Latest KFF Health News Stories
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.
With Rock Star Fanfare, Clinton Talks Health Care On The Campaign Trail
Speaking to what the New York Times described as a sellout crowd in Florida, former President Bill Clinton reprised many of his convention speech themes regarding how the health law is strengthening Medicare and providing benefits to millions of Americans. The Obama campaign is expected to continue to rely on Clinton as a surrogate in battleground states.
Federal Judges End Challenge To Idaho’s ‘Fetal Pain’ Law That Bans Some Abortion
The appeals panel says the woman bringing the suit didn’t have standing to stop the law since she wasn’t charged with a crime. In the meantime, however, the judges also found that the law places an “undue burden” on women seeking abortions.
ACO ‘Predecessor’ Saved Medicare Money, According To JAMA Study
The study, which examined the Medicare Physician Group Practice Demonstration, found the incentive program resulted in health care savings.
Medicaid News: Fight Over Expansion Brews In Ark.
State Medicaid budget issues show promise in Colorado — where a cost savings program may be working — and North Carolina — where the program has spent less than anticipated.
Job-Based Insurance Costs Rose 4% In 2012
The increase, although higher than the rise in wages or inflation, was less than the 9 percent rise in 2011.
A selection of editorials and opinions on health care from around the nation.
Sebelius Likely To Stay Put In Obama Second Term
If President Barack Obama wins reelection, Politico Pro reports that its a good bet that Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius would stay in her current position.
House Panel Votes To Separate Agents’ Payments From Health Law’s MLR Rules
On a largely party-line vote, a subcommittee approved a plan that would modify this provision of the 2010 health law in order to protect the earnings of health insurance brokers and agents. A vote by the full Energy and Commerce Committee is expected next week.
State Roundup: Mich. Gov. Proposes Making BCBS A Tax-Paying Insurer
A selection of health policy stories from Michigan, Connecticut, West Virginia, California, Vermont and Kansas.
Seniors: An Increasingly Politically Motivated Demographic
The New York Times reports on how issues such as Medicare, Social Security and the health law have raised the stakes in this year’s political debate among people of retirement age.
HHS Details Consumer Savings From Lower Premiums, Rebates
A Health and Human Services Department analysis estimated that consumers have saved $2.1 billion from the health law’s consumer protections, resulting in lower premiums and rebates.
First Edition: September 12, 2012
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including news about former President Bill Clinton’s role on the presidential campaign trail as well as reports from Capitol Hill and details of a new survey regarding health insurance costs.
Campaigns Dispute Impact Of Medicare ‘Voucher-Type’ Plan
Medicare stays atop the rhetoric in the campaign for both the White House and Congress.
Obama, Romney Making Few Stops To Help Congressional Campaigns
News outlets examine some of the campaign trail dynamics shaking out from the top of the ticket into House and Senate races.
