Latest KFF Health News Stories
A selection of editorials and opinions on health care issues from around the country.
Open Enrollment: Trying Times For Employees
USA Today reports on a new survey the heralds the approach of open enrollment season.
House GOP Leaders Press For Details On Health Exchanges
Modern Healthcare reports that, with three months remaining before states must submit their health exchanges applications, House Republicans wrote a letter to acting Centers of Medicare & Medicaid Services Adminstrator Marilyn Tavenner seeking information.
Brand-Name Drug Makers Bet Coupons Will Help Their Products Edge Out Generic Competition
The Associated Press reports on this market development.
Reactions To Rep. Akin’s Comments: ‘Offensive And Ignorant;’ ‘Loathsome;’ ‘Bad Science’
Opinions are uniformly negative in response to the Senate candidate’s comments on rape during a TV interview.
Medicare Debate Moves To The Forefront Of Congressional Races
The future of the popular entitlement has become an issue in close House races, with both sides casting themselves as the program’s protectors.
Almost Half Of U.S. Doctors Burned Out By Workload: Survey
Additionally, more than 37 percent of respondents out of 7,000 doctors queried said they work more than 60 hours per week.
Aetna Acquires Additional Stake In Medicare And Medicaid Business
Aetna’s plan to buy insurer Coventry will add 5 million customers to its rolls.
First Edition: August 21, 2012
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including reports from the campaign trail, where House candidates are turning up the Medicare debate; and from the health care marketkplace, where Aetna acquired Coventry Health, a Medicare and Medicaid insurer.
Competing Medicare Positions: The Debate Behind The Rhetoric
As the Romney and Obama campaigns continue to spar over Medicare politics, news outlets examine the questions in play.
Presidential Campaign Keeps Focus On Medicare
GOP presidential hopeful Mitt Romney and his running-mate pick Paul Ryan are taking their Medicare message to New Hampshire today. Meanwhile, President Obama blasts the Republican ticket on its Medicare plan.
State Roundup: Calif. Suing Doc Over Billing Practices
A selection of health policy stories from New York, Maine, California, Maryland, South Carolina, Texas and Massachusetts.
Appeals Court Dismisses Challenge To Doctor-Owned Hospital Expansion Limit
An appeals court has dismissed a challenge to a part of the health law that limits expansion of doctor-owned hospitals on grounds that a lower court that issued an earlier ruling didn’t have jurisdiction in the case.
Texas Investigates Dental Medicaid Fraud; Access, Cost Hurting Dental Care In Va.
In Texas, officials are investigating dentists for applying for reimbursement for procedures Medicaid doesn’t cover. Also, cost and a dentist shortage in Virginia is negatively affecting dental care in that state.
Study: Medicare ‘Doughnut Hole’ Not Linked To More Heart Attacks, Related Deaths
Reuters reports on a new study regarding Medicare’s prescription coverage gap and its impact on heart attacks.
Some GOP governors say their states can’t afford the health law’s Medicaid expansion, but hospitals in those states have a different view.
Aetna To Buy Coventry Health For $5.7B
Aetna is joining the post-health law insurer purchasing fray and buying Coventry Health for a proposed $5.7 billion to increase its Medicaid business.
Mo. Senate Candidate Blasted For Comments On Rape
Republican Rep. Todd Akin, who is challenging Sen. Claire McCaskill, suggested in a TV interview that some rapes are “legitimate” and women can shut down a pregnancy from such an attack.
New editorial perspectives on the Medicare plans put forth by both Obama and Rep. Paul Ryan.
A selection of editorials and opinions on health care from around the country.
