Latest KFF Health News Stories
Today’s Headlines – March 20, 2012
The Washington Post: House Republicans To Propose Dramatic Changes To Tax Code Democrats have been gearing up to tackle other aspects of Ryan’s budget proposal — notably efforts to reshape Medicare and to slash federal agency spending beneath the $1.047 trillion level agreed to during the summer’s hard-fought battle over raising the debt ceiling (Helderman […]
Why Are Health Costs So High? The Robot Knows
Americans have always loved the next big thing: the newest iPhone, the freshest hi-def television, and the latest and greatest … medical technology. But that quick embrace of new innovations has come at a cost: It’s driving up the prices hospitals charge insurance companies who in turn raise premiums for the rest of us. One […]
Today’s Headlines – March 19, 2012
Good morning! Another week starts and more health policy news for you to read: The New York Times’ The Caucus: Health Care Debate Returns With Intensity This week is the two-year anniversary of Mr. Obama’s health care law, and Republicans in Washington are planning to celebrate with a series of attacks. Next week, the Supreme […]
New Rule Cuts Student Health Plans Temporary Breaks
Beginning next school year, student health insurance will fall in line with many of the requirements established under the 2010 health law – with some temporary exceptions announced Friday in new rules released by the Obama administration Student insurers and higher education groups had been waiting for months on the final set of rules from […]
HHS Floats New Ideas For Contraception Coverage Compromise
Again wading into the conflict between religious liberty and reproductive rights, the Obama administration on Friday suggested a number of ways it might arrange for insurers to pay for the contraception of employees of religious organizations without using any premium money from those groups. The ideas are intended to deal with a knotty problem created […]
New Rule Spells Out Streamlined Medicaid Eligibility
Most people who apply for health coverage in the new online marketplaces required by the federal health law will be able to learn almost instantly if they qualify for Medicaid or premium subsidies, Medicaid chief Cindy Mann said Friday. Mann said currently most people who apply for Medicaid must wait days or weeks until states determine their […]
HHS Issues Final Rule For 2014 Medicaid Expansion
The Department of Health and Human Services released Friday a final rule related to the massive expansion of Medicaid set to begin in 2014. Under the health law, individuals between ages 19 and 64 with incomes up to 133 percent of the federal poverty level — currently $14,856 for an individual and $30,656 for a […]
Med Students Spurn Primary Care For Hospital Jobs
Every week, reporter Jessica Marcy selects interesting reads from around the Web. Time: Peter Goodwin: The Dying Doctor’s Last Interview (Video) Dr. Peter Goodwin, a family physician and right-to-die activist, took his own life on March 11, 2012, at age 83. He did it legally, with the blessing of his family and doctors, under the […]
Today’s Headlines – March 16, 2012
Here are your headlines for this fine Friday morning: The Wall Street Journal: Washington Elites Queue Up To See Nine Justices On Hot Seat The hottest ticket of the season isn’t for the White House Easter Egg Roll or Opening Day for the Washington Nationals baseball team. It’s for a spot inside the Supreme Court […]
Feds Drop Texas Women’s Health Program
The federal government told Texas today that it would be dropping the state from the Medicaid Women’s Health Program. Until now, federal Medicaid dollars had paid for 90 percent of the costs to help poor Texas women get gynecological exams, cancer screenings and contraception. Federal Medicaid director Cindy Mann says Texas will be dropped because […]
Advocacy Group Targets Democratic Senators With Ad Featuring Pat Boone
The 60 Plus Association, a conservative-leaning advocacy group focused on issues for seniors, began running new television spots this week targeting five incumbent Democratic senators for their support of the Medicare provisions in the 2010 health law. 60 Plus, which backs the premium support proposal for Medicare authored by Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., is spending […]
New Report Identifies Barriers To HIV Care In U.S.
In July 2010 the White House created the National HIV/AIDS Strategy (NHAS) that set out to decrease HIV-related health disparities, to increase access to care for the disease and to improve health outcomes for HIV patients. But in order to effectively measure the success of this plan, the Office of National AIDS Policy (ONAP) commissioned […]
Today’s Headlines – March 15, 2012
Good morning and good Thursday to you. Here are your morning headlines: The Wall Street Journal’s Washington Wire: Fight Breaks Out Over 2013 Budget Cuts A battle has erupted over House Republicans’ plans to offer a budget next week that will likely cut 2013 spending below the level the two parties agreed on last August. […]
Personal Views Color Public Opinion Of Health Law Court Case
Half the country hopes the Supreme Court will throw out the health law’s mandate that Americans carry health insurance, according to a new poll released Wednesday. In what may be a sign of political wish fulfillment, half of Americans expect that the court will take that course when it takes up the case later this […]
Today’s Headlines – March 14, 2012
Good morning! Middle of the week and the health headlines don’t stop, here you are: The Wall Street Journal: Health-Law War Heats Up As Court Review Nears Democrats and Republicans are reviving their competing campaigns over the health-overhaul law in advance of the Supreme Court’s review of the measure this month. After largely avoiding the […]
Study Finds High-Spending Canadian Hospitals Do Better
Canada has long been a favored talking point for debates over the quality of America’s health system, alternatively cast as either Eden or Gomorrah. A new paper adds a shade of gray into the understanding of Canadian hospitals — and the ongoing debate here about whether when it comes to medical spending, less is more. […]
Timing Of Birth Control Coverage May Differ For Students, Profs
Could Georgetown University students like Sandra Fluke have to wait an extra year for free birth control? There’s a reason to ask the question. Fluke, in case you missed it somehow, is the law student who testified before the House Democratic Steering and Policy Committee last month about the importance of providing free contraceptive services […]
Today’s Headlines – March 13, 2012
Good morning! Here are your A.M. headlines to get you going: The Associated Press/Washington Post: Ambitious Health Care Blueprint Stresses State Flexibility, Sets Up Huge Logistical Challenge Democratic state officials are praising the flexibility in federal rules issued Monday, a long-awaited blueprint for state health insurance markets where millions of consumers will shop starting in […]
Winners And Losers In Medicare Advantage Extras: Avalere Report
State Weighted Average Rebate 2010 AK $0 AL $60 AR $52 AZ $59 CA $94 CO $50 CT $35 DC $77 DE $25 FL $154 GA $31 HI $51 IA $32 ID $44 IL $48 IN $40 KS $44 KY $34 LA $143 MA $33 MD $49 ME $41 MI $27 MN $25 MO $79 […]
Today’s Headlines – March 12, 2012
Happy Monday. We hope you had a good weekend and that you’re ready to read your morning headlines! Politico: On Health Care, Supreme Court’s Final Word May Not Be Final In two weeks, the U.S. Supreme Court takes up the case that could lead to the biggest “I told you so” of 2012. The challenge […]
