Latest KFF Health News Stories
First Edition: February 4, 2015
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Viewpoints: Obama’s Budget And Entitlements; A Guide To Health Law Case At The Supreme Court
A selection of opinions on health care from around the country.
Editorials And Columnists Decry Some Parents’ Decision To Forego Vaccinations
The measles outbreak brings some withering criticism of people who opt to let their kids go without immunizations–and some comment on N.J. Gov. Chris Christie’s response to the situation.
A selection of health policy stories from Ohio, California, New Jersey, Virginia, Mississippi, Maryland, Iowa, North Carolina and New Mexico.
Doctors Split On New Medicare Payment Reforms That Pay For Quality
Also, The Fiscal Times takes a deeper look at how the proposal to shift paying for quality in the big health care program could affect consumers. Elsewhere, some call for more robust side effects reporting for pharmaceuticals.
Insurers See Continued Membership Growth Under Obamacare
Aetna said its membership stood at 23.5 million at the end of 2014, a 6 percent increase. Meanwhile, Centene’s quarterly profit more than doubled as it added Medicaid members.
As Measles Count Grows, Mandatory Vaccinations Become Part Of Political Debate
N.J. Gov. Chris Christie and Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., both possible GOP candidates for president in 2016, jumped into the emotional discussion about whether vaccines should be mandatory.
GOP Lawmakers Ready Latest Obamacare Repeal Effort
Bills to repeal the Affordable Care Act have been introduced in both chambers of Congress, but the House version would delay a repeal for six months so lawmakers could come up with a replacement. President Barack Obama says he would veto such any such measure.
They Didn’t Want To … But Some GOP Governors Warm To Medicaid Expansion
Still, cost concerns and other political pressures continue to be in play. Here’s the latest on Medicaid expansion debates in Tennessee, Montana, Illinois, Ohio and Kansas.
With Enrollment Deadline Looming, Obama To Renew His Arguments For The Health Law
Elsewhere, Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Programs have added 10.1 million to their rolls since Obamacare enrollment began in 2013.
Obama Budget Gives Boost To Medical Innovation
The Obama administration budget blueprint included $215 million for a new Precision Medicine Initiative, as well as other investments to safeguard the nation’s food supply and to address prescription drug abuse.
Budget Changes To Medicare, HHS Programs Would Garner $399 Billion In 10 Years
President Barack Obama’s budget request includes proposals that would increase spending for some Medicare beneficiaries, including co-payments for new Medicare beneficiaries who receive home health care services and a surcharge on premiums for new beneficiaries who buy private insurance to supplement Medicare. The budget also calls on the federal government to use its buying power to negotiate drug prices.
Obama Fiscal Blueprint Highlights Liberal Priorities, Draws GOP Criticism
News reports note that President Barack Obama’s budget proposal outlines a set of goals that could help shape the 2016 presidential election debate.
First Edition: February 3, 2015
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Viewpoints: ‘Lunacy’ In Vaccine Views; Jindal Blasts Some Health Law Replacement Efforts
A selection of opinions on health care from around the country.
A selection of health policy stories from California, Hawaii, Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota and Virginia.
Efforts To Contain Measles Outbreak Involve Infection Control Expertise And Detective Work
Health officials work to track measles patients in order to identify people who may have come into contact with them and therefore may be at risk. In some cases, parents are being advised to keep babies who may have been exposed at home for 21 days. Meanwhile, parents who have opted not to vaccinate their children are defending this choice.
HHS Pushes Information Sharing For Electronic Health Record Systems
The Obama administration released a draft plan requiring most providers to adhere to information-sharing standards by the end of 2017. Meanwhile, a report by congressional staffers contends that companies such as Google, Twitter and Yahoo are grabbing data from consumers when they use healthcare.gov.
Administration’s Pledge To Pay For ‘Quality’ Health Care Faces Obstacles
Much of the success of the federal effort will revolve around the difficult issues of the definition of quality and how it is measured. Also, as it moves forward in its push for better care, Medicare will continue to publish yearly physician payment data.
Making Too Much For Medicaid, Some Choose More Work To Get Subsidies
A quirk of the health law sometimes means people who make too much money to qualify for Medicaid also make too little to qualify for federal insurance subsidies. Also in the news coverage about the law, at the White House, worries build over Americans’ health law anger during tax season.
