Latest KFF Health News Stories
Cracks Appearing In GOP Opposition To Health Law
In Mississippi, Republican leaders split on state insurance marketplace dubbed “One, Mississippi.”
Report: CMS Community Initiatives Could Reduce Health Costs
A pilot program introduced by the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to boost quality of care for seniors by developing community approaches to health problems could play a key role in bringing down costs, according to a new report in the Journal of the American Medical Association. Quality Improvement Organizations, or QIOs, are […]
AMA Offers $10 Million To Fund Med School Innovations
Memo to medical schools: If you have new ideas on how to train doctors, the American Medical Association may have some cash for you. The AMA says it will provide $10 million over the next five years to fund eight to 12 “bold, innovative projects.” “Rapid changes in health care require a transformation in the […]
Mental Health Gun Laws Unlikely To Reduce Shootings
This story comes from our partner ‘s Shots blog. States aren’t likely to prevent many shootings by requiring mental health professionals to report potentially violent patients, psychiatrists and psychologists say. The approach is part of a gun control law passed in New York yesterday in response to the Newtown, Conn., shooting a month ago. But it’s unlikely to […]
Today’s Headlines – Jan. 16, 2013
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including reports examining how mental health issues play a role in efforts to curb gun violence and expand gun control efforts. The New York Times: For ‘Party Of Business,’ Allegiances Are Shifting Big business is so fearful of economic peril if Congress does not allow the […]
Study: Seniors Look For Star Ratings On Medicare Advantage Plans
America’s seniors are benefiting from a star rating system that ranks the quality of Medicare Advantage plans, according to a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. Authors affiliated with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) conducted a study of almost 1.3 million Medicare beneficiaries. They found a positive relationship — […]
Utah, HHS Quibble Over Best Way To Run State Insurance Market
The Obama administration says it is bending over backwards to help states carry out the federal health law. Utah’s top health insurance exchange official says the federal government could do more. “There’s hasn’t been much dialogue,” said Patty Conner, director of the Utah Health Exchange, which recently rebranded itself Avenue H. She hopes federal health officials […]
Today’s Headlines – Jan. 15, 2013
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including the latest on how Medicare and other entitlement programs fit into the looming battle over raising the federal debt limit. The Wall Street Journal: Obama Escalates Debt Fight Mr. Obama said he was willing to work with the GOP on an agreement to cut spending—including […]
Not Too Early To Plan For Health Taxes, H&R Block Says
Even if you owe Affordable Care Act taxes, you probably won’t have to start paying them until next year. But H&R Block wants you to come in and talk about them now. “The Affordable Care Act means big changes this year when you file your taxes,” a chipper Block employee says in a new television ad. She says the company offers a free […]
Today’s Headlines – Jan. 14, 2013
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including reports about the health care marketplace and about the issues being raised by this year’s intense flu epidemic. The Wall Street Journal: Public-Private Fund Aims At Health Care, Housing Gap Hoping to bridge the gap between low-income residents and health-care services, a $100 million fund […]
Who Knew? Patients’ Share Of Health Spending Is Shrinking
Despite rapid growth in high-deductible health plans and rising employee contributions for insurance premiums, consumers’ share of national health spending continued to fall in 2011 — slipping to its lowest level in decades.
Is California Headed For State Vs. Counties Health Budget Battle?
SAN FRANCISCO – After four years of massive budget cuts to California’s public health insurance programs – and the voters’ approval of a tax increase – Gov. Jerry Brown is laying down his scalpel. Brown presented his proposed budget for the coming year on Thursday, including an additional $350 million in funding for the state’s […]
Today’s Headlines – Jan. 11, 2013
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including reports on developments in the health care marketplace as well as state health policy and budget news Politico: Insurers’ 2014 Hikes Already Taking Toll If you work for a small business, your next health insurance premium may give you sticker shock. Many of the small-business […]
Commonwealth Fund Panel Proposes Options To Slow Health Care Spending
A group of health policy professionals Thursday called on federal, state and local governments to help slow the relentless growth of health care spending by setting firm limits on those expenditures. The group, assembled by the Commonwealth Fund, a nonprofit research group, urged each level of government to agree to hold the increases in health […]
Today’s Headlines – Jan. 10, 2013
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including reports about Jack Lew, who is President Barack Obama’s pick to head the Treasury Department and has a record of protecting Medicaid and the safety net. The Wall Street Journal: Obama Aide Is Treasury Pick In 2011, as political leaders were designing the spending reductions […]
Governors’ Group Highlights Health Care In 2013 Outlook
As governors gear up to deliver their state-of-the-state addresses later this month, the Democratic and Republican leaders of the National Governors Association spoke Wednesday about the broader policy challenges facing all states in 2013 — and sure enough, health care was among the major issues both mentioned. The “State of the States” addresses by Delaware Gov. Jack Markell, […]
Today’s Headlines – Jan. 9, 2013
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including a number of health policy developments on the state level. Politico: Berwick Eyeing Run For Massachusetts Governor Former Obama administration Medicare chief Don Berwick — vilified by Senate Republicans who made his confirmation impossible — is considering a run for Massachusetts governor in 2014, he […]
A Regional Analysis Of Which Hospitals Got Rewards, Penalties Based On Quality
In Medicare’s new program that ties about $1 billion in payments to quality of care, hospitals in Fort Wayne, Ind., are faring the best on average while hospitals in Washington, D.C., are doing the worst, according to a Kaiser Health News analysis of the country’s 212 major health care markets. All seven hospitals in the nation’s […]
Today’s Headlines – Jan. 8, 2013
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including coverage of a government report concluding that U.S. health-care spending grew at a record low pace for a third consecutive year. The New York Times: Growth Of Health Spending Stays Low National health spending climbed to $2.7 trillion in 2011, or an average of $8,700 […]
Connecticut, The Insurance Capital, Moves Ahead With Exchange Plans
Five health plans — including all the major insurers in the state’s individual and small group markets — have told Connecticut’s health insurance exchange that they plan to offer policies in the state’s new online marketplace this fall. Exchange officials said Monday that Aetna, United Healthcare, Anthem, ConnectiCare and a new nonprofit co-op owned by the Connecticut […]
