Latest KFF Health News Stories
Pundits Parse Tough Questions By Conservative Justices
The second day of the momentous Supreme Court hearing on President Obama’s health law ended almost exactly at noon. By 12:03, many conservative lawmakers and television commentators who had been in the packed chambers stood on the marble steps outside, saying the health insurance mandate at the heart of the law appeared to be in deep trouble. […]
Hundreds Brave Chilly Weather For Chance To Witness History
With the Supreme Court poised Tuesday to hear arguments about the health law’s mandate requiring most Americans to buy health insurance, about 200 advocates for and against abortion rights marched outside the court on a sunny, but chilly morning. They carried signs saying, “Abortion is not Health Care,” and “Protect the Law.” A few feet […]
Day 2: Justices Grill Obama Administration On Health Law
The second day of the historic hearings on the health reform law focused on this question: Does Congress have the power to require Americans to purchase health insurance? KHN contributor Stuart Taylor, Jr., tells Jackie Judd the conservative justices were especially skeptical, with sometimes-hostile questions.
Today’s Headlines – March 27, 2012
Good morning! It’s day two of the Supreme Court hearings on the health law. There’s lots to read — The New York Times: Most Oppose At Least Part Of Overhaul, Poll Finds Two-thirds of Americans want the Supreme Court to overturn some or all of the health care law, even though large majorities support a […]
In Massachusetts, SCOTUS Case Is (Mostly) Irrelevant
The health care battle that began this morning at the Supreme Court is one of the most important of our lifetime. But the direct effect on Massachusetts, which created the framework for the federal Affordable Care Act (ACA), is minimal, at best. “The real bottom line is that consequences for Massachusetts are not that great, […]
Debate Over Law Sparks Mostly Civil Exchanges Outside High Court
Scores of opponents and supporters of the health care law rallied next to each other for over three hours Monday, before, during and after the Supreme Court hearing. “Protect our care, protect our law,” yelled the law’s backers as they marched in a circle, some with shirts that read, “Death is not an option.” “We […]
Dozens Gather Outside Court Hoping to Witness, Shape History
WASHINGTON — Chanting “ACA is here to stay,” and accompanied by a trumpet and drums, about 100 supporters of the 2010 health law rallied outside the Supreme Court Monday morning, as attorneys prepared for three days of oral arguments in the most anticipated high court hearing in years. Fewer than 20 health law opponents also […]
Today’s Headlines – March 26, 2012
Today’s the first day of arguments in front of the Supreme Court on the health law’s constitutionality, as though you could forget. Here’s some headlines to read while you stand in that line — or watch people stand in that line — outside the Supreme Court: The Washington Post: Supreme Court To Hear Arguments On […]
Feds To Test Paying For Medicaid Patients With Psychiatric Emergencies
A group of states is testing whether Medicaid patients who seek emergency psychiatric care at private psychiatric hospitals are better off if the federal government picks up part of the costs. Right now, the federal government does not help states pay for inpatient psychiatric care for many Medicaid patients—a longstanding policy meant to discourage states from […]
Today’s Headlines – March 23, 2012
Happy Friday! It’s the anniversary of President Obama signing the health reform law — here’s what the news has to say this morning: The New York Times: House Votes To Kill A Medicare Cost Panel In a rebuff to President Obama, the Republican-controlled House passed a bill on Thursday to abolish a Medicare cost control […]
Sheriff: State Mental Health Cuts Undermine Public Safety
As states have struggled to balance their budgets during the economic downturn, mental health programs have frequently weathered significant cuts. Three-quarters of states have cut their mental health budgets during each of the past four fiscal years, for a combined reduction of $4.35 billion, according to the National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors […]
Health Literacy’s Effect On Costs
Every week, reporter Jessica Marcy selects interesting reads from around the Web. Huffington Post: Women’s Health Care Is Stronger Thanks To The Health Care Law In many families, women are the health care decision makers. When children go for their checkups, we are often the ones who make the appointment and sit in the room […]
A Timeline Of The Health Law’s Milestones And Regulations
The health law was controversial even before it was signed by President Obama two years ago tomorrow. But the political controversy has not deterred the administration from issuing hundreds of pages of regulations that are already affecting consumers, hospitals, doctors, insurance companies and state governments.
Today’s Headlines – March 22, 2012
Good Thursday morning! Tomorrow’s the anniversary of the health reform law signing, we’re all over it. But in the meantime, here’s your morning headlines: The Associated Press/Washington Post: House Floor Next For Contentious GOP Budget Plan That Cuts Social Safety Net, Tax Rates It’s on to the House floor for a deficit-slashing GOP budget plan. […]
Berwick Still Looking Ahead, On The Bright Side
Donald Berwick said he didn’t want to focus on the fate of the 2010 federal health law, but eventually the physician and former administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services addressed the elephant in the room. “I think this law will stand; it’ll be hard to take away,” Berwick said Monday during his […]
Ill. Primary Night Video: Santorum, Romney Differ On Health Care
During his concession speech, in Gettysburg, Pa., Rick Santorum again claimed that Mitt Romney is the wrong choice to go against President Obama on health care issues. Romney briefly criticized the health law, but otherwise did not discuss the subject. Here are brief clips of what Santorum and Romney said in their speeches Tuesday night:
Today’s Headlines – March 21, 2012
The New York Times: House GOP Lays Down Marker With New Budget Plan House Republicans thrust their vision of a smaller government, a flatter tax code and a free-market Medicare system into the 2012 election season on Tuesday, banking that fears over surging federal deficits will trump longstanding voter allegiances to popular government programs (Weisman, […]
Hill Panel Reviews Plan To Give Home Aide Workers Wage And Overtime Protections
Home care providers and labor advocates squared off Tuesday before a congressional committee reviewing an administration plan to extend minimum wage and overtime protections to the nation’s nearly 2 million home care workers. Last December, President Barack Obama announced a proposal to overturn a 1974 law that exempts “companionship” employees from the Fair Labor Standards […]
Best Hospitals In New Analysis Are Not The Most Renowned
HealthGrades is out with its latest list of America’s best hospitals, and the collection is notable for the heavy presence of community hospitals and the omission of many of the medical centers with national reputation. The Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., the Cleveland Clinic and Stanford Hospital in Palo […]
Illustrating Illinois Insurance Coverage Before & After Health Law
Health care advocates in Illinois are marking the two-year anniversary of the 2010 health law with an interactive map that shows how two provisions – expansion of Medicaid eligibility and the creation of new insurance marketplaces called exchanges – could expand coverage to the state’s residents, some 13 percent of whom are currently uninsured. The map […]
