Latest KFF Health News Stories
Parsing The Facts From Romney, Obama Statements; Romney Advisers Meet With GOP Members Of Congress
The New York Times looks at the hyperbole in each candidate’s statements. Meanwhile, Romney aides held talks on Capitol Hill ahead of the Supreme Court decision.
Winners And Losers In The Health Care Messaging War
The Pew Research Center’s Project for Excellence in Journalism says that opponents of the health law prevailed at least in part because their positions were sharper and easier to understand.
HHS Reports 3.1 Million Young Adults Gained Coverage Under Health Law
The law’s provision requiring that insurers allow many adults under the age of 26 to stay on their parents’ plans is popular.
Congress Considers Medicare, FDA Proposals
The Senate Finance Committee is once again talking deficit reduction and Medicare as both houses are “poised” to pass an FDA bill.
Minn. AG Seeks To Expand Complaint Against Hospital Collection Company
In court papers, Minn. Attorney General Lori Swanson alleges a dozen new instances in which patients were “hustled with bedside collection visits” and led to believe “they had to pay before receiving care.”
Viewpoints: Health Law Can Be Intensely Personal; Insurers’ Promises Miss The Mark
A selection of editorials and opinions on health care policy from around the country.
Report: Sexual Orientation Still Affecting Access To Health Care
The Human Rights Campaign issued its annual evaluation of how hospitals and other health care facilities score on care for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender patients.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including a new Associated Press poll that finds Americans want the president and Congress to work on another health overhaul package if the Supreme Court overturns the health law.
Obama Administration Finds 3.1 Million Young Adults Gained Coverage Under Law
Obama administration officials touted the benefit as an example of how the health law is making a difference.
LGBT Community Still Has Hurdles In Health Care Equality
A new report also shows a 162 percent increase in the number of health care facility ‘leaders’ in LGBT care equality.
Politics And Policies: What Scenarios Might Play Out If Court Topples Mandate Or Entire Law
News outlets offer predictions on everything from when the high court might rule to what the White House and congressional leaders are planning in response.
Examining The Decision’s Possible Impact On Voters, Access To Insurance Coverage
A new poll finds that regardless of the Supreme Court’s decision, less than a majority of Americans will be happy with the outcome. Republican voters, however, are more open to the idea of the court nullifying part of the law. Meanwhile, even if the law is upheld, an estimated 26 million people will still go without insurance, including illegal immigrants and those eligible for Medicaid but who don’t enroll.
Wording In Contraception Conversations Marks Ideological Divides
Fighting over semantics prevails in conversations over both the FDA’s definition of what the “morning-after pill” does as well as the Obama administration’s rule that employers and insurers provide no cost contraception to their covered employees.
AMA: Insurers Reduce Payment Errors
At its annual meeting in Chicago, the American Medical Association issued a report card for insurers, giving the industry high marks for cutting in half the number of medical claims that were incorrectly paid.
Supreme Court Rules Drug Firms Don’t Have To Pay Overtime To Sales Reps
The 5-4 opinion by Justice Samuel Alito says the sales representatives are not subject to the overtime pay provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act.
Lobbying Sinks Efforts To Impose Restrictions On Painkillers
Pharmacists and drugstores appear to have undone an effort to impose more strict controls on certain drugs. Meanwhile, Accretive Health, the Chicago-based hospital-billing company which is under fire, is fighting back.
State Roundup: Retiree Health Costs Soar; Calif.’s Duplicate Surgical Payments
A selection of news articles about state health policy issues.
Iowa GOP Wants To Stop Public Money For Abortion In Cases Of Rape Or Incest
In Iowa, Republicans filed a motion aiming to eliminate public money for abortions in case of rape or incest. In the meantime, 14 Pennsylvania abortion clinics have been licensed under a new abortion clinic oversight law.
States Brace For SCOTUS: Calif. Exchange Marches On, Texas Mulls Next Steps
In California, the state health insurance exchange is starting its work no matter the outcome of the Supreme Court decision while Texas officials consider their post-decision steps.
The Los Angeles Times reports on the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act and how this federal statute requires hospitals to provide medical care to uninsured patients — regardless of their ability to pay.
