Latest KFF Health News Stories
Health On The Hill: GOP Governors Seek To Modify Medicaid Programs
Republican governors are asking Washington for more flexibility regarding how they run their Medicaid programs, saying that Washington puts too many restraints on states.
Republican Rep. Renee Ellmers: ‘We All Ran On Repealing” Health Law
Supported by the tea party, Renee Ellmers pulled an upset victory over the Democratic incumbent in North Carolina’s 2nd Congressional District last fall. As a nurse married to a physician, Ellmers says her own experience has convinced her that health care “is a personal responsibility” and the only way to bring down high health insurance costs is for government to step aside and let the private market work better. Rep. Ellmers was interviewed in her office on Capitol Hill by Kaiser Health News reporter Jessica Marcy.
Health On The Hill: Republicans Take Steps To Defund Health Law Implementation, Planned Parenthood
As part of legislation to keep the government funded through March 4, House Republicans passed a series of amendments aimed at defunding implementation of the health care law. Separately, the Obama administration rescinded part of a 2008 conscience clause regulation they said could impact patients’ access to medical care.
Video: Obama Signals Willingness To Work With GOP On Health Care Entitlement Spending
President Obama said Tuesday that he is willing to work with Republicans to help address the “huge problems” of high Medicare and Medicaid spending.
Health on the Hill: President Obama’s Health Budget Scrutinized
President Obama’s Fiscal 2012 budget request would stop a scheduled Medicare physician payment cut for two years. Meanwhile, the House Ways and Means Committee is scheduled to consider legislation that would repeal a paperwork provision in the health law that has drawn heavy opposition from small business.
Health Co-ops Touted As Model For Lower Costs, Better Care
One of the lesser-known parts of the new health law is a provision that provides federal loans to help fund health cooperatives. Advocates say these Consumer Operated and Oriented Plans, essentially insurers run by their members, encourage competition especially in the individual and small business health insurance market. Currently there are very few co-ops, but one that is considered a model of success is Group Health. It’s CEO, Scott Armstrong sat down with KHN’s Bara Vaida.
Sebelius Vows To Ensure CLASS Program Is Financially Viable
HHS is considering a number of options to make sure healthy, less costly people are attracted to the long-term care program and costs are held in check.
Health On The Hill: Democrats On Defense As Republicans Plan Attack On Health Law
House Republicans are holding committee hearings this week on the health law’s provisions governing Medicare, abortion and small business.
Senate Debate On Health Care Law Repeal Falls Along Party Lines
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., introduced an amendment to an unrelated bill today that would repeal the health law. Senators from both sides took to the floor, with Republicans arguing that the country wants repeal and Democrats maintaining that the benefits of the law are popular and outweigh any flaws in the legislation. Watch excerpts from the debate.
Video: With State Fiscal Pressures Mounting, Medicaid Battle Looms
As state fiscal pressures mount, governors are asking Washington to allow them to reduce their Medicaid rolls, something that’s barred under the health care law. Democrats generally prefer to give the states more federal money to help with Medicaid costs, but House Republicans are unlikely to support that, citing deficit concerns.
Analyzing Obama’s State Of The Union Speech: Health On The Hill
During his State of the Union Address, President Obama pledged to work with Republicans to change some elements of the health care law, such repealing a provision that the president said placed “an unnecessary bookkeeping burden” on small businesses. But the president made it clear he would not accept any major changes to the law. In the GOP response, House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan, R-Wisc., said his party would work to repeal the law and replace it with more “fiscally responsible, patient-centered reforms.”
Video: Republican SOTU Response
Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., delivers the Republican response to President Obama’s State of the Union speech and vows the GOP will work to replace the health law.
Video: President Obama On Health Law
In President Obama’s State of the Union speech, he signaled a willingness to make some changes to the health law while leaving its main form intact.
Video: Partisan Arguments Resonate In Health Law Repeal Debate
As the House of Representatives got closer to voting on the health law repeal, members took to the floor to denounce the arguments from the other side. We have excerpts from Reps. Mike Pence, R-Ind., George Miller, D-Calif., Steve Scalise, R-La., Anthony Weiner, D-N.Y., Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio.
Health Law Repeal Debate: 22 Freshmen Republicans In Under 4 Minutes
Freshmen Voices: The large class of Republican freshmen swept into office in the November elections had their voices heard in the repeal debate. Republican leadership put a special emphasis on these new members of Congress. Here are excerpts of what some of the freshmen had to say about the law that so many passionately campaigned against.
Video: Contentious Health Law Repeal Debate Begins
The House of Representatives began 7 hours of debate in advance of tomorrow’s vote on the Republican bill. Here are video excerpts from the debate.
Health On The Hill: House Prepares Wednesday Vote On Health Law Repeal
The House is expected to vote tomorrow on legislation that would repeal the health care law. While the measure is likely to pass the House, Senate Democrats are expected to block the legislation.
Video: Delayed, Lawmakers Fight Over Cost Of Repeal
The House floor vote to repeal the health care law previously scheduled for Jan. 12 has been postponed due to the shooting in Arizona. Meanwhile, Democrats and Republicans are at odds over a Congressional Budget Office estimate that found repealing the law would add $230 billion to the deficit over the next decade. Republicans say if the law is fully implemented it would cost taxpayers more than $700 billion.
Video: Republicans Promise Health Law Repeal Vote
Repealing the health law is one of the House Republicans’ top priorities. While the repeal is expected to pass the House, Democrats in the Senate have pledged to stop the bill.
Health Care Battles To Surge Anew In 2011: Christopher Weaver
KHN reporters preview some of the big issues coming this year: KHN reporter Christopher Weaver says pressures on individuals, employers and government will bring new ways to try to control costs.
