Latest KFF Health News Stories
Today’s Headlines – Dec. 18, 2012
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including reports about some of the health program specifics involved in offers traded in the ongoing fiscal cliff negotiations. The New York Times: Obama’s New Offer On Fiscal Crisis Could Lead To Deal The offer is close to a plan proposed by the speaker on Friday, […]
Today’s Headlines – Dec. 17, 2012
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including weekend updates regarding the fiscal cliff negotiations as well as news regarding states’ decisions on health exchanges. The Associated Press/Washington Post: Movement Seen In ‘Fiscal Cliff’ Talks As Boehner Offers Revenue Boost In return, Boehner is asking for $1 trillion in spending cuts from government […]
Med Students Switch Gears After Sandy KO’s Training Hospitals
After completing a medical rotation in pediatrics, Hannah Kirsch was looking forward to starting another one in psychiatry at New York City’s Bellevue Hospital – but then Hurricane Sandy hit. Kirsch is among about 170 third-year and fourth-year medical students at NYU School of Medicine who were required to change their plans after two of NYU’s […]
Tax Exclusion For Health Benefits Could Be Part Of ‘Fiscal Cliff’ Talks
As the deficit debate continues, some policy wonks think it’s inevitable that negotiators will address a loophole that allows workers to avoid paying taxes on the value of their job-based health insurance. “The No. 1 tax expenditure is employer-provided health insurance,” said G. William Hoagland, a senior vice president at the Bipartisan Policy Center, who […]
Facing Deadline, Most States Say No To Running Their Own Insurance Exchanges
Updated at 5:35 p.m. The Obama administration will have to build and operate online health insurance markets for more than 30 states, something few expected when the federal health law was approved in 2010. With today’s deadline hours away, only 18 states and the District of Columbia had proposed running their own insurance markets, also known […]
Today’s Headlines – Dec. 14, 2012
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, featuring the latest reports on the fiscal negotiations — including how proposals to raise the Medicare eligibility are playing. The New York Times: With Gap Wide And Time Short, Obama And Boehner Meet With time running short to work out a deal to avert a year-end […]
Health Law Could Help Low-Income Mothers With Depression
Maternal depression can make it more difficult for women to breastfeed, keep up with doctors’ appointments and interact with their babies. But some health care researchers are hoping the Affordable Care Act will improve treatment for a condition that affects 11 percent of infants’ mothers on average, but which is more prevalent among low-income mothers. “Low-income mothers were […]
Obama Administration Grilled About Insurance Markets In House Hearing
It was akin to being called to the principal’s office to find out why the pupil was late with her homework. Top Obama administration officials were called before a House subcommittee Thursday to answer questions about the implementation of the president’s landmark health law, and what Republicans say is a lack of clarity over how […]
Today’s Headlines – Dec. 13, 2012
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including stories about how proposals to cut Medicare and other entitlement programs are playing with Democrats, and how a new poll shows overwhelming support from the public for a compromise deficit deal. The Wall Street Journal: Spending-Cut Proposals Drawing Democratic Flak One big question in Washington’s […]
Health Cost Bite To Family Budgets Sinks Deeper
Medical costs aren’t just breaking government budgets. The price of commercial health insurance has risen five times faster than family incomes since 2003 even as the financial security it offers has shrunk, says a new Commonwealth Fund report that underscores how medicine is consuming bigger and bigger parts of the private economy. “Wherever you live in the United States, health insurance is expensive, and […]
Today’s Headlines – Dec. 12, 2012
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including reports that GOP lawmakers want to see details on the safety net cuts President Barack Obama would offer as part of the “fiscal cliff” talks while some liberal Democrats want to leave Medicaid out of it. Los Angeles Times: Fiscal Talks Hobbled By New Finger-Pointing […]
A Day Of Stark Differences For States On Health Insurance Exchanges
On the same day HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius granted conditional approval to Colorado, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maryland, Oregon and Washington for their health insurance exchange plans, the Republican-dominated Florida Senate made its position on the insurance marketplaces known. Friday is the deadline for states to decide if they want to build and operate their own exchanges or have the federal […]
Eye Experts Say States Should Consider Making Vision Care An Exchange Benefit
As states set up their exchanges under the federal health law, they should consider including adult vision benefits, according to the authors of a new study showing that people without such coverage are less likely to seek care. Although the federal health law mandates vision coverage for children, the same requirement does not apply to […]
Today’s Headlines – Dec. 11, 2012
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including coverage of yesterday’s HHS announcement to states that the federal government will not fund partial Medicaid expansions. The New York Times: Obama Approves Health Insurance Marketplace In 6 States The Obama administration gave conditional approval on Monday to health insurance marketplaces being set up by […]
Aging Doctors Face Greater Scrutiny
There are no mandatory retirement ages for doctors or formal evaluations of their skills, but some hospitals are now requiring older physicians to have periodic physical and cognitive exams.
What Sea World, Universal Studios And The Zoo Can Teach Health Care Executives
Thousands of health care administrators, policy experts and practitioners will gather in Orlando this week for the 24th annual Institute for Healthcare Improvement’s national forum — akin to a pilgrimmage to Mecca for those passionate about making health care safer and more efficient. Besides featuring experts such as former CMS Administrator Donald Berwick, the curriculum includes visits to Sea World, Universal […]
Today’s Headlines – Dec. 10, 2012
Today’s early morning highlights from major new outlets, including the latest about yesterday’s “fiscal cliff” meeting between President Barack Obama and House Speaker John Boehner, as well as other health policy reports. The Washington Post: Time Running Out On ‘Fiscal Cliff’ Deal The contours of a deal to avert the year-end fiscal cliff are becoming […]
Report: Payment Reform Leaves Docs Uneasy
A new report from insurer UnitedHealth Group shows that doctors have mixed views on the new pay-for-performance model promoted in the 2010 health care law as a means of controlling health care costs and improving quality. The law has provisions that transition from a traditional fee-for-service system, where doctors, hospitals and other providers are paid based […]
‘Morning After’ Pill Advocates Seek Another Look At Age Rules
This story comes from our partner ‘s Shots blog. Friday marks a not-so-happy anniversary for some of President Obama’s biggest supporters: It’s exactly one year since Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius decided not to lift the age restrictions on availability of the so-called morning-after pill, Plan B. But now, with the election safely behind them, backers of […]
Today’s Headlines – Dec. 7, 2012
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations includes articles on the talks between President Barack Obama and House Speaker John Boehner on the “fiscal cliff.” The Washington Post: Some In GOP Urge Lawmakers To Back Tax Hikes For Changes In Safety-Net Programs A growing chorus of Republicans is urging House leaders to abandon […]
