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Latest KFF Health News Stories

Health On The Hill – Congress Returns To Work On Deficit Proposals And Health Programs

KFF Health News Original

KHN’s Mary Agnes Carey and Politico Pro’s David Nather talk with Jackie Judd about Congress’ return to Washington to work on proposals to lower the deficit. How to, and if, Medicare and Medicaid are reformed in the process are part of the mix of policy and politics lawmakers are considering in their work.

Health On The Hill – GOP Medicare Plan Spurs Anger, Splits Public During Recess

KFF Health News Original

KHN’s Mary Agnes Carey talks with Jackie Judd about varied reaction by Americans and lawmakers to the GOP plan to reduce the deficit by making changes to Medicare. A new Kaiser Family Foundation poll shows most seniors oppose some GOP-proposed changes at a greater rate than the general public, which views it more favorably.

Video Excerpts Of President Barack Obama On Health Care And The Deficit

KFF Health News Original

In a major speech at George Washington University today, President Barack Obama laid out a framework for controlling the deficit. Here are excerpts of what the president said about health care.

Health On The Hill – Obama Hits Back At GOP Deficit Plan On Medicare, Medicaid

KFF Health News Original

KHN’s Mary Agnes Carey and Marilyn Werber Serafini talk with Jackie Judd about President Obama’s speech outlining his plans for reducing the deficit, especially focusing on health care spending. He slammed the Republican plan, saying it would leave “seniors at the mercy of the insurance industry,” and he rejected GOP ideas to give states block grants for Medicaid.

Health On The Hill: Spending Negotiations Remove Provisions Of Health Law, Entitlement Reform Looms

KFF Health News Original

KHN’s Mary Agnes Carey talks with Jackie Judd about an 11th hour spending deal reached late last week that would remove some minor provisions of the health care law and require that the Senate will vote separately on two measures the House already has approved

Health On The Hill – House Republicans’ Budget Plan: What It Means, What’s Next

KFF Health News Original

KHN’s Mary Agnes Carey talks with CQ HealthBeat’s Rebecca Adams about the fiscal 2012 budget plan from House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan. It would dramatically change Medicaid and Medicare.

Ryan, Van Hollen Duel On Medicare Spending In Proposed GOP Budget

KFF Health News Original

The GOP budget plan includes proposals that would reshape entitlement programs like Medicare. Democrats responded quickly, saying Republicans want to get rid of Medicare as Americans know it.

Video: Understanding The New HHS ACO Rule

KFF Health News Original

KHN’s Jordan Rau explains how the Obama administration envisions accountable care organizations, which are designed to help hospitals and doctors form new networks to coordinate patients’ care. Officials estimate that the ACOs could save Medicare up to $960 million over three years. ACOs are a feature of the new health law.

Sebelius Challenged, Encouraged At Senate Committee

KFF Health News Original

HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius was the lone witness at the Senate Appropriations Health subcommittee hearing today. Committee chairman Tom Harkin was adamant that the health law would not lose funding while ranking Republican Sen. Richard Shelby called the law too expensive.

Health On The Hill: Lawmakers Return To Wrangle Over Health Law, 1099 Repeal Funding

KFF Health News Original

KHN’s Mary Agnes Carey talks with Politico Pro’s David Nather about developments on the Hill. This week: As Congress returns to Washington, funding for implementation of the health law is expected to pay a major role in the debate over funding the federal government beyond April 8 when the current continuing resolution expires. Separately, House and Senate lawmakers remain at odds over how to finance the repeal of a paperwork provision in the health law known as the “1099” that has drawn criticism from small business groups.

Special Needs, Special Care: Palliative Care Helps Families Navigate Unfamiliar Medical Terrain

KFF Health News Original

Dr. Joanne Wolfe, of Children’s Hospital Boston, talks about her approach to helping children live with serious or life-limiting illness and how many need an interdisciplinary approach to care to make sense of the maze of medical treatment.

Learning To Cope With Type 2 Diabetes

KFF Health News Original

Diabetes runs in 15-year-old John Perrone’s family, but it was still a shock to his mother when John, an Eagle Scout, was diagnosed four years ago. He no longer needs insulin injections

Health On The Hill: Analyzing The Health Law’s Rocky First Year

KFF Health News Original

NPR’s Julie Rovner joins KHN’s Mary Agnes Carey talk about developments on the Hill. This week: With the one-year anniversary of the health law this week, proponents of the measure point to many of its provisions, such as insuring adult children up to age 26 on a parent’s policy or tax credits to help small businesses afford coverage, as signs that the law is succeeding. But opponents of the law say many of its provisions, such as the Medicaid expansion or a requirement that most individuals have health insurance or pay a fine, will weaken public support.

Video: Sebelius Questioned By Senate Finance Committee

KFF Health News Original

During a Senate Finance Committee hearing titled “Health Reform: Lessons Learned During the First Year,” HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius praised the health law and faced questions from critical Republican members on the panel. Watch excerpts from the hearing.

Health On The Hill: Health Law Funding A GOP Sticking Point In Spending Bill

KFF Health News Original

The Washington Post’s Amy Goldstein joins KHN’s Mary Agnes Carey talk about developments on the Hill. This week: Some House and Senate Republicans have said they will vote against a three-week funding measure for the federal government because it does not take steps to stop funding for implementation of the health care law. Separately, health care is surfacing as a key issue among potential GOP presidential candidates.

Health On The Hill: Judge Orders Fed Appeal In Health Law Challenge

KFF Health News Original

A Florida District Court judge issued a stay of his earlier ruling on the health law that found the law unconstitutional, but he ordered the Obama Administration to file an appeal within seven business days. Meanwhile, two different funding approaches to keep the government operating beyond March 18