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Talking Building Ambitions: The Big Money World Of Kids’ Care

KFF Health News Original

Jackie Judd talks with Gil Gaul about his series, Building Ambitions, which looks at the big money world of children’s hospitals in the United States. Gaul discusses his series and says big costs, amassed wealth and children’s hospitals’ unique place in health care in America make it a growing power player in providing health care in America.

GOP Candidates Push State Role In Health Care

KFF Health News Original

Exchanges on health policy were limited in Thursday’s Republican presidential debate, but Texas Gov. Rick Perry and former Mass. Gov. Mitt Romney once again lashed out at each other on the issue and Rep. Michele Bachmann renewed her criticism of Perry’s efforts to get Texas children vaccinated against HPV.

Transcript: Analyzing The GOP Presidential Field’s Promise To Repeal The Health Law

KFF Health News Original

Jackie Judd talks with PBS NewsHour’s David Chalian about the GOP presidential candidates’ health law repeal rhetoric, the varying level of nuance among their viewpoints and how each is attacking the President’s

Analyzing The GOP Presidential Field’s Promise To Repeal The Health Law

KFF Health News Original

Jackie Judd talks with PBS NewsHour’s David Chalian about the GOP presidential candidates’ repeal rhetoric, the varying level of nuance among their viewpoints and how each is attacking the President’s

President Obama Proposes Cuts To Health Care Spending To Lower Deficit

KFF Health News Original

President Barack Obama on Monday proposed a series of cost savings in health care programs including to Medicare and Medicaid to reduce the deficit. The proposals include paying doctors for health care outcomes instead of on a “fee-for-service” basis, and Obama also rejected the notion turning Medicare into a “voucher” system.

Different Takes: How To Set The Health Law’s Essential Benefits Package

KFF Health News Original

KHN asked the National Partnership for Women and Families’ Debra Ness, Republican Utah State Rep. James Dunnigan and Dr. A. Mark Fendrick from the Center for Value-Based Insurance Design what they think should steer the development of the health law’s essential benefits package. Read their perspectives.

Transcript: GOP Candidates Squabble Over Health Care During Tampa Debate

KFF Health News Original

Monday night’s CNN/Tea Party Express debate among the Republican presidential candidates included discussion of Medicare, the health law, costs, the individual mandate and vaccines.

Video: Ron Paul, Romney, Perry, Bachmann On ‘Personal’ Health Care Responsibility, Reform Law

KFF Health News Original

In Monday’s Republican debate, the presidential contenders were quizzed about health costs, the individual mandate and – in one of the evening’s most controversial exchanges – moderator Wolf Blitzer asked Rep. Ron Paul a hypothetical question about who should pay for someone uninsured and in a coma. (Video courtesy CNN)

GOP Debate Reveals Differences On Health Care (Video And Transcript)

KFF Health News Original

While Gov. Rick Perry, Mitt Romney, Rep. Michele Bachmann, Rep. Ron Paul, Herman Cain, Rick Santorum, Newt Gingrich and Jon Huntsman all pledged to do away with the federal law, they disagreed on other aspects of health reform. Ron Paul called Medicare a “mandate,” Perry called for Medicaid block grants and Romney defended the Massachusetts law as helpful or the uninsured of the state.

Health On The Hill: Congress Returning, Seeking Consensus On ‘Super Committee’

KFF Health News Original

With the summer recess ending, Jackie Judd talks to KHN’s Mary Agnes Carey about the staffing and makeup of the deficit panel and what to expect in the coming months. The “super committee” may take a closer look reining Medicare costs in through reforming Medigap plans and provider payments to cut the deficit.

Different Takes: Mass. Cities And Towns, Public Employees Find Hard-Fought Compromise On Municipal Health Care Costs

KFF Health News Original

These local jurisdictions, in the face of serious budget constraints, have repeatedly pushed for legal relief that would enable them to decrease the burden of public employees’ and retirees’ health benefit costs. Meanwhile, public employee unions have battled to protect what they believe their members have earned through their collective bargaining rights. In this state-policy drama, key players managed to come to a compromise that neither side loves, but both view as a solution.

Different Takes On Cancer Care Costs: Oncologists In The Middle Of Therapies And Costs; Patients Risk ‘Financial Toxicity’

KFF Health News Original

Research shows they daily experience of cancer patients often includes a heavy financial burden that impacts both their quality of life and satisfaction with care. Meanwhile, other data reflects the high-stakes position of oncologists, who often are the midpoint between cancer therapies and their costs.

Document: Appeals Court Strikes Down Individual Mandate In Health Law

KFF Health News Original

The 304-page opinion from the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals ends with a short conclusion from Chief Judge Frederick Dubina and Circuit Judge Frank Hull. Judge Stanley Marcus concurred in part and dissented in part.

Health On The Hill: “Super Committee”: Recipe For Gridlock Or Potential For Consensus?

KFF Health News Original

KHN’s Mary Agnes Carey and Politico Pro’s David Nather talk to Jackie Judd about the now complete “super committee” and what it may mean for Medicare and Medicaid.