Revamping Medicare: A Guide To The Proposals, Politics And Timeline
Competing ideas and election-year politics will thwart major legislation in 2012, but look for budgetary action at year’s end.
House Debates Ryan Budget: Predictably Partisan
The tone was immediately and undoubtedly partisan Wednesday when the House began considering the Republican-backed 2013 budget resolution that the House Budget Committee recently approved. The House was expected to debate the Budget Committee-approved resolution for four hours, and then turn to six complete substitutes, including one that would replace the resolution with President Obama’s […]
House GOP Doctors Say Ryan Medicare Plan Doesn’t Reduce Costs Enough
The GOP Doctors Caucus is sending letters Friday soliciting ideas on how to “save” the seniors’ program and build bipartisan support.
New Ryan Budget Would Transform Medicare And Medicaid
KHN’s Marilyn Werber Serafini details how the Wisconsin Republican’s proposal places greater limits on federal spending for Medicare than last year’s blueprint.
AARP Arming For Medicare Battle
Against a backdrop of proposals to overhaul the popular social insurance program and a presidential campaign likely to address entitlement spending, the seniors group is mobilizing.
Winners And Losers In Medicare Advantage Extras: Avalere Report
State Weighted Average Rebate 2010 AK $0 AL $60 AR $52 AZ $59 CA $94 CO $50 CT $35 DC $77 DE $25 FL $154 GA $31 HI $51 IA $32 ID $44 IL $48 IN $40 KS $44 KY $34 LA $143 MA $33 MD $49 ME $41 MI $27 MN $25 MO $79 […]
Can GOP Deliver On Its Promise To Preserve Traditional Medicare?
Republicans say they can overhaul the entitlement program while still offering the current option. But it may not look the same as it does today.
The Parent Trap: Adult Children Care For Elderly Parents
This story by Kaiser Health News’ Marilyn Werber Serafini features members of the sandwich generation: raising children, dealing with elderly parents and the care they need – and sometimes feeling like they’ve bitten off more than they can chew.
Poll: Most Americans Support Contraception Rule
Republicans may still take heat over Medicare proposals, survey also finds.
More Exchange Money Headed to States
New federal money is headed to ten states to help them establish insurance exchanges through which individuals and small businesses can buy insurance beginning in 2014. The Department of Health and Human Services is sending a total of $229 million in exchange establishment grants to ten states, the agency announced Wednesday. Half are receiving this […]
Candidates Court Seniors On Medicare
The top contenders are casting themselves as protectors of the program, even as they embrace ways to cut spending growth that have proven radioactive in past elections.
States Under Pressure As Health Law Deadlines Approach
Critics say Washington is moving too slowly on regulations and guidance.
Is HHS Medicare Advantage Celebration Premature?
Updated at 2:00 p.m. Enrollment is up and prices are down in Medicare Advantage, which offers Medicare beneficiaries private health plan alternatives – mostly managed care – to the traditional fee-for-service program. The Department of Health and Human Services is hailing the numbers as proof that predictions that the 2010 health law would damage Medicare […]
Important New Understanding About Essential Benefits? Not Everyone Thinks So
The Department of Health and Human Services today released a document intended to preview the kinds of benefits most health plans must offer starting in 2014. But one consumer advocate said it does not provide nearly enough information to be helpful. The federal government in December gave states significant leeway to decide what “essential benefits” must be […]
National Health Spending Grew Slowly In 2010
But officials say that for the first time in years premiums for people in private insurance plans rose faster than what was spent on their care, according to KHN’s Marilyn Werber Serafini.
A Health Insurance Plan President Gingrich Might Support
He’s done with mandates, but Newt Gingrich likes John Goodman’s idea for helping people who buy insurance and paying for care for those who don’t.
Analysis: Wyden-Ryan Plan Could Neutralize Medicare In 2012 Election
Supporting this new proposal may help congressional Republicans to distance themselves from an earlier, controversial plan.
Wyden Joins Forces With Ryan On Medicare
Updated at 11:00 a.m. on Dec. 15. A new Medicare overhaul plan touted as a serious bipartisan approach was unveiled today, but it leaves out key details about how it would avoid raising seniors’ premiums. Democratic Sen. Ron Wyden is teaming up with Republican Rep. Paul Ryan on a Medicare overhaul plan that would give […]
Health Programs Facing Cutbacks After Super Committee’s Failure
It’s a mixed verdict, however. Medicaid will be spared, and the Medicare hit will be limited to providers. But other programs, from disease prevention to public health surveillance, face big automatic cuts in 2013.
Health Leaders Prepare For Round Two Of Cuts
No matter what the super committee does, health groups expect another debate on spending after the election and they want to redirect the talks to costs’ root causes.
