Latest KFF Health News Stories
The Other Health Care Lawsuit: California Medicaid Case Headed To Supreme Court
The court will focus on whether outside groups, such as hospitals, pharmacists and Medicaid recipients, have the right to sue when they believe the state is violating federal law.
Medicaid Managed Care Expands In California As State Adds Many Seniors And Disabled
Even critics of managed care are warming to the idea of including nearly 400,000 seniors and disabled person now receiving health care through the traditional Medi-Cal program. The shift to managed care begins today and will be phased in.
Medicaid To Stop Paying For Hospital Mistakes
Many states have such a nonpayment policy in place already. The 2010 federal health law, in effect, expands the ban nationwide.
Abortion Foes’ New Target: Redefining What A Person Is
Activists want to rewrite laws to recognize someone as a person from the moment a sperm fertilizes an egg. But a redefinition could threaten the use of a long list of commonly used contraceptives.
Report: Big Flaws In How Medicare Pays Hospitals, Doctors
A prestigious Institute of Medicine panel says Medicare’s methods of evaluating regional costs are disturbingly imprecise and need to be overhauled.
Feds Cutting Fees, Requirements For High-Risk Health Insurance Pools
With enrollment falling far short of expectations, the Obama administration announces changes to make federally run high risk insurance plans both more affordable and more accessible.
Health On The Hill Transcript: Some States Moving Ahead With Health Insurance Exchanges
In today’s Health on the Hill segment, Christine Vestal of Stateline joins KHN’s Mary Agnes Carey and Jackie Judd to assess the progress
Hospitals Face New Pressure To Cut Infection Rates
Under laws in more than two dozen states and new Medicare rules that went into effect earlier this year, hospitals are required to report infections, risking their reputations as sterile sanctuaries, or pay a penalty. That’s left hospital administrators weighing the cost of ‘fessing up against the cost of fines.
Fact Check: Pat Boone On The Ryan Plan
Even as some Republicans distance themselves from the House-passed budget that would fundamentally change the Medicare program, the conservative seniors group 60 Plus’ celebrity spokesman Pat Boone is boosting the plan.
Bill Clinton Rips Ryan Plan At Fiscal Summit
Former President Bill Clinton said Wednesday that a controversial GOP plan to dramatically overhaul Medicare clearly was a factor in the Democrats’ victory Tuesday in a House special election in a heavily Republican Western New York district.
Memo To GOP: Cutting Medicaid Is Unpopular, Too
Changing Medicare is looking politically risky, so budget-cutters may focus on Medicaid instead. That, too, could prove unpopular because a recent poll shows the public does not favor large cuts to the program.
Document: Proposals To Reduce Health Care Spending And The Deficit
Before the May 25 2011 Fiscal Summit, the Peter G. Peterson Foundation sought ideas on solutions for “America’s unsustainable long-term fiscal challenges” from six groups that spanned the political spectrum: the American Enterprise Institute, the Bipartisan Policy Center, the Center for American Progress, the Economic Policy Institute, The Heritage Foundation, and the Roosevelt Institute. Ideas included […]
Md. Health Secretary Sharfstein: Health Law Brings ‘Fast And Furious’ Opportunity
Dr. Joshua Sharfstein says his state, which is well ahead of many in implementing the overhaul, is eager to leverage federal help to improve health options.
Pawlenty: The Other Republican Health Reformer
Among the GOP’s bushel of would-be presidents, Romney’s dramatic health reforms command all the press – but rival Tim Pawlenty may have overseen the more radical changes, at least on paper.
Conservative Senior Group Comes Up Short In NY Race
Sixty Plus, a 19-year-old organization, has become increasingly active in pushing Republican candidates and causes, will be effective in next year’s elections. It tried to have an impact on this week’s congressional race in New York.
Quality Prescription For Primary Care Doctors: Do Less
A group of doctors who want to improve the quality and cost-effectiveness of primary care tinkered with some Top 5 lists for of dos and don’ts for pediatricians, family doctors and internists. They found that less is often more.
Most Americans Oppose GOP Plan To Cut Medicaid
Kaiser Family Foundation survey finds about 60 percent of Americans want Congress to keep Medicaid in its current form.
‘No Regrets’ In Nursing Home Industry For Health Law Support-The KHN Interview
Mark Parkinson, head of the largest nursing home lobby, says some nursing homes will be hurt by the law’s requirement to offer workers insurance but they still favor the overhaul to bring health care costs under control.
GOP Pushes To Let States Reduce Medicaid Rolls
Forget about Medicaid block grants. The GOP says states should be allowed to make it harder to qualify for the health program for the poor. Will Democrats go along?
Health on the Hill Transcript – Democrats Push Senate Budget Vote On GOP Medicare Plan
KHN’s Mary Agnes Carey talks with Jackie Judd about Democratic efforts to get Senate Republicans on the record on an increasingly unpopular GOP budget that includes big changes to Medicare by scheduling a vote this week. The move is seen by some as a strictly political move that won’t bring lawmakers closer to agreement on a budget.
