Latest KFF Health News Stories
Religious Freedom, Individual Mandate And Anti-Injunction Act At Issue In D.C. Circuit
KHN’s Mary Agnes Carey and ABC News’ Ariane de Vogue discuss today’s oral arguments in the American Center for Law and Justice challenge to the health law.
Companies Steering Workers To Lower Priced Medical Care
Businesses want employees to be more sensitive to the cost of medical care, but consumer advocates worry that decisions will be based on price, not quality.
Ten Questions To Ask Your Doctor
Some doctors wince when patients show up with sheafs of Internet printouts. But a good conversation between doctor and patient can make a big difference in the quality of medical care provided. Here are some tips on what to ask.
Insurance Commissioners Tell Congress Not To Change Medigap Policies
State officials sending a letter that opposes changes aimed at reducing the deficit by requiring Medicare beneficiaries to pay a higher share of the cost of their supplemental insurance.
Transcript: Analyzing The GOP Presidential Field’s Promise To Repeal The Health Law
Jackie Judd talks with PBS NewsHour’s David Chalian about the GOP presidential candidates’ health law repeal rhetoric, the varying level of nuance among their viewpoints and how each is attacking the President’s
The Specifics: How Obama Plans To Cut Health Programs By $320 Billion
Kaiser Health News staff writer Phil Galewitz reports that the biggest cut to Medicare requires pharmaceutical companies to lower the rates for low-income beneficiaries.
HHS Pushes Federal-State Partnerships For Insurance Exchanges
The federal government is worried that dozens of states may opt out of running these insurance marketplaces and leave that job for Washington.
Some States Seeking Health Care Compact
The interstate compact, which has been adopted by four states, would replace federal programs – including Medicare and Medicaid – with block grants. It cannot be implemented without congressional approval.
Blue Cross Plans Push HHS To Release Regs By Early 2012
Blue Cross and Blue Shield plans are particularly unhappy with recent regulations governing insurance exchanges. Insurers want time to build benefit structures and create complex health information technology systems so they can be ready for government testing by the end of 2012.
Medicare Advantage Premiums To Fall 4% Next Year
Administration says dire predictions of damage from the health law have not materialized.
The Essential Benefit Package Americans Need
The real impact of reform will ultimately be measured by the health of the nation — and by that measure, few decisions are more important than what is included in the essential benefit package. How this package takes shape will determine whether health reform delivers on its promise.
Clinical Nuance Essential To Essential Benefits Package
Current “one-size-fits-all” health plans, in which beneficiaries face the same out-of-pocket payment for every doctor visit, test and prescription drug, should be be replaced by plans based on the health benefit gained in the particular clinical circumstance. By using this nuance, health plans can offer more comprehensive and effective coverage while addressing the affordability of health insurance.
Defining ‘Typical’: A Critical Step In Determining The Health Law’s Essential Benefits Package
As implementation of the 2010 health law unfolds, one of the most important questions surrounds how he essential benefits package will be determined. The answer will have a significant impact on the cost of coverage, both inside and outside the law’s insurance exchanges.
Different Takes: How To Set The Health Law’s Essential Benefits Package
KHN asked the National Partnership for Women and Families’ Debra Ness, Republican Utah State Rep. James Dunnigan and Dr. A. Mark Fendrick from the Center for Value-Based Insurance Design what they think should steer the development of the health law’s essential benefits package. Read their perspectives.
Analysis: Handicapping Health Care Lawsuits, And The Truth-In-Labeling Factor
Stuart Taylor puts the chances at about 25 percent to 33 percent that the health law’s individual mandate will be overturned, and adds that the court seems even less likely to sweep away the rest of the 975-page law.
‘Poster Boys’ Take A Pass On Pioneer ACO Program
Leading hospital systems didn’t apply for Medicare reform tailor-made by the Obama administration to reward such organizations.
Health On The Hill: CBO Chief Testifies At ‘Super Committee’ Hearing
Jackie Judd talks to KHN’s Mary Agnes Carey about the “getting down to business” atmosphere at the joint debt panel’s Capitol Hill hearing Tuesday.
Rate Of Uninsured Stays Flat In 2010, Census Reports
Young adults, Hispanics fare better but Asians worse.
Transcript: GOP Candidates Squabble Over Health Care During Tampa Debate
Monday night’s CNN/Tea Party Express debate among the Republican presidential candidates included discussion of Medicare, the health law, costs, the individual mandate and vaccines.
Ex-Cons Part Of California Health Care Expansion To Childless Adults
With an early expansion of health coverage this summer, former inmates in California will be covered for preventive care, prescription drugs, specialty visits and mental health and substance abuse, including at clinics like Healthy Oakland.
