Latest KFF Health News Stories
OPM Health Database Stirs Privacy Concerns
The project, designed to aid research into costs and trends, will collect claims filed by federal workers and others. OPM says privacy will be paramount, but some advocates are worried.
Docs Not Dropping Medicare Patients Just Yet
A new survey from the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) finds doctors aren’t actually following through on threats to drop seniors from their patient rosters – at least not yet.
Big Questions About Insurance Plans With Limited Coverage
One of the bigger debates raging in health policy circles at the moment is about the value of “mini-med” plans.
Video: Congress Passes One-Month Medicare ‘Doc Fix’
As Congress resumed its lame duck session, the House passed a one-month extension of a Medicare physician payment “fix” that would stop scheduled cuts for another month. Meanwhile, the Senate rejected a repeal of the so-called “1099” tax reporting provision in the health law that requires that businesses file a form for any purchase of goods or services worth more than $600.
Caution: High Deductible Plans Might Be Bad For Your Health
Both high and low income earners forgo care when they have to pay a lot out of pocket up front. And they both get stressed out about it, says a new report.
Florida GOP Targets Individual Mandate In Health Law – Again
Florida Republican lawmakers are reviving a proposed constitutional amendment that takes aim at a major part of the federal health overhaul. The proposal, if ultimately approved by voters during the 2012 elections, is aimed at allowing Floridians to opt out of a federal requirement that they buy health insurance or face financial penalties.
Liberals Pounce On GOP Congressman Who Wants His Health Care
When a little-known GOP Congressman-elect who campaigned against the new health law demanded that the benefits of his new federal health plan start immediately, it was an irresistible opening for some.
Researchers Say Common Test For Prostate Cancer May Not Work
More bad news on the prostate cancer front: A widely used test that’s supposed to help doctors and patients predict the outcome of most prostate cancers is basically worthless.
Health On The Hill – November 22, 2010
The Department of Health and Human Services released regulations Monday dealing with the medical loss ratio, a provision in the health law that requires insurers spend at least 80 percent of premium dollars of health care. Meanwhile, before the Senate adjourned for Thanksgiving the chamber passed a one-month patch to prevent physicians who see Medicare patients from having their payments reduced. The House is expected to approve the measure on Nov. 29 when it returns from the Thanksgiving break.
Big Hospitals Dictate Premiums Using Their Clout
Hospitals are using their size and pricing clout to define premiums for people around America, like in the Sutter Health system in California, where hospital prices are among the highest in the nation.
As Hospital System Expands, Patient Advocates Worry
Sutter Health, the most expensive health system in California, is expanding at a rapid pace and transforming itself into an “accountable care organization.” Some worry about the nonprofit hospital’s growing leverage.
Berwick Pushes Quality Of Health Care, Defends Reform Law
In his first appearance before a congressional committee since becoming administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Dr. Donald Berwick told the Senate Finance Committee that the health law would help make the delivery of medical care more efficient and reduce its cost. KHN’s Mary Agnes Carey talks about the hearing.
Letter: Nursing Home Trade Association CEO Responds To Medicaid Opt Out Proposal
The 11/12 New York Times news article produced in partnership with Kaiser Health News, “Battle Lines Drawn Over Medicaid in Texas” reflects the post-election reality faced by vulnerable populations and the providers who care for them, on a variety of significant levels.
Health Law Hardly At Fault For Rising Premiums
When health insurance companies delivered the bad news this fall about next year’s premium increases, many blamed the new health overhaul law. But industry experts say that the health law accounts for only a small part of the increases.
Little-Known AMA Group Has Big Influence On Medicare Payments
Since 1991, a committee of doctors has submitted more than 7,000 recommendations to CMS on the value of physician work. The group is unknown to much of the medical profession. Yet the committee has had a powerful influence on Medicare payment rates.
If You Don’t Get The New Health Care Law, At Least You Can Laugh About It
In a new animated—and pointed—video, a health care executive sheepishly admits that he’s been too busy to read the new bill.
Transcript: Health On The Hill – October 18, 2010
Some Democrats are talking about health care in their elections in a new way: send us to Washington to fix parts of the health care bill that you don’t like. Meanwhile, oral arguments in a Virginia court case challenging the law’s requirement that individuals purchase health care insurance are proceeding in court.
When Hospital Checklists Don’t Tell The Whole Story
A new study finds that HHS’ Hospital Compare website isn’t helping Medicare beneficiaries, in need of certain high-risk surgeries, find better facilities.
How KHN Obtained Data For The California Hospital Prices Story
Kaiser Health News’ story on California’s Costliest Hospitals, months in the making, relied on data from a number of sources.
Changes Wrought By Health Reform? Well, Maybe Not
The Obama administration has issued McDonald’s (among others) a waiver on some regulations in the health law. But that hasn’t stopped the McDonald’s story from becoming propaganda in the campaign to discredit and, eventually, repeal health care reform.
