Latest KFF Health News Stories
Medicare Extends Enrollment Period For Those Affected By Sandy
Medicare beneficiaries battered by Superstorm Sandy have one less problem to worry about: Federal officials have extended the Dec. 7 deadline to enroll in a private medical or drug plan for next year for those still coping with storm damage. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services “understands that many Medicare beneficiaries have been affected by […]
Status Update: Medical Schools May Check Applicants On Facebook
While applying to medical school as a college student, Drew Lee did what many of his fellow “premeds” were doing at the time – he gave himself an anonymous name on his Facebook account. “We always heard of students being denied admission because of Facebook,” Lee said, adding that he had nothing to hide but […]
Today’s Headlines – Nov. 8, 2012
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations including analyses of how states move forward on implementing the health law and efforts by President Barack Obama and congressional leaders on solving the nation’s debt issues. Los Angeles Times: Obama’s Win Means His Healthcare Law Will Insure All Americans President Obama’s victory all but assures […]
Health Care Issues On The Ballot: The Final Tally
The rich variety of health issues at stake in Tuesday’s elections included the federal health law, abortion, medical marijuana and more. Here’s a round-up of state health initiatives and the results: Implementation of the 2010 federal health law Four states—Alabama, Florida, Montana and Wyoming—had provisions to block the federal health law’s requirement that almost all Americans have insurance or pay a […]
State Political Shifts Likely To Affect Health Law
In a power shift that could affect how the federal health law is carried out, Democrats took complete control of five additional state legislatures on Tuesday, while Republicans added a governorship and control of three additional state legislatures . All told, Republicans will have 30 governors and control 24 state legislatures next year, compared to 19 Democratic governors and […]
Today’s Headlines – Nov. 7, 2012
The nation’s re-elected President Obama, here are your health headlines: Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including details of the outcome of the presidential election, as well as House and Senate races. Coverage also includes analysis regarding how those results will impact the implementation of the health law, negotiatioins surrounding the looming […]
Today’s Headlines – Nov. 6, 2012
Happy Election Day! Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including an array of stories previewing today’s election possibilities and what the outcome might mean for the health law, Medicare and the health care industry. The Associated Press/Washington Post: No More Days: Obama, Romney Fight On Into The Night At The End Of […]
Study Finds Depression Is A Leading Risk For Higher Health Spending
Depression was the most costly among 10 common risk factors linked to higher health spending for employees, according to a new study of seven companies. The study published in Health Affairs found that the 10 factors — which also included obesity, high blood sugar and high blood pressure — were associated with nearly a quarter […]
Accountable care organizations are widely touted as one of the most effective cost-containing measures of the 2010 federal health law. Yet they have a great deal in common with the integrated delivery networks of the 1990s, leaving some wondering whether the bold experiment might come to the same disappointing end. “I don’t think these things […]
Less Experienced Doctors Cost Health Care System More, Study Says
Which physicians are driving up the nation’s health care costs the most? That’s the question that researchers at the RAND Corporation, a nonprofit research organization, aimed to answer. Their new study, published in this month’s edition of Health Affairs, found that doctors with less experience spend more money treating patients than their veteran colleagues. “We […]
Today’s Headlines – Nov. 5, 2012
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including reports about the final round of polls, forecasts regarding which party will control the House and Senate and analysis of how campaign-trail messages have been playing during the election season’s final hours. The Wall Street Journal: Obama And Romney Deadlocked, Polls Show The dueling assertions […]
Health Issues On The Ballot In The States
Sprinkled throughout ballots across the country are state initiatives that run the gamut from education to animal rights to marriage. And health care is well-represented, too. The National Conference of State Legislatures labels health a “key issue” in this cycle’s roundup of state ballot questions. Here is a selection of those referenda, as reported by our […]
Petition Calls For Hurricane Sandy First Responder Health Benefits
From leading evacuees through flooded streets to carrying a family pet out of a collapsing home, first responders have been dubbed the heroes of Hurricane Sandy. But not all of them had health benefits as they headed into the disaster zones this week. While local, full-time police, firefighters and EMTs have full coverage, first responders […]
Medicare Excludes Mid-Sized Physician Groups From Start Of New Payment System
Medicare is sparing 5,300 mid-sized physicians groups from the first phase of the government’s effort to pay doctors based on the quality of care. Medicare had originally planned to apply the “value-based payment modifier” to medical groups of 25 or more professionals, starting in January 2015 but based on physician performance during 2013. Doctors that […]
The Price Is Right There In Front Of You, In Colorado At Least
The price of a knee MRI in Colorado varies from $350 to $2,336. It’s a huge gap, but it’s also remarkable that the prices themselves are known at all. Prices for health care aren’t public in most states, making shopping for the best deal nearly impossible. Different patients pay different prices for the same procedures […]
Today’s Headlines – Nov. 2, 2012
Los Angeles Times: Romney Resumes Criticizing Obama On The Stump With five days to go until election day, Romney said voters faced a clear choice, and painted a dim picture of the nation’s future if Obama were reelected – seniors unable to find doctors who were taking additional Medicare patients, middle-aged Americans seeing stagnant wages, […]
OB/GYNs And ER Docs Excluded From Health Law’s Medicaid Pay Hike
Obstetricians, gynecologists and emergency room physicians won’t be eligible for higher Medicaid pay rates for primary care doctors that start in January under the Affordable Care Act, the Obama administration ruled late Thursday. Instead, the higher Medicaid rates, which will be in effect for two years, are reserved for family doctors, internists and pediatricians, because those specialties are specifically listed in […]
Today’s Headlines – Nov. 1, 2012
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including highlights from the campaign trail, from the top of the ticket to some of the attention-grabbing Senate races across the country, as well as a report that the Obama administration will not oppose efforts to reopen the religious challenge to the health law. The Wall […]
Employers, Unions Jointly Demand Health Care Price Transparency
Employees who feel completely mystified by the prices they’re charged for medical procedures might be surprised to know their employers feel the same way. On Thursday, a consortium of major companies and labor unions, including GE, Wal-Mart, Boeing and the AFL-CIO issued a manifesto demanding price transparency from both health care providers and insurance companies. Consumers […]
Physicians Swap Traditional Practices For New Models
Last Thursday Dr. L. Markham McHenry, a family physician, held a meeting with some patients to tell them about changes he was planning. After 15 years of working in a private practice, the Scottsdale, Ariz.-based doctor is in the process of transitioning to a subscription-based model. His patients, who he said come from a range […]
