Latest KFF Health News Stories
VP Debate: How Faith Informs The Candidates On Abortion
Vice President Joe Biden and Rep. Paul Ryan talked about how their Catholic faith informs their stances on abortion at the vice presidential debate in Danville, Ky., on Thursday.
Study: Seniors Overspend On Medicare Part D
Seniors spent on average $368 more than they needed to on drug coverage through Medicare Part D plans in 2009 — their decisions complicated by the sheer volume of plans available and difficulties involved in determining what makes a plan a good choice, a Health Affairs study released Tuesday has found. There are 1,736 plans available to Medicare beneficiaries for purchasing prescription […]
Today’s Headlines – Oct. 11, 2012
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including previews of how Medicare and other health policy issues might play in tonight’s vice presidential debate. The New York Times: This Election, A Stark Choice In Health Care When Americans go to the polls next month, they will cast a vote not just for president […]
Adderall For Healthy Kids: A Cost Shift To Medicaid?
Doctors in Georgia are prescribing ADHD medications to help low-income children struggling in elementary school, even when they do not have an attention deficit disorder, reports a front-page article in Tuesday’s New York Times. The story focused on Dr. Michael Anderson in Canton, Ga., who said he had little choice in the matter if he […]
Study: CMS Penalties Don’t Change Hospital-Acquired Infection Rates
Updated at 8:00 p.m. to add comment from CMS. A Medicare payment policy designed to push hospitals to cut their infection rates has had no effect in reducing two types of preventable infections among patients in intensive care units, researchers say in a study out Wednesday in the New England Journal of Medicine. In 2008, […]
Docs Say Concerns About ER ‘Frequent Flyer’ Use Are Overblown
When Mitt Romney advised uninsured Americans to head to the emergency room for care, analysts were quick to point out the burden of high ER costs and the danger of abusing a safety net system. But emergency departments only account for 2 percent of health care spending, according to research presented by the American College […]
Today’s Headlines – Oct. 10, 2012
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including reports that GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney has pledged that his presidential agenda does not include abortion legislation. The New York Times: Obama Campaign Tells Supporters: Steady On Big Bird was part of a broader effort by Mr. Obama and his team to reassure supporters […]
Sen. Schumer Says Increasing Medicare Age Won’t Be In Any Deal
Democrats have said they are willing to overhaul entitlements if Republicans agree to new tax revenues as part of a “grand bargain” to reduce the deficit, but don’t expect the Medicare eligibility age to be increased as part of any deal, Sen. Charles E. Schumer, D-N.Y., said Tuesday. “I don’t think raising the age will […]
Revealing Angioplasty Outcomes Didn’t Improve Patient Mortality: Study
In the 23 years since New York State began publishing hospital death rates of coronary artery-bypass graft patients, the number of publicly reported outcome measures has proliferated. There are now 258 public reports on health care quality available around the country, according to the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Researchers are still studying what impact this […]
Physicians Are Healthier Than Nurses, Other Workers, Says Survey
Are doctors following the same health and wellness advice they give to their patients? Based on new Gallup data, physicians appear to be in better health than other members of the workforce – even nurses– which could set a good example for patients. Gallup interviewed more than 1,900 physicians and more than 7,100 nurses over […]
Today’s Headlines – Oct. 9, 2012
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including reports about how a new poll indicates GOP presidential hopeful Mitt Romney gained a significant bounce from last week’s debate performance. The Wall Street Journal’s Washington Wire: Romney Leaps Past Obama In Pew Poll Mitt Romney’s debate performance has wiped out President Barack Obama’s advantage, […]
Study: Health Insurance Costs To Fall For Businesses Under 50 Employees
Once fully implemented, the 2010 health care law will increase employer-sponsored insurance coverage and reduce the cost small businesses pay for employee health coverage, according to an Urban Institute study released today. Those findings come as news to business groups that fear the health law will raise insurance premiums and may cause employers to drop employer-sponsored coverage. […]
Today’s Headlines – Oct. 8, 2012
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including reports and analysis from the campaign trail regarding both the presidential contest as well as House and Senate races. Los Angeles Times: Obama’s Healthcare Law: Historic Reform And Signature Failure As the president seeks reelection, the Affordable Care Act, passed in 2010, stands as a […]
Study: Most Seniors’ ER Visits Could Be Avoided
Nearly 60 percent of Medicare beneficiary visits to emergency rooms and 25 percent of their hospital admissions were “potentially preventable”– had patients received better care at home or in outpatient settings — according to results of a study released Friday by a congressional advisory board. “These are spectacular rates,” said Scott Armstrong, a member of the […]
Today’s Headlines: Oct. 5, 2012
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including more coverage of how health policy issues were addressed during Wednesday’s presidential debate. The New York Times: Entering Stage Right, Romney Moved To Center He used the first presidential debate to speak out forcefully to its wide television audience against the idea of cutting taxes […]
Berwick: Debate Underscores Challenge Explaining Health Law
More than two and a half years after he signed the most far reaching health care legislation into law, President Barack Obama showed in his Wednesday debate with Mitt Romney that explaining the law is still no easy job. “It’s a great law and complex and complicated … but there is a continuing job to […]
Highmark Files Suit Against West Penn Allegheny In Pittsburgh
The Pennsylvania insurer Highmark has filed suit in the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas to prevent West Penn Allegheny Health System from forming alliances with other entities. Last year, Highmark said it was purchasing the financially struggling hospital system. Last week, West Penn Allegheny announced it was breaking ties with Highmark and searching for […]
Breaking Down The Debate, Word-By-Word
President Barack Obama and former Mass. Gov. Mitt Romney had plenty to say about health care in the first debate in Denver Wednesday night. Here are they words they chose — with the most-frequently used words shown larger — during the discussions about health policy issues during the debate. Obama words: Romney’s words:
Today’s Headlines – Oct. 4, 2012
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including highlights, analysis and fact-checking from last night’s presidential debate. The Associated Press/Washington Post: Romney, Obama Tangle Over Health Care Reform Law In First Presidential Debate Republican Mitt Romney is vowing to repeal President Barack Obama’s health care law, saying it adds costs to the health […]
HHS Secretary Touts The ACA’s Benefits For Older Hispanics
Just hours before the first presidential debate, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius delivered a message about the dire need to protect Medicare and Medicaid funding to a critical electoral constituency. Sebelius was the keynote speaker at the National Hispanic Council on Aging’s National Summit in Washington, an annual meeting of Hispanic health care, housing, aging […]
