Latest KFF Health News Stories
Medicaid Expansion Reduces Mortality, Study Finds
As states decide whether to expand their Medicaid programs to cover low-income childless adults, the impact of their choices became clearer today in a study showing a reduction of mortality in states that have already made that move. The research published in the New England Journal of Medicine found a 6.1 percent reduction in mortality […]
Michael Weinstein: ‘We Have A Long Way To Go’ In The U.S.
The president and co-founder of the AIDS Healthcare Foundation tells Joanne Silberner that it is important to keep public policy focused on proven methods for controlling AIDS.
Today’s Headlines – July 25, 2012
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including reports about new Congressional Budget Office health law estimates that reflect the Supreme Court’s decision on the Medicaid expansion. The Washington Post: CBO: Court Ruling Cuts Cost Of Health-Care Law, But Leaves 3 Million More Uninsured President Obama’s signature health-care initiative will cost a bit […]
CBO Reports On Impact Of Medicaid Ruling, Health Law Repeal Effort
Federal spending under the health care law is likely to be $84 billion lower over the next 11 years than previously projected now that states can opt out of the law’s Medicaid expansion, according to a Congressional Budget Office analysis released Tuesday. The CBO estimated that 6 million fewer low-income Americans will gain coverage through Medicaid and the Children’s […]
Minnesota Wants Outside Audit Of Medicaid HMOs
The Minnesota Department of Human Services announced Monday that it is seeking bids for an outside audit of Medicaid payment rates for fiscal years 2003 through 2011. The move follows months of controversy over whether the state’s contracts have been too generous. The move means the administration of Gov. Mark Dayton, a Democrat, is seeking […]
Phill Wilson: ‘Advances Have Not Benefitted All Populations Equally’
AIDS in 2012: The founder and executive director of the Black AIDS Institute tells Joanne Silberner that the AIDS epidemic can be combated by making policy choices based on science and by ensuring that the health law’s essential benefits package provides for both HIV/AIDS treatment and prevention.
GAO: Proposed Rule May Leave Some Children Ineligible For Subsidies
While most uninsured children will qualify for coverage under the federal health law, a small percentage — 6.6 percent of the total, or at least 460,000 — may be shut out because of how the government proposes to define “affordable” coverage, says a report from the U.S. Government Accountability Office. The proposed Treasury Department rule […]
To help balance their budgets, 13 states are cutting Medicaid either by lowering fees paid to medical providers, reducing benefits, or tightening eligibility for the health insurance program for the poor and disabled. Most changes went into effect July 1, though some take effect later this year and some are pending federal approval. Kaiser Health News surveyed the 50 state Medicaid programs:
When Going Back To The Hospital Is Good News
No one wants to be readmitted to a hospital, but it does beat one alternative: death. As Medicare prepares to start punishing hospitals with higher than expected readmission rates, new government data show that some hospitals with high readmissions are actually doing a better job than most in keeping Medicare patients alive. Beth Israel Deaconess […]
Today’s Headlines – July 24, 2012
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including news from the campaign season as well as reports from the international AIDS conference currently taking place in Washington, D.C. The Wall Street Journal: Deloitte: One In 10 U.S. Employers To Drop Health Coverage Around one in 10 employers in the U.S. plans to drop […]
Lisa Fitzpatrick: Routine Testing For HIV Needed
AIDS In 2012: The medical director of infectious diseases at United Medical Center tells Joanne Silberner that in addition to more frequent testing, more attention needs to be paid to keeping people with HIV under the care of a doctor.
Today’s Headlines – July 23, 2012
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including reports about the international AIDS conference taking place this week in Washington, D.C. The Associated Press: Working Poor Stand At Center Of Medicaid Debate Jose Gallegos’ company eliminated employee health insurance to save money, so when his gut started hurting and his skin took on […]
Abortion Back On The Front Burner For Congress
This story comes from our partner ‘s Shots blog. It’s not just states where abortion is heating up as an issue this election year. Congress is getting back into the fray, too. On Wednesday, the House Judiciary Committee approved, on a party-line vote of 18-14, a bill that would ban abortions in the District of Columbia after 20 weeks of […]
Physicians And Assisted Suicide; Avoid Getting Sick In July
KHN’s Matthew Fleming selected these interesting articles from around the Web for weekend reading options. ABC News: Assisted Dying: Experts Debate Doctor’s Role Peggy Sutherland was ready to die. The morphine oozing from a pump in her spine was no match for the pain of lung cancer, which had evaded treatment and invaded her ribs. … Sutherland, 68, […]
Today’s Headlines – July 20, 2012
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including reports from the presidential campaign trail and from the health care marketplace. The New York Times: Obama Visits Florida To Win Over Older Voters After weeks of focusing on Mr. Romney’s private-sector business deals, Mr. Obama turned to another front by attacking Republican plans to […]
Today’s Headlines – July 19, 2012
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including a variety of stories exploring public opinions about the health law, the upcoming election and the Supreme Court. NPR: A Majority Of Voters In NPR Poll Favor Amending, Not Repealing, Health Care Act A new poll done for NPR by a bipartisan polling team shows […]
Bill Frist To GOP Governors: Get Cracking On Exchanges
A former GOP power player is urging Republicans to rethink their rejection of the health law and to implement state insurance exchanges – and to do it now. Bill Frist, a former Republican Senate majority leader and heart transplant surgeon, today argued in a column that state officials should not pass up the opportunity to build […]
Notre Dame On-Campus Retail Clinic Opens, But Without Birth Control
Retail clinics are spreading across the country, offering their services at an increasing number of locations in stores and business offices. But a just-opened clinic at the University of Notre Dame could signal a new direction: setting up shop at academic centers. Walgreens partnered with Notre Dame to open an on-campus wellness center for employees last week. […]
Today’s Headlines – July 18, 2012
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including coverage of a new report that offers a gloomy fiscal forecast for states as they confront rising health care costs, underfunded pensions and a range of other economic challenges. NPR: Could The Health Law End Up Back In Court? Opponents Think So If you thought […]
Businesses Will Push Perry to Rethink Medicaid Expansion
Though Texas Gov. Rick Perry likens the Medicaid expansion to adding people “to the Titanic,” insurer WellPoint is grabbing for a piece of the business it thinks will grow in that state by buying Medicaid managed care provider Amerigroup. The move could mean an extra $1 billion in annual revenue for the insurer.
