Latest KFF Health News Stories
Romney’s Evolution On Abortion; The Birth Of The HIV Epidemic
This week’s selection of intriguing weekend reading includes articles from Slate, the Los Angeles Times, American Medical News, Salon, Columbia Journalism Review, The Washington Post, BBC and Medscape. Slate: The Conversion: How, When, And Why Mitt Romney Changed His Mind On Abortion (GOP presidential candidate Mitt) Romney began his political career as a pro-choicer. In the story […]
The Parent Trap: Adult Children Care For Elderly Parents
This story by Kaiser Health News’ Marilyn Werber Serafini features members of the sandwich generation: raising children, dealing with elderly parents and the care they need – and sometimes feeling like they’ve bitten off more than they can chew.
Today’s Headlines – March 1, 2012
Good morning! Here are your morning headlines: The New York Times: Political Memo: Candidates Scramble To Create Differences Mr. Romney and Mr. Santorum both support the repeal of President Obama’s national health care law. Mr. Santorum has criticized Mr. Romney for creating the Massachusetts plan that served as the federal model. Mr. Romney, meanwhile, recently […]
The High Price Of Caring For A Loved One With Alzheimer’s
Nearly 15 million people fall into the role of unpaid caregiver for those sick with dementia. Add it all up, and it comes to about 17 billion hours of unpaid care valued at $202 billion in 2010 alone. New money from the Obama Administration in the 2013 budget is intended to help.
Wash. Senate Nears Vote To Require Abortion Coverage
While lawmakers in Washington clash over birth control, lawmakers in Washington state are close to passing a first-of-its-kind law that would require insurers to cover abortion services. If passed, the Reproductive Parity Act would make the Evergreen State the first in the country to require public and private insurers to cover abortion if the plan covers […]
Today’s Headlines – Feb. 29, 2012
Good morning! Half way through the week! Here are your morning headlines: Politico: Who’s Health Care’s Key SCOTUS Vote? Administration lawyers have peppered their briefs with citations to opinions written by Anthony Kennedy and Antonin Scalia, they’ve seized on the arguments made by one of Scalia’s most beloved former clerks and their allies in legal […]
Maine’s Top Court Backs State Authority To Limit Health Plan’s Profits
In a case closely watched by the insurance industry, Maine’s top court Tuesday upheld state regulators’ authority to hold down rate increases sought by Anthem Health Plans of Maine. In its ruling, the Supreme Judicial Court said that Maine’s insurance superintendent had “properly balanced the competing interests” in arriving at an approved rate increase of […]
More Americans Head To The ER For Dental Emergencies
Americans who turn up in the emergency room to get dental care aren’t lost, they’re probably just running out of options. According to a new report from the Pew Center on the States, more than 800,000 visits to the ER in 2009 were for toothaches and other avoidable dental ailments. “People showing up at emergency […]
Today’s Headlines – February 28, 2012
Good morning! Here are your early-morning headlines: The New York Times: At-Risk Patients Gain Attention Of Health Insurers One percent of patients account for more than 25 percent of health care spending among the privately insured, according to a new study. Their medical bills average nearly $100,000 a year for multiple hospital stays, doctors’ visits, […]
Pediatricians Recommend HPV Vaccination For Boys
The leading group of U.S. pediatricians says it’s now time for boys, as well as girls, to be vaccinated against human papillomavirus. The American Academy of Pediatrics has updated its guidance to parents and doctors in favor of routine immunization for boys against the virus. Previously, the group had said it was OK to vaccinate […]
Today’s Headlines – February 27, 2012
Good morning! Get your week started with these headlines: The New York Times: A Measure Of Change: Obama’s Deficit Dilemma Yet starting with that April speech, Mr. Obama has come to adopt most of the major tenets supported by a majority of the commission’s members, though his proposals do not go as far. He has […]
By The Numbers: Wisconsin’s High Risk Pool
This week the federal government touted the number of people who have enrolled in the high risk insurance pools created in every state. After a slow start, some 50,000 people with serious illnesses nationwide have signed up for the insurance plans created by the federal health law. But in Wisconsin and elsewhere that statistic doesn’t […]
Electronic Health Records Program Advances to ‘Stage 2’
It’s time to take electronic health records to the next level. Federal officials on Thursday released their second-stage guidelines for “meaningful use” of electronic records, which advocates say have the potential to reduce medical errors and streamline care. The proposed rules require doctors and hospitals to significantly step up their usage, as well as better […]
Today’s Headlines – February 24, 2012
Happy Friday, world! Here are your headlines: Los Angeles Times: Debt Would Grow Under Most GOP Candidates’ Plans, Report Says The sober analysis shows how difficult it will be for any new inhabitant in the White House to shift the nation’s debt trajectory, and the need for long-term and bipartisan efforts to gain revenues and […]
Law Student Makes Case For Contraceptive Coverage
This story comes from our partner ‘s Shots blog. Congress is in recess this week, but that didn’t stop House Democrats from holding a hearing to take testimony from a Georgetown law student who was barred from testifying in last week’s hearing about President Obama’s policy on contraceptives, health insurance and religiously affiliated organizations. That […]
Today’s Headlines – February 23, 2012
Good morning! Here are your headlines to get you going this A.M.: The New York Times: The Caucus Blog: Study Finds Mixed Results In GOP Candidates’ Plans For Federal Debt All four would repeal the 2010 health care law, which would not save much money since the law includes spending cuts and tax increases to […]
Council Publishes Plan For Alzheimer’s Research, Care
Federal officials have taken another step toward their goal of better treatment for and even prevention of Alzheimer’s disease by 2025. On Wednesday, an advisory council convened by the Obama administration released a fleshed-out, draft version of its national plan to address Alzheimer’s. Much of the plan was already known from the draft framework published […]
More Exchange Money Headed to States
New federal money is headed to ten states to help them establish insurance exchanges through which individuals and small businesses can buy insurance beginning in 2014. The Department of Health and Human Services is sending a total of $229 million in exchange establishment grants to ten states, the agency announced Wednesday. Half are receiving this […]
Today’s Headlines – February 22, 2012
Good morning! The Associated Press/Washington Post: Supreme Court Adds 30 Minutes to Next Month’s Health Care Arguments, Up To 6 Hours Overall The Supreme Court has added another 30 minutes to upcoming arguments over President Barack Obama’s health care overhaul. The sessions now will span six hours over three days in late March. The justices […]
Convenient Methods For Birth Control Aren’t Always Easy To Pay For
Free contraception has sure been a hot topic lately. But there’s still one facet that hasn’t received much attention. Religious leaders and politicians have debated whether requiring employers to cover prescription birth control for employees gratis — as required under the health care overhaul — tramples on religious freedom. But what about over-the-counter methods like […]
