Latest KFF Health News Stories
Medical Device Industry Lobbies IRS and Congress To Dodge Health Law Tax
The medical device industry took a hit during legislative deal-making over health care last year, an excise tax that’s expected to yield $20 billion over 10 years, but the industry is using all its Capitol Hill muscle in a drive to kill the tax.
Berwick Says Obama’s Plan To Trigger Medicare Cuts Won’t Be Necessary
Current plans to improve quality and reduce waste should avoid the need for the Independent Payment Review Board to step in and order cuts, Medicare chief says.
Obama’s Deficit Plan: A ‘Nuanced Approach’ And ‘So Partisan’
Eight health policy experts review the president’s proposals to cut the deficit while preserving Medicare and Medicaid.
Health On The Hill Transcript: Obama Hits Back At GOP On Health Proposals
Obama laid out his plans for preserving Medicare while cutting spending in the program, and he also rejected a Republican plan to give states block grants for Medicaid.
Excerpts: President Obama On The Deficit And Health Care Spending
President Obama on Wednesday spoke about reining in health care spending in Medicare and Medicaid as part of his proposal to reduce the federal deficit. Here are excerpts:
Document: Obama’s Proposal On Deficit Reduction – Health Care Section
Obama proposes holding Medicare cost growth down by strengthening the Independent Payment Advisory Board and making Medicaid more flexible without using block grants.
Emergency Rooms Provide Care Of Last Resort For Mentally Ill
With states reducing the number of psychiatric beds, mentally ill patients often languish in hospital emergency rooms for several days, sometimes longer. At most, they get drugs but little counseling, and the environment is often harsh.
Federal Medicaid Teams Deployed To Help States Cut Costs Get Mixed Reviews
Nearly half of the states have received some type of help, including 11 states with Republican governors.
Americans Like Their Health Care, But Think The System Stinks
A majority of Americans give the country’s health system barely passing grades. Most people choose a hospital based on someone’s personal experience than looking at quality ratings. Yet when it comes to surgeons, people are evenly split on whether experience or data is the best guide.
Ryan Plan For Medicare Is ‘Pure Budget Solution, Not A Health Policy Solution’ -The KHN Interview
Alec Vachon, who once worked for Republican Sen. Bob Dole and the Senate Finance Committee, says the GOP premium support proposal will run into trouble if funding doesn’t meet seniors’ needs to buy insurance.
Health On The Hill Transcript – Spending Cuts Agreed To As Entitlement Reform Looms
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 vote on two measures the House already has approved
Program Gives Dying People Chance At Giving Longer Goodbyes
A program in St. Louis is giving hospice patients one more way to say goodbye to their loved ones – using a series of volunteers trained to help them tell their stories.
Medicaid To Offer Rewards For Healthy Behavior
The $100 million program, part of the federal health overhaul, seeks to help Medicaid enrollees quit smoking or keep weight, blood pressure and cholesterol levels in check. But there is limited evidence that these reward programs work.
Health Insurance From Both Sides: KHN Interview Of Aetna CEO Bertolini
Mark Bertolini knows the insurance industry inside out. Both he and his son have had life-threatening health crises. He says he wouldn’t qualify for an individual policy and talks with KHN about how Aetna is reacting to the health law.
Policy Riders And Spending Debate Fueling Govt. Shutdown Fears
Policy issues including a number of controversial health-related items are adding to the difficulties faced by lawmakers as they try to reach agreement on legislation to provide funding to avert a federal government shutdown.
Brief Federal Shutdown Wouldn’t Faze Medicare Or Medicaid
If the current budget standoff on Capitol Hill leads to a shutdown of the federal government on Friday, recipients of the Medicare and Medicaid health programs won’t have to worry. At least not for a while.
Budget Office: GOP Medicare Plan Could Lead To Rationing
Remember all those allegations from Republicans that the Affordable Care Act would inevitably lead to health care rationing? It turns out the same might be true of the House GOP budget plan for Medicare.
Patient Safety Expert Says Law Could Lead To Overuse Of Medical Care: The KHN Interview
Rosemary Gibson, who has led national efforts to improve health care quality and safety, is concerned about 32 million newly insured Americans being exposed to too much treatment.
CBO: Seniors Would Pay Much More For Medicare Under Ryan Plan
Health care entitlement programs are targeted for major overhauls under the House GOP budget proposal, says the Congressional Budget Office.
Health On The Hill Transcript – House Budget Plan: What It Means, What’s Next
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.
