Latest KFF Health News Stories
Court Denies Maine Medicaid Lawsuit, Says To Give CMS Time To Rule On Cuts
A federal appeals court rejected a Maine lawsuit Thursday and said the state — which wants to cut 30,000 from its Medicaid rolls — needs to allow the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services time to review its request.
First Edition: September 14, 2012
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including stories detailing the politics stirred up by GOP vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan’s return to Capitol Hill, as well as reports about new poll numbers and the latest about how health issues are playing on the campaign trail.
Long-Term Care A Big Time Worry In California, Study Finds
A new poll released Wednesday found half of Calif. voters say they won’t be able to afford the long-term care a family member will need.
Kohl, Grassley Press CMS On Long-Delayed Physician Payment Sunshine Rule
In other hearings, Republican lawmakers pressed the IRS about the regulatory costs of the health law and criticized the requirement that all insurance plans cover birth control.
Sebelius Found To Have Violated The Hatch Act
The U.S. Office of Special Counsel concludes that HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius violated the federal law that restricts political activity by government officials. Also in the news, the Wall Street Journal reports on some of the specific considerations in the mix as advisers to GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney look for candidates to lead the Department of Health and Human Services and to fill other Cabinet Spots — if Romney wins the presidency.
Mo. Lawmakers Override Veto Of Bill Limiting Contraceptive Coverage
Gov. Jay Nixon had argued that state law already provided protections. Also, a religiously oriented business files suit against the Obama administration policy requiring employers to cover contraceptives.
New Efforts To Improve Medicaid in California, Colorado
Advocates caution that California’s ambitious program for dual eligibles could be problematic, while
Colorado’s effort to move Medicaid patients into medical homes is showing savings.
Politico Pro details findings from the Commonwealth Fund that these pools are providing a “bridge” to extend insurance coverage until key parts of the health law take effect in 2014.
New Ads, Campaign Appearances Deepen Political Lines In The Sand
As former President Bill Clinton concludes his two-day Florida campaign tour for President Barack Obama, he continued to hammer domestic themes including the importance of the health law and to criticize GOP statements regarding Medicare.
Number Of Uninsured Americans Drops By 1.3 million
New census data shows that for the first time since 2007, the number of Americans without health insurance declined. However, high rates of poverty persisted.
Roundup: Fla. Officials Probe Report On Disabled Children In Nursing Homes
News outlets report on a variety of health issues in California, Colorado, Florida, Kansas, Massachusetts, Minnesota and Oregon.
Automatic 2 Percent Medicare Cut Would Hurt Health Industry, Groups Warn
Health care provider organizations have joined forces to urge Congress to avert Medicare cuts. The result, they warn, will be more than 760,000 health-related jobs lost by 2021.
A selection of editorials and opinions on health care from around the nation.
Longer Looks: The Smells To Treat PTSD; Nudging Healthy Choices
This week’s articles come from The Miami Herald, The New York Times, The Atlantic, The Los Angeles Times, and the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Weekly Campaign Highlights: Races In Penn., Iowa, Miss. And Mich.
As election day approaches, Kaiser Health News’ Sarah Barr will sample news coverage each week from swing states around the country
McDonald’s To List Calorie Counts On Menu Boards
News outlets describe the fast-food restaurant’s move to provide this menu information both in its restaurants and drive-thrus across the country as part of an effort to get ahead of federal menu-labeling requirements.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including news from the Census Bureau that, although record numbers of poor people persist, the number of uninsured Americans dropped by 1.3 million.
Health Care Jobs Report: A Dire Warning To Congress
Just four months before a series of automatic spending cuts kick in, Medicare providers are warning that hundreds of thousands of jobs will be lost if those cuts are allowed to take effect.
How Is Your Medicare Drug Plan Like Your Cable Company?
Some Medicare prescription drug plans raise premiums about 10 percent if you stick around too long, a new study finds.
Exploring The Campaign’s Health Policy Buzzwords, Proposals
The NewsHour compares the policies advanced by the Obama administration and the Romney campaign. Meanwhile, Bloomberg News offers an analysis on how GOP presidential hopeful Mitt Romney proposes to change Medicaid.
