
Health Insurance News: Cigna Earnings Climb, Small Businesses Drop Coverage
A selection of news stories on issues affecting the insurance industry.
State Highlights: N.H. Hospital In Hepatitis Oubreak Must Allow Access To Patient Records
News outlets report on health care developments in Colorado, Florida, Illinios, Maine, Massachusetts and New Hampshire.
A selection of editorials and opinions on health care from around the country.
Research Roundup: Lowering Health Costs Of The Poorest Sick; Local Variations In Health Spending
This week’s studies come from the Archives of Internal Medicine, Mortality and Morbidity Weekly, Mathematica, The Kaiser Family Foundation, The New England Journal of Medicine and other news outlets.
Companies, College Challenging Health Law’s Contraception Coverage Mandate
One Michigan company won an injunction from a district court judge, as another company and a Texas college file lawsuits.
First Edition: November 2, 2012
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including reports about what the presidential candidates are saying in the final days of the campaign.
Romney Campaign Focuses On New Trio Of States
With just days to go until Election Day, the Romney campaign sees possibilities to win in Pennsylvania, Michigan and Minnesota, while pro-Obama groups launch new ads about Medicare and women’s health.
Forecasting Health Policy For The Post-Election Landscape
Various news stories examine how the outcome of the presidential election could lead to very different courses for the health law’s implementation and approaches to Medicare reform.
Doctor Self-Referrals For Advanced Imaging Cost Medicare $100M In 2010
According to a Government Accountability Office report, doctors who referred patients for tests involving advanced imaging machines that they or a family member owned cost Medicare more than $100 million in 2010.
Stakeholders Scramble To Define Starting Points For Fiscal Cliff Negotiations
Anticipation of the upcoming congressional battle has party leaders and interest groups staking out where they want to begin.
Abortion, Health Law Drive Messaging In Tight Senate And House Races
News outlets examine last-minute campaign actions and ads in Virginia, Wisconsin, Indiana, Massachusetts, Washington and Pennsylvania.
Employers, Unions Ask For Greater Health Care Price Transparency
In the meantime, health coverage for workers who work for small businesses is declining, a new study finds.
Obama Administration Won’t Block Religious Challenge To Health Law
In court papers, the administration said it has no objection to revisiting Liberty University’s challenge to the health overhaul.
Mich. Hospital Systems Announce Large-Scale Merger Plan
Two large hospital systems in Michigan Wednesday announced plans to merge in a move that would create a 10-hospital system company officials say would be better suited to face health law implementation challenges. Consumer advocates, however, urged caution over the merger.
Compounding Pharmacies Rarely Get Tough Punishments
USA Today examines how officials have dealt with charges of misconduct at pharmacies in the past. Meanwhile, a compounding pharmacy, which is owned by the same company that owned the plant linked to the meningitis outbreak, is recalling its products after an FDA review.
