Latest KFF Health News Stories
Revised Medicare Penalties Hit Some States Hard
Medicare’s readmissions penalties are falling hardest on hospitals in New Jersey, New York, Arkansas, Mississippi and the District of Columbia, a Kaiser Health News analysis of updated government data shows. Medicare revised its penalties from the new Readmissions Reduction Program at the end of September after discovering it had made small errors in its calculations […]
Today’s Headlines – Oct. 22, 2012
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including the latest reports about how health policies are playing on the campaign trail as candidates move into the home stretch. Los Angeles Times: Obama, Romney Launch Closing Barrage Of TV Ads Apart from the clash on the economy, the most striking aspect of the campaign’s […]
Today’s Headlines – Oct. 19, 2012
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including reports about how Medicare and women’s health issues are playing in a number of House and Senate races. The Wall Street Journal: Candidates Flock To Florida, Coveting Electoral Votes Polls show Mr. Romney doing well among some key groups. In a recent Wall Street Journal/NBC […]
Seniors Satisfied With Medicare, Anxious About Future, Survey Finds
Although most seniors appear to be at least somewhat satisfied with their Medicare coverage, many are deeply worried about what the future may hold for the program, according to a national survey released this week. More than 60 percent of seniors surveyed said they are concerned about changes the program may undergo. The poll, commissioned by […]
Today’s Headlines – Oct. 18, 2012
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organiztions, including resports about how the presidential candidates are crafting messages on women’s health issues in order to appeal to female voters. Politico: Boehner And Obama Haven’t Talked Fiscal Cliff It’s a striking admission from the nation’s top elected Republican and clear evidence that the most urgent […]
Trinity Health, Catholic Health East Announce Plans To Merge
Big news today in the land of hospital mergers and acquisitions. The boards of two leading Catholic health systems, Trinity Health and Catholic Health East, have announced plans to join forces in 2013. The consolidated Catholic health system would include 82 hospitals and 89 continuing care facilities, home health and hospice programs. The two health […]
Today’s Headlines – Oct. 17, 2012
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including health policy highlights from last night’s presidential debate. The New York Times: Rivals Bring Bare Fists To Rematch President Obama and Mitt Romney engaged Tuesday in one of the most intensive clashes in a televised presidential debate, with tensions between them spilling out in interruptions, […]
Houston Hit Hard In Latest Medicare Fraud Bust
When federal law enforcement agents swept through seven U.S. cities earlier this month to arrest more than 91 doctors, nurses and others for Medicare fraud, one of their targets was Houston. For the Bayou City, it was the latest in a disturbing series of revelations about health care fraud there. A picture has emerged in […]
Today’s Headlines – Oct. 16, 2012
The New York Times: Political Memo: Debt Impasse Shadow Race For Presidency Substantively, any agreement in Congress, which opens a week after the election, could define the terms for how Mr. Obama and lawmakers move next year on efforts to contain the long-term costs of Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security, the programs that are driving […]
When A Rock Star Tweets About The Uninsured
Among the many struggles for starving artists is a lack of health insurance — something Amanda Palmer, a musician, artist and formerly with punk band The Dresden Dolls — knows all too well. Yesterday Palmer tweeted about her struggles with insurance coverage after reading a New York Times column by Nicholas Kristof. Kristof wrote about […]
Idaho, Texas: Best Places For Physicians To Practice
From the lakes of Minnesota, to the … clinics of Tennessee? The best places to practice medicine may surprise you. According to a report prepared annually by Physicians Practice, an online media and resource tool for doctors, Idaho, Mississippi, Tennessee and Texas rank highest on the this year’s list, based on metrics like malpractice frequency, reimbursement […]
Today’s Headlines – Oct. 15, 2012
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including the latest developments and polling news from the presidential campaign trail as well as details about how Medicare and other health issues are shaping up in House and Senate races. The Washington Post: Presidential Contest Tight Nationally Ahead Of Second Debate On the eve of […]
Enrollment Season Opens For Medicare Advantage And Drug Plans
Today, Medicare beneficiaries can begin choosing their drug and medical coverage for 2013, and most seniors are expected to stick with the same policies they have already, despite price changes and a rating system that shows some plans may be better than others. Seniors have been reluctant to change plans, even if there are cheaper […]
VP Candidates’ Answers On Abortion, Medicare Get A Second Look
Last night’s vice presidential debate provided contentious contrast on the issues of abortion and Medicare between Vice President Joe Biden and the Republican nominee, Rep. Paul Ryan. The candidates sparred over the role their faith plays in their positions on abortion and laid out their tickets’ visions for Medicare reform. Here’s a sample of how […]
Medicare, Medicaid, CHIP All Targets For Fraud
When it comes to health care fraud, medical facilities and hospitals are the top two offenders. That’s according to a new Government Accountability Office report released this week. According to the report, 10,187 individuals and entities were investigated in 2010 for defrauding Medicare, Medicaid, and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). Medical facilities (including medical […]
Today’s Headlines – Oct. 12, 2012
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including the health policy highlights from last night’s vice presidential debate. Los Angeles Times: Vice Presidential Debate Gets Prickly On Healthcare As the candidates for vice president parried, Ryan accused the Obama administration of “getting caught with its hand in the cookie jar,” and Biden charged […]
Study: Seniors Overspend On Medicare Part D
Seniors spent on average $368 more than they needed to on drug coverage through Medicare Part D plans in 2009 — their decisions complicated by the sheer volume of plans available and difficulties involved in determining what makes a plan a good choice, a Health Affairs study released Tuesday has found. There are 1,736 plans available to Medicare beneficiaries for purchasing prescription […]
Today’s Headlines – Oct. 11, 2012
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including previews of how Medicare and other health policy issues might play in tonight’s vice presidential debate. The New York Times: This Election, A Stark Choice In Health Care When Americans go to the polls next month, they will cast a vote not just for president […]
Adderall For Healthy Kids: A Cost Shift To Medicaid?
Doctors in Georgia are prescribing ADHD medications to help low-income children struggling in elementary school, even when they do not have an attention deficit disorder, reports a front-page article in Tuesday’s New York Times. The story focused on Dr. Michael Anderson in Canton, Ga., who said he had little choice in the matter if he […]
Study: CMS Penalties Don’t Change Hospital-Acquired Infection Rates
Updated at 8:00 p.m. to add comment from CMS. A Medicare payment policy designed to push hospitals to cut their infection rates has had no effect in reducing two types of preventable infections among patients in intensive care units, researchers say in a study out Wednesday in the New England Journal of Medicine. In 2008, […]
