Latest KFF Health News Stories
Ariz. Lawmakers OK Abortion Restrictions
The measure approved by the Arizona legislature would block women from buying insurance that includes abortion coverage through the federal exchange. It also would require abortion providers to inform women they can reverse the effects of drug-induced abortions. In other state news, New York lawmakers are set to approve a bill to codify abortion rights set by the Supreme Court, and Kansas legislators approved a ban on a common second-trimester abortion procedure.
Employers Offer Record $693 Annually In Wellness Incentives Per Worker
That figure is up from $430 per employee five years ago, according to a new report. Elsewhere, high-deductible plans are examined, and Cigna forms an alliance with SCAN Health Plan to provide Medicare Advantage benefits.
Report: Most Doctors Not Flooded With New, Sicker Patients Under ACA
The notion that expanded coverage under the Affordable Care Act would overwhelm physicians has not been borne out, according to a report by athenahealth, the Watertown, Mass.-based electronic record provider.
Senate Panels In Florida, Tenn. Move Medicaid Expansion Bills
The efforts come in statehouses that have been previously opposed to the expansion. The Tennessee legislation now goes to another committee while the Florida bill will move to the full Senate.
Obama Mocks GOP Critics While Marking A Health Law Milestone
President Barack Obama celebrated the fifth anniversary of the health law by chiding its critics and saying they were wrong about their predictions of doom. He also used the occasion to focus on a plan to revamp the way providers and health systems are paid.
VA Officials To Testify About Prescription Abuse At Tomah Facility
Rep. Ron Kind, a Wisconsin Democrat, proposes regional pain management boards through the VA to avoid such abuse and a Cherokee leader asks lawmakers for more funding for Indian Health Services.
House Set To Vote Today On Plan To Scrap Medicare’s Flawed Doctor Payment Formula
The proposal, hammered out by Speaker John Boehner and Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi along with others, is attracting growing support. But its fate in the Senate is still not clear.
House Approves GOP Budget Plan; Senate To Take Up Its Version
The House GOP blueprint, which won by a 228-199 vote in spite of fiscal hawks’ protests, would dramatically change Medicare and Medicaid and create a path to repeal Obamacare. Although there are differences between this and the Senate approach, both save trillions of dollars by undoing the health law and cutting Medicaid and other safety-net programs. The budget blueprints are largely symbolic and don’t have the force of law.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Longer Looks: Abortion Clinic Protests; Sitting With Patients; The Health Law 5 Years Out
Each week, KHN’s Shefali Luthra finds interesting reads from around the Web.
Viewpoints: Congressional Deadline Crisis; Abortion Stalemate; Ted Cruz’ Insurance Plans
A selection of opinions on health care from around the country.
A selection of health policy stories from California, Texas, Minnesota, Connecticut, Louisiana, Ohio, Washington and North Carolina.
More Vets To Qualify For Private Health Care After Rule Change
Veterans who live 40 driving miles away from a VA hospital or clinic will have an easier time getting treated at private medical facilities, as the Department of Veterans Affairs plans to relax the way it calculates the distance requirement.
Insurers Scale Back Nursing Home Coverage After Costs Soar
The Baltimore Sun reports that long-term care insurance has proven to be a tough business, as four of the top five providers have scaled back their business or stopped selling new policies. Meanwhile, nurses and orderlies suffer a high rate of on-the-job injuries, but NPR reports that medical facilities and regulators aren’t doing enough to protect them.
Medicaid’s Estate Recovery Provision Makes Some Enrollees Think Twice
Federal law requires the program to charge for some services that may be billed to a beneficiary’s estate after he or she dies. It is a scenario that is giving some people pause.
Even In Nursing, Men Make More Than Women
Nine of 10 nurses are women, but a new study says that male RNs still earn more than their female counterparts. The pay gap is a little over $5,000 annually.
Humana: DOJ Queried Many Medicare Advantage Plans, Providers
The insurer said a previously disclosed government query is part of a wider review involving many health care companies. Meanwhile Health Diagnostic Laboratory nears a settlement of a federal probe and the Supreme Court rules that a lower court made it too easy for Omnicare investors to sue the company.
Improve Oversight Of Hospital Discount Drug Program, Watchdogs Say
As participation in the federal 340B drug discount program has quickly expanded, officials told lawmakers at a House hearing that new legislation may be necessary to make sure that benefits go to eligible providers and patients.
Even States That Didn’t Expand Medicaid Are Benefiting From Health Law Funds
But news from Louisiana and North Carolina also shows how advocates continue to push for the expansion of the low-income insurance program.
Health Law Worries Include Slowing Enrollment, Fewer Work Hours
The health law is also leaving its mark on new taxes for high-cost insurance plans and may be hindering government transparency. Elsewhere, a Democrat introduces legislation to repeal the medical device tax and Latinos speak about their experiences with the law.
