Latest KFF Health News Stories
Expensive Cities For Health Care; Mapping Medicaid
Every week, Kaiser Health News reporter Jessica Marcy selects interesting reading from around the Web. Bundle [a financial-analysis website]: The Most And Least Expensive Cities For Health Care It’s bewildering for anyone who has ever paid for a health procedure out of pocket when health insurance doesn’t cover the full cost (or when the person is uninsured […]
$9M Hospital Bill Caps Strange Tale
When Tampa General recently filed a $9.2 million claim against the estate of a penniless woman, it left itself open to criticism. But a look at Hillsborough probate court records offers perspective. They describe what one court officer described as a “very special case, very difficult.” Among other things, it provides a cautionary tale for those deciding on a health-care surrogate. Tameka Campbell, in her mid-20s when […]
New Primary Care Options Popping Up Across The Country
KHN’s “Insuring Your Health” columnist Michelle Andrews talks with Jackie Judd about convenient ways consumers are getting health care: House calls, workplace clinics and free-standing emergency rooms. And, most of the time, insurers will cover the visit.
Ga. Firm’s Blueprint For Taming Health Costs
When a company reports that its health costs have increased by an average of less than 2 percent per year over the past decade, it makes for an interesting case study.
Today’s Headlines – July 28, 2011
Good Morning! Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including reports about the ever-growing U.S. health care tab and about the petition filed by a conservative legal center to bring their health law challenge to the Supreme Court. The Washington Post: Boehner, Other GOP Leaders Ramp Up Pressure On Republicans To Pass Debt Plan […]
Medicare Part D Saves Money On Hospital Care
This story comes from our partner ‘s Shots blog. Researchers who analyzed Medicare claims before and after the addition of prescription drug coverage in 2006 found the benefit trimmed about $1,200 a year that would have been spent on care in nursing home and hospitals. The savings on medical care was calculated by comparing people […]
Thomas More Appeals Health Suit to Supremes
The first health care lawsuit that was decided by an appeals court is now at the doorstep of the Supreme Court. The Thomas More Law Center filed an appeal Wednesday with the high court asking it to overturn the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals June 29 decision upholding the constitutionality of the health law. “Review […]
Study: New Coverage Will Boost Demand For Rural Providers
The percentage of rural Americans with insurance could grow faster than those in urban areas under the federal health care overhaul law, a boon for the newly insured, but one that will put additional pressure on areas already short of doctors, a study out today says. About 5 million more rural Americans will have coverage […]
Today’s Headlines – July 27, 2011
Good morning! Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including the latest developments related to efforts to raise the debt ceiling, as well as reports about health policy news from the states. The New York Times: Vote On Boehner Plan Delayed Amid Opposition House Republican leaders were forced on Tuesday night to delay a […]
Medicare To Examine Quality Of Care At Outpatient Surgery Centers
The quality of care at outpatient surgical centers has remained a mystery even as their number has swelled to more than 5,000. But as Medicare moves toward taking quality into account in setting payments, it’s going to start looking at the rates of problems at these facilities, formally known as ambulatory surgery centers, or ASCs. […]
Today’s Headlines – July 26, 2011
Good morning! Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including reports about Washington’s debt-celing showdown, and news that the federal government will conduct health insurance rate reviews in 10 states. The Washington Post: President Obama, House Speaker Boehner Present Dueling Debt-Limit Plans To Nation As Boehner tried to rally support for his two-step plan […]
What They Said: Obama And Boehner On Debt Deal
President Barack Obama and House Speaker John Boehner on Monday night offered competing views on the state of debt talks and proposals. While neither touched heavily on overhauling entitlement spending, especially Medicare, the president mentioned it several times. Here are a pair of word clouds that show what each man said and how often.
Some Small Businesses Say Health Insurers Are Dropping Their Coverage
One in eight small businesses told the National Federation of Independent Business that since the health law passed in 2010, their health insurer had either terminated their plan or notified them it is going to be eliminated. The NFIB said it couldn’t say for certain that small businesses were losing their insurance because of the health […]
New Health Agency Asks Public “Who Are We?”
The Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute, one of the new entities created by the 2010 health law, asked the public last week to help them define the organization’s mission. The move follows the controversy that arose around comparative effectiveness and health care rationing during the 2009 health care debate, which led Congress to add a provision […]
Louisiana Medicaid Moves To Managed Care
Louisiana health officials announced Monday that five health plans won bids to manage care for 892,000 low-income Medicaid patients — a first for the state that will be worth an estimated $2.2 billion in new revenues for the companies. The announcement is the latest step in a four-year march to managed care. “This has been a long […]
Today’s Headlines – July 25, 2011
Good morning! It’s a big week for a debt ceiling deal, and we’re following it every step of the way. Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including reports on the status of efforts to reach a debt-ceiling deal. The New York Times: Rival Debt Plans Being Assembled By Party Leaders The House speaker, […]
History Shows Medicare Can Be Cut While Sparing Beneficiaries
This story comes from our partner ‘s Shots blog. Lately you’d think President Obama was threatening to push Granny off the cliff. That’s pretty much been the reaction of liberal Democrats to even the hint that the president might consider reductions in spending for Medicare as part of a deal to raise the nation’s debt […]
Medical Loss Ratio Deadline Extended For Two States
Iowa and Kentucky late Friday joined the list of states granted extra time for health insurers to meet rules requiring at least 80 percent of revenue on medical care. North Dakota’s request was rejected. That brings to five the number of state granted more time by Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius. The health […]
Restricting Medigap Coverage; Hospital-Acquired Infections
Every week, Kaiser Health News reporter Shefali S. Kulkarni compiles a selection of recently released health policy studies and briefs for Kaiser Health News’ Daily Report. This week in Research Roundup: Archives of Surgery looks at the clinical and economic burden of hospital-acquired infections. Health Affairs weighs the effects of California’s minimum nurse-to-patient ratio. Health Affairs also […]
Today’s Headlines – July 22, 2011
Good Morning and Happy Friday! Even as the debt talks continue, some news outlets explore the impact of this uncertainty on Medicare, Medicaid and state budgets. The Associated Press: Amid Debt Talks, House Budget Plan Faces Senate The Senate is moving to cast away a budget cutting plan passed by the Republican-controlled House, clearing the way […]
