Latest KFF Health News Stories
Today’s Headlines – Dec. 13, 2012
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including stories about how proposals to cut Medicare and other entitlement programs are playing with Democrats, and how a new poll shows overwhelming support from the public for a compromise deficit deal. The Wall Street Journal: Spending-Cut Proposals Drawing Democratic Flak One big question in Washington’s […]
Health Cost Bite To Family Budgets Sinks Deeper
Medical costs aren’t just breaking government budgets. The price of commercial health insurance has risen five times faster than family incomes since 2003 even as the financial security it offers has shrunk, says a new Commonwealth Fund report that underscores how medicine is consuming bigger and bigger parts of the private economy. “Wherever you live in the United States, health insurance is expensive, and […]
Today’s Headlines – Dec. 12, 2012
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including reports that GOP lawmakers want to see details on the safety net cuts President Barack Obama would offer as part of the “fiscal cliff” talks while some liberal Democrats want to leave Medicaid out of it. Los Angeles Times: Fiscal Talks Hobbled By New Finger-Pointing […]
A Day Of Stark Differences For States On Health Insurance Exchanges
On the same day HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius granted conditional approval to Colorado, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maryland, Oregon and Washington for their health insurance exchange plans, the Republican-dominated Florida Senate made its position on the insurance marketplaces known. Friday is the deadline for states to decide if they want to build and operate their own exchanges or have the federal […]
Eye Experts Say States Should Consider Making Vision Care An Exchange Benefit
As states set up their exchanges under the federal health law, they should consider including adult vision benefits, according to the authors of a new study showing that people without such coverage are less likely to seek care. Although the federal health law mandates vision coverage for children, the same requirement does not apply to […]
Today’s Headlines – Dec. 11, 2012
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including coverage of yesterday’s HHS announcement to states that the federal government will not fund partial Medicaid expansions. The New York Times: Obama Approves Health Insurance Marketplace In 6 States The Obama administration gave conditional approval on Monday to health insurance marketplaces being set up by […]
What Sea World, Universal Studios And The Zoo Can Teach Health Care Executives
Thousands of health care administrators, policy experts and practitioners will gather in Orlando this week for the 24th annual Institute for Healthcare Improvement’s national forum — akin to a pilgrimmage to Mecca for those passionate about making health care safer and more efficient. Besides featuring experts such as former CMS Administrator Donald Berwick, the curriculum includes visits to Sea World, Universal […]
Today’s Headlines – Dec. 10, 2012
Today’s early morning highlights from major new outlets, including the latest about yesterday’s “fiscal cliff” meeting between President Barack Obama and House Speaker John Boehner, as well as other health policy reports. The Washington Post: Time Running Out On ‘Fiscal Cliff’ Deal The contours of a deal to avert the year-end fiscal cliff are becoming […]
Report: Payment Reform Leaves Docs Uneasy
A new report from insurer UnitedHealth Group shows that doctors have mixed views on the new pay-for-performance model promoted in the 2010 health care law as a means of controlling health care costs and improving quality. The law has provisions that transition from a traditional fee-for-service system, where doctors, hospitals and other providers are paid based […]
‘Morning After’ Pill Advocates Seek Another Look At Age Rules
This story comes from our partner ‘s Shots blog. Friday marks a not-so-happy anniversary for some of President Obama’s biggest supporters: It’s exactly one year since Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius decided not to lift the age restrictions on availability of the so-called morning-after pill, Plan B. But now, with the election safely behind them, backers of […]
Today’s Headlines – Dec. 7, 2012
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations includes articles on the talks between President Barack Obama and House Speaker John Boehner on the “fiscal cliff.” The Washington Post: Some In GOP Urge Lawmakers To Back Tax Hikes For Changes In Safety-Net Programs A growing chorus of Republicans is urging House leaders to abandon […]
Smoking Prevention Funds Run Short Despite Tobacco Settlement
In 1998, big tobacco companies settled a landmark lawsuit and agreed to pay states $246 billion over 25 years for smoking prevention efforts. Fourteen years later – with smoking still the country’s leading cause of preventable death – most states use only a fraction of the money for its intended purpose. An annual report found that less than 2 percent […]
Advocates Sue To Change The ‘Nursing Cliff’ In California
It was some 21st birthday present. When Pablo Carranza turned 21 in September, California’s Medicaid agency notified him that the around-the-clock nursing care he receives at the Chula Vista, Calif., home he shares with his mother would be sharply cut back. Carranza has muscular dystrophy and can only move his left thumb and his eyes. The […]
Today’s Headlines – Dec. 6, 2012
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including a report that some in the GOP are urging lawmakers to support the idea of trading tax breaks for changes in safety-net programs. The Washington Post: Some In GOP Urge Lawmakers To Back Tax Hikes For Changes In Safety-Net Programs A growing chorus of Republicans […]
KHN Changes How It Describes Medicaid Eligibility Level Under Health Law
Since President Barack Obama signed the Affordable Care Act in March 2010, most news organizations including Kaiser Health News have reported that in 2014 the law would expand Medicaid coverage to nearly everyone with a household income below 133 percent of the federal poverty level, which this year is nearly $31,000 for a family of four. But […]
Today’s Headlines – Dec. 5, 2012
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including the latest on the looming fiscal crisis as well as market developments and health policy news from the states. The Associated Press/Washington Post: Hot Rhetoric Aside, There’s Overlap In Competing Fiscal Offers That Could Form Basis Of A Deal Both sides now concede that tax […]
Today’s Headlines – Dec. 4, 2012
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including coverage of the GOP counteroffer in the fiscal talks, as well as the White House reaction to it. The New York Times: Initial Deficit Cuts Are Sticking Point In Negotiations For all the growing angst over the state of negotiations to head off a fiscal […]
State Insurance Officials Raise Concerns About ‘Rate Shock’ For Young People
If young adults can’t afford health insurance policies available in 2014 under the health care law, state insurance officials are worried they won’t buy them. And that could drive up the cost of insurance for the mostly older, sicker people who do purchase coverage. That’s a potential problem even in states like California and Rhode Island, […]
Study: Hospice Rules May Keep Away Patients
Nearly four out of five hospices have enrollment policies that keep away patients with potentially high-cost medical needs, such as palliative chemotherapy and intravenous feeding tubes, according to a new study. Hospice is one of the fastest growing segments of Medicare, and many health policy experts laud it as a humane and cheaper way to […]
Patients Often Don’t Realize Preventive Care Is Free, Study Says
Researchers have known that members of high-deductible health plans, a rapidly growing type of coverage, seem to get less preventive care than people who pay lower out-of-pocket costs. But evidence for why was scanty. After all, under the 2010 Affordable Care Act many preventive screenings and treatments are covered with no out-of-pocket cost at all, even for high-deductible insurance. […]
