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Medicare’s Prominent Place In Pennsylvania Congressional Race

KFF Health News Original

KHN’s Marilyn Werber Serafini talks about how the Medicare issue is playing in the race for Pennsylvania’s 6th Congressional District between Democrat Dr. Manan Trivedi and GOP incumbent Jim Gerlach.

Q&A: What’s The Difference Between A Doctor And A Nurse Practitioner?

KFF Health News Original

Michelle Andrews answers a reader question about the differences in practice and qualifications between doctors and nurse practitioners. She discusses the movement to require nurse practitioners to have a clinical doctoral degree although the 2015 timeframe she describes is a goal, rather than a requirement.

On Capitol Hill, Frustration At Administration’s Regulatory Pace

KFF Health News Original

In separate House and Senate hearings, Obama administration officials got an earful from members of Congress and industry and consumer representatives, who want more clarity about regulations called for in the health law.

Bill Clinton On Medicare: ‘There Were No Cuts To Benefits At All’

KFF Health News Original

As part of his 50-minute defense of the Obama administration’s record, the former president praised Obama’s health policies, asking, “Are we better off because President Obama fought for health care reform? You bet we are.”

‘Obamacare’ Plays Starring Role In First Night Of Convention

KFF Health News Original

Several speakers cited the 2010 health law as a signature achievement of the Obama administration Tuesday night at the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, N.C. This video sample includes Stacey Lihn, the mother of a child with congenital heart disease, HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, San Antonio Mayor Juli

Video Excerpts: Kennedy-Romney Debate 1994

KFF Health News Original

As part of a video tribute to the late Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., Democrats showed this 18-year-old debate excerpt at their convention in Charlotte, N.C. on Tuesday. In 1994, Mitt Romney was the Republican nominee for U.S. Senate from Massachusetts, challenging Kennedy, the incumbent at that time.

Romney Vows To Repeal And Replace Health Law

KFF Health News Original

Health care was not featured in the Republican presidential nominee’s acceptance speech, but former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney repeated his pledge to repeal or replace the incumbent’s signature legislative achievement.

Ryan: ‘Greatest Threat To Medicare Is Obamacare’

KFF Health News Original

Rep. Paul Ryan, the GOP vice presidential nominee, was not the only speaker who denounced the health law at the Republican National Convention Wednesday night. State Attorneys General Pam Bondi and Sam Olens spoke about the federal lawsuit against the law, and former Ark. Gov. Mike Huckabee called the law’s provisions an “attack on my Catholic brothers and sisters.”

Paul Ryan’s Health Care Record

KFF Health News Original

By choosing Wis. Rep. Paul Ryan to be his running mate, presumptive GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney has put Medicare on the table as a major 2012 campaign issue. Here’s a summary of Ryan’s record on a range of health care issues, including Medicare.

Romney’s Choice Of Ryan Is Key To Politics Of Medicare Debate

KFF Health News Original

KHN’s Mary Agnes Carey and Marilyn Werber Serafini discuss how Medicare reforms could figure into November’s presidential election now that presumptive GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney has chosen Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., to be his running mate.

2013 Medicare Readmissions Penalties By Region

KFF Health News Original

Medicare evaluated the readmission rates of 3,104 hospitals in determining the first year of penalties in the Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program, ultimately penalizing 71 percent of those hospitals. The first column in this chart lists 305 hospital referral regions, which are area health care markets identified by the Dartmouth Atlas. The second column in this chart […]

2013 Medicare Readmissions Penalties By State

KFF Health News Original

Medicare evaluated the readmission rates of 3,104 hospitals in determining the first year of penalties in the Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program, ultimately penalizing 71 percent of those hospitals. This chart lists states in the first column. The second column shows how many hospitals in each state had at least 25 heart attack, heart failure or […]

Contraception Coverage Issue Continues To Smolder On Capitol Hill

KFF Health News Original

Jackie Judd and KHN’s Mary Agnes Carey discuss the health law provision mandating contraception coverage at no cost to consumers, as the focus of the dispute broadens from Congress to the courts.