Latest KFF Health News Stories
Maine Sues CMS Seeking Medcaid Cuts Resolution
Maine — unhappy with how long a decision is taking — is suing the federal government over its request to lower Medicaid eligibility.
Mich. Officials To Appeal Ruling Stopping Pay Deductions To Cover School Retirees’ Health Care Costs
Michigan officials will appeal a ruling that declared unconstitutional a deduction of school employee pay to help pay post-retirement pension health care costs.
State Roundup: Mass. Cost-Containment Law Could Harm Provider Credit Ratings
A selection of health policy stories from California, Massachusetts, Maine, Missouri, Florida, Georgia and Wisconsin.
First Edition: September 5, 2012
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including reports on how health reform is playing a role in presidential politics, both during the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, N.C., and in a new GOP campaign ad.
UnitedHealth Cases Show Big Cost Differences For Same Illness
New study focuses on the care provided by nearly 250,000 physicians treating non-elderly UnitedHealthcare patients and finds large spending disparities to treat similar ailments.
Young Doctors Seek To Alter Practices; Medical Schools Push Training In Addiction
The Associated Press examines how tech-savvy young doctors are changing medicine, and KHN looks at efforts to train doctors to recognize how addictions complicate other health problems.
Democrats To Spotlight Health Care, Abortion Rights At Convention
Party leaders will be touting the health overhaul passed two years ago, as well as efforts to expand contraception coverage. In addition, the platform looks ahead at issues such as health disparities, public health and HIV, Politico Pro reports.
Uncertainty In Kansas Over Essential Health Benefits Ruling
Gov. Brownback has not said whether his administration will make a recommendation on what basic health benefits should be available to Kansans who seek health insurance through the new marketplaces to be set up under the health care law.
The Department of Health and Human Services says health plans can’t discriminate against transgender people while one doctor uses Internet technology to cut down on overhead costs associated with his practice.
Texas Hospitals Under Scrutiny: Parkland’s Record Penalty
Texas officials on Friday fined Dallas’ Parkland Memorial Hospital a record $1 million for patient safety violations in the wake of intense federal oversight.
Presidential Election Could Have Major Impact On Medicaid
The New York Times reports that though Medicare reforms get the headlines, Medicaid is more likely to be immediately affected by the presidential election.
HHS Announces Financing For Co-Op Insurance Startups
HHS will make loans totaling $161 million available to new non-profit insurance carriers.
Medicare At Center Of Tug-Of-War Between Campaigns
Both parties are casting themselves as protectors of the program, leaving voters to decide which of their plans will best slow the program’s cost growth while also protecting seniors.
President Orders Additional Mental Health Help For Vets
President Obama signed an executive order to expand the services available for veterans in crisis.
Roundup: Texas Probes Xerox In Medicaid Overbilling; Miss. Abortion Clinic Fights To Stay Open
Health policy news from Texas, California, Oregon, Maine, Mississipi, Massachusetts, Wisconsin and Kansas.
Viewpoints: President Obama’s Charlotte Challenge; The Aetna Arms Race
A selection of health care opinions and editorial from around the United States.
First Edition: September 4, 2012
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including previews of the Democratic convention and a New York Times analysis of how the Obama and Romney campaigns vary on Medicaid policy.
Obama Defends Health Law, Saying Romney Woud End Its Consumer Protections
President and other top Democrats, warming up for their convention Tuesday, take aim at Republicans’ health positions.
In Sharp Contrast To GOP, Dems To Highlight Health Care
The Democrats are planning to praise popular parts of the health law during their convention, which begins Tuesday.
2 Large Minn. Health Systems Announce Merger
HealthPartners and Park Nicollet plan to merge, creating the second biggest system in Minnesota — just behind the Mayo Clinic.
