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A Success Story: Expanding Health Care Options For Detroit’s Poor-The KHN Interview

KFF Health News Original

In this video, KHN reporter Jenny Gold interviews Dr. Herbert Smitherman about the Voices of Detroit Initiative that tracked 33,000 uninsured people and helped get more than half of them into coordinated care systems.

A Success Story: Expanding Health Care Options For Detroit’s Poor-The KHN Interview

KFF Health News Original

Dr. Herbert Smitherman talks about the Voices of Detroit Initiative that tracked 33,000 uninsured people and helped get more than half of them into coordinated care systems.

4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals Hears Arguments In Health Law Case

KFF Health News Original

Two cases challenging the constitutionality of health care reform were heard today by a three-judge appeals panel. In both cases, the key issue is whether Americans can be required to obtain health insurance, as the 14-month old law mandates. Ariane de Vogue, a reporter for ABC News, talks with Jackie Judd about today’s arguments in Richmond.

For The NAIC, A Consequential Decision On The MLR (Guest Opinion)

KFF Health News Original

The National Association of Insurance Commissioners is considering whether to endorse legislation that would remove broker and agent commissions from the medical loss ratio. The final decision will have far-reaching implications for the reliability of the MLR as a measure of a health plan’s value.

GOP Debate Excerpts

KFF Health News Original

The first Republican debate among some of the presidential contenders included some questions about the health law, the role of the federal government, medical malpractice and Medicare. These excerpts of the debate include answers from Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas, former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum and former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty. Mitt Romney, Sarah Palin, Donald Trump and Newt Gingrich did not attend the Greenville, S.C. debate.

Video: GOP Debate Excerpts

KFF Health News Original

The first Republican debate among some of the presidential contenders included some questions about the health law, the role of the federal government, medical malpractice and Medicare. These excerpts of the debate include answers from Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas, former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum and former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty. Mitt Romney, Sarah Palin, Donald Trump and Newt Gingrich did not attend the Greenville, S.C. debate.

Documents: Proposed Health Insurance Coverage Labels

KFF Health News Original

The new health law requires that health insurance providers make “coverage facts labels” available so that, beginning in March of 2012, consumers have pricing information to compare health insurance policies. A working group of state insurance regulators, industry representatives and consumer advocates drafted four proposal for the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, which is now seeking public comment. Two of the proposed labels are displayed below.

Key Republican Signals Flexibility On Ryan Plan For Medicare (Video)

KFF Health News Original

In today’s Health On The Hill, KHN’s Mary Agnes Carey talks with Jackie Judd about Rep. Dave Camp’s comments Thursday that signaled flexibility on Rep. Paul Ryan’s plan to change Medicare. Camp said he’s open to pursuing other approaches to reduce federal Medicare spending to lower the debt, and he called on Democrats to present specifics on how they would cut federal spending.

Q&A: My Uninsured Daughter Needs More Inexpensive Care, Where Can She Go?

KFF Health News Original

Michelle Andrews answers a question from a mother whose daughter is uninsured and needs some inexpensive care. Andrews says going to a community health center may be a good option for her.

Health On The Hill Transcript – Congress Returns To Work On Deficit Proposals And Health Programs

KFF Health News Original

KHN’s Mary Agnes Carey and Politico Pro’s David Nather talk with Jackie Judd about lawmakers’ return to work this week on lowering the federal deficit and how health programs could be affected.

Health On The Hill – Congress Returns To Work On Deficit Proposals And Health Programs

KFF Health News Original

KHN’s Mary Agnes Carey and Politico Pro’s David Nather talk with Jackie Judd about Congress’ return to Washington to work on proposals to lower the deficit. How to, and if, Medicare and Medicaid are reformed in the process are part of the mix of policy and politics lawmakers are considering in their work.

Tables: State-By-State Rankings Of Hospital Experiences

KFF Health News Original

As part of its effort to make hospitals focus more on patient satisfaction, Medicare is preparing to use patient satisfaction survey scores in deciding how much to pay hospitals. While the data are not yet used to determine Medicare reimbursement, the ratings are publicly available. Patients in different states give vastly different ratings of their […]

Health On The Hill – GOP Medicare Plan Spurs Anger, Splits Public During Recess

KFF Health News Original

KHN’s Mary Agnes Carey talks with Jackie Judd about varied reaction by Americans and lawmakers to the GOP plan to reduce the deficit by making changes to Medicare. A new Kaiser Family Foundation poll shows most seniors oppose some GOP-proposed changes at a greater rate than the general public, which views it more favorably.

Health On The Hill Transcript: Obama Hits Back At GOP On Health Proposals

KFF Health News Original

Obama laid out his plans for preserving Medicare while cutting spending in the program, and he also rejected a Republican plan to give states block grants for Medicaid.