Latest KFF Health News Stories
Research Roundup: Unnecessary Heart Tests; Americans Hit The Walkway
News outlets reported this week on a variety of studies dealing with health care policies.
First Edition: August 10, 2012
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including reports about the health law’s tax provisions and insurance rebates.
In Colorado, Obama Focuses On Women’s Health Issues
Campaigning in the western swing state, President Barack Obama said his opponent, GOP presidential hopeful Mitt Romney, would take women’s health care back to the 1950s.
As Flap Continues Over Pro-Obama PAC’s Ad, Romney Aide Praises Mass. Health Law
The ad, which highlights the death of a steelworker’s wife after Bain closed his plant, triggered criticism from Republicans. But a Romney aide’s comments about how that family would have benefited from the Massachusetts health reforms signed into law by then-Gov. Mitt Romney was not well received in conservative circles.
IOM Panel Examines The Promise And Reality Of Telemedicine
Institute of Medicine experts find that the continued integration of telemedicine into the health care system will face challenges in the years ahead.
BMJ Authors Challenge Pharma’s Concerns About ‘Innovation Crisis’
In a British Medical Journal analysis, authors take to task the drug industry’s assertion that innovation is being slowed by the system’s regulatory demands.
State Roundup: Calif. Officials Near Deal On Workers’ Health Costs
A selection of health policy stories from California and Oregon.
Access To Care In Mass. Improves, But Many Docs Still Don’t Accept New Patients
The survey by the Massachusetts Medical Society says access to primary care is slowly improving, but that it can still take a month or longer to get an appointment. In addition, only about half of internal and family medicine practices are accepting new patients.
Komen Breast Cancer Charity Shakes Up Leadership
Founder Nancy Brinker moves out of the day-to-day management to concentrate on raising funds, and the president, Liz Thompson, is leaving six months after the group backed down from controversial plans to cut funding to Planned Parenthood.
GOP Governors Respond To CMS Signs Of Flexibility Regarding Medicaid Expansion
CQ HealthBeat reports that some Republican state executives were not impressed with the decision by Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services officials to allow states that proceed with expansion plans now to scale back their Medicaid programs later.
A selection of editorials and opinions on health care from around the nation.
Survey: 61 Percent Of Employers Expect Health Law To Drive Up Health Plan Costs
The survey, conducted by the Mercer consulting firm, found that retail and hospitality companies are bracing for the biggest cost increases.
Even During August Break, Congressional Health Policy Concerns Draw Headlines
Rep. Joe Courtney, D-Conn., is working to build support for new legislation to expand Medicare’s nursing home coverage while Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus, D-Mont., notes problems within the Indian Health Service. All the while, the health law’s contraception coverage mandate continues to trigger disputes.
Longer Looks: Waking Up To The Need For Sleep
This week’s articles come from The Oregonian, The Wall Street Journal, The New Yorker, The New York Times, NBC News and ABC News.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including news about campaign trail sparring over women’s health issues, a political ad that has drawn criticism and a Romney aide’s response.
Where Have All The Forensic Pathologists Gone?
A new report finds the national autopsy rate is down to a “miserably low” 8.5 percent.
Should ‘Health Exchanges’ Be Renamed?
The Wall Street Journal reports that the phrase confuses consumers in focus groups. Meanwhile, Papa John’s CEO and founder John Schnatter, who is a fundraiser for Mitt Romney, told shareholders last week that the health care law is going to raise the company’s costs, which he vowed to pass onto consumers.
Buzz About Romney’s Vice Presidential Pick Turns To Rep. Paul Ryan
News outlets examine what the House Budget Committee chairman and architect of a plan to curb spending for Medicare and other entitlement programs would bring to the ticket.
HHS Says Billing Rule Will Cut Red Tape For Doctors, Save Up to $9B
Officials say the interim rule, published Tuesday, will streamline electronic billing for doctors and save time and money.
Survey: In Health Care Marketplace, Consumers Value Friendliness, Convenience
The PwC Health Research Institute surveyed 6,000 consumers to find out what they thought of the health care sector compared with other service industries. Meanwhile, Group Health has put in place a strategy to ensure that innovations are put to work.
