Morning Breakouts

Latest KFF Health News Stories

Health Interest Groups Strategize To Stop Automatic Cuts

Morning Briefing

Industry lobbyists hope the “shock value” of last week’s White House report detailing the reach of the cuts will add momentum to efforts to persuade Congress to repeal the legislation before reductions start in January.

First Edition: September 18, 2012

Morning Briefing

Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including a New York Times’ report about the health law’s limits on young immigrants who will be allowed to stay in the United States as part of a new federal policy.

States Watch Calif. As It Builds Exchange; Red State Officials Wrestle With Opposition To Law And Need To Implement It

Morning Briefing

News outlets report on both the progress and difficulties states are facing as they attempt to establish health exchanges and meet other health law requirements. Meanwhile, Vermont is hoping to move beyond the federal law as it tries to set up a single-payer system.

Medicare, Health Overhaul Playing Key Role On The Campaign Trail

Morning Briefing

The Associated Press offers an issue breakdown regarding the health law positions taken by President Barack Obama and GOP presidential hopeful Mitt Romney while The Washington Post examines new studies that detail how Romney’s Medicare proposals might impact seniors.

GOP Lawmakers Investigate Aspects Of Health Law’s Implementation

Morning Briefing

House Republican lawmakers are questioning hiring practices at the Department of Health and Human Services as well as how the Internal Revenue Service will enforce provisions of the health law.

VP Candidate Ryan Levels Sharp Critique Of Obama Abortion Position

Morning Briefing

The GOP vice presidential pick made these comments while speaking to a conservative audience at the Values Voter Summit in Washington, D.C. Meanwhile, Planned Parenthood was quick to hit back.

Health Law Complexities Create Challenges For Va. Senate Candidates

Morning Briefing

The Washington Post reports on how the challenges surrounding the implementation of the overhaul are leading Senate candidates in Virginia to some nuanced positions. Meanwhile, Kaiser Health News tracked weekend news coverage of statement by House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi on why she thinks the GOP position on Medicare will help Democrats take back the House.

Medicare Upcoding Could Be Adding To Health Care Costs

Morning Briefing

The Center for Public Integrity reports on a trend in which many physicians and other medical professionals are billing Medicare for complicated and costly care. Some say this pattern signals an increase in medical billing abuse while others maintain it reflects seniors’ need for more complex care.

First Edition: September 17, 2012

Morning Briefing

Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including a number of reports about how Medicare and other health policy issues are playing important roles on the campaign trail.