Latest KFF Health News Stories
Florida CHIP Program ‘Treading Water’
Despite the tough economy, Florida’s Children’s Health Insurance Program added just 2,000 children in the year ended June 30, for a growth rate of less than 1 percent. Among school-age kids, the program added just 700 children. Before last year, the Florida CHIP progam was growing by about 8 percent a year. It now has about […]
Today’s Headlines – Sept. 29, 2011
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including reports that a Supreme Court ruling on the 2010 health law is now likely before the 2012 presidential election. The New York Times: Supreme Court Is Asked To Rule On Health Care The Obama administration asked the Supreme Court on Wednesday to hear a case […]
HHS Announces Coordinated Care Initiative
If the Department of Health and Human Services has its way, hundreds of physician practices will follow the money and take up a coordinated model of health care. The Comprehensive Primary Care Initiative, announced Wednesday, will increase Medicare payments to primary care providers who adopt a coordinated care model. A four-year demonstration, overseen by the Centers for […]
N.C. Insurer Invests $15M In Docs’ Health IT
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina planned to announce Wednesday that the insurer will spend $15 million to arm as many as 750 physicians in the state with state-of-the-art electronic medical records. Blue Cross, the dominant financier of the state’s health system with 54 percent of the insured on its rolls, stands to […]
Today’s Headlines – Sept. 28, 2011
Good morning health policy world! Today’s headlines include reports about the costs of employer insurance plans and the final installment of KHN’s Building Ambitions series. Kaiser Health News: Building Ambitions: The Big Money World Of Kids’ Care – Children’s Hospitals May Face Leaner Future (Part 3 of 3) Reporting for Kaiser Health News, in collaboration with McClatchy, […]
HHS Announces $ 103 Million In Community Transformation Grants
The Department of Health and Human Services awarded Tuesday more than $103 million through its Community Transformation Grants program, which was established by the 2010 health law. A total of 61 groups as well as state and local government agencies, spread across 36 states and one territory, will receive funding to promote healthy living and prevention locally […]
Series: Building Ambitions: The Big Money World Of Kids Care
A three-part series on the big business of U.S. children’s hospitals.
Federal Employee Health Premiums Announced
As health plan enrollment season gears up, premiums for federal employees and retirees will increase on average about 3.8 percent – less than half of the increase they saw last year. Last year, plan costs increased an average of 7.3 percent. But an official at the federal Office of Personnel Management (OPM) said today that […]
Minority Trauma Patients Are More Likely To Die At ‘Minority’ Hospitals
Dr. Adil Haider, a trauma surgeon and assistant professor at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, thought trauma would be the one medical area free from racial disparities — emergency rooms don’t check insurance, and they are required to treat anyone who comes through their doors. “With trauma, you call and the ambulance comes. We think […]
Today’s headlines – Sept. 27, 2011
In today’s headlines, reports that the Obama administration decided not to ask the full 11th Circuit Court of Appeals to take up a challenge to the health law, making it likely that the Supreme Court could rule on the measure’s constitutionality early next year. Also in the news, part 2 of KHN’s “Building Ambitions” series. Kaiser Health […]
Today’s Headlines – Sept. 26, 2011
Good Monday Morning! Let’s get this week started: Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including the first installment of KHN’s three-day series, “The Big Money World Of Kid’s Care.” Kaiser Health News: Building Ambitions: The Big Money World Of Kids’ Care (A Three-Day Series) Reporting for Kaiser Health News, in collaboration with […]
Charitable Spending By Children’s Hospitals
Details on charitable spending from the tax returns of children’s hospitals.
The Wealth Of Children’s Hospitals
Details on revenues, spending and total assets of 39 children’s hospitals from around the country.
Today’s Headlines – Sept. 23, 2011
Happy Friday! In today’s headlines, the skinny on how health policy issues played in Thursday night’s GOP presidential primary debate. Los Angeles Times: Obama Alienating Some Democratic Moderates With Fiscal Stance Staking out fiscally conservative positions, Democrats over the last several elections have managed to steal voters from Republicans in some unlikely places, such as Montana and […]
Survey: ‘Super Committee’ Has Yet To Earn Americans’ Trust
Americans have little faith the bipartisan congressional “super committee” will reduce the federal deficit, according to a survey released Friday. Sixty-two percent of respondents said they either trust the super committee “just a little” or “not at all” to make the right recommendations to cut the deficit, according to the poll by the Kaiser Family […]
Breast Cancer Fundraising; Treating Autism
Every week, reporter Jessica Marcy selects interesting reading from around the Web. Marie Claire: The Big Business Of Breast Cancer Though breast cancer researchers and advocates perpetually plead for more money, the disease is, in fact, awash in it. Last year, the National Institutes of Health, the nation’s top agency for health-related research, allocated $763 […]
Today’s Headlines – Sept. 22, 2011
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including reports that young adults are making gains in health coverage rates. Los Angeles Times: AARP To ‘Supercommittee’: Hands Off Social Security And Medicare AARP, which lobbies on behalf of seniors, has launched a television campaign designed to persuade members of the congressional “super committee” charged […]
Ten Questions To Ask Your Doctor
Some doctors wince when patients show up with sheafs of Internet printouts. But a good conversation between doctor and patient can make a big difference in the quality of medical care provided. Here are some tips on what to ask.
Report: Savings of $125B Possible for Coordinating Care of Dual Eligibles
The federal government could save $125 billion over ten years by requiring all people who get both Medicare and Medicaid – dual eligibles – to enroll in team-based coordinated care programs, according to a report written by Emory University’s Kenneth Thorpe and funded by America’s Health Insurance Plans. States could save $34 billion, and the […]
Nearly 1 Million Young Adults Get Insurance Under Health Law
Nearly 1 million young adults have gained health coverage this year following the passage of the health overhaul law, which lets them stay on their parents’ insurance up to age 26, according to a federal report released today. The report’s findings show the number of people getting coverage is running ahead of the administration’s estimate […]
