Latest KFF Health News Stories
Assessing Health Law’s Impact At Five Years
The nation’s uninsured dropped by 11 million, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, while others note record slow growth in health care spending. But some experts raise questions about whether new models to pay doctors and hospitals will control costs.
The Push Is On For A ‘Doc Fix’ As Budget Issues Swirl In The Background
A House measure to address permanently the formula used to determine Medicare physician payments has taken shape, but its future is clouded by abortion issues and how it will be paid for. Meanwhile, GOP lawmakers are also attempting to advance budget resolutions in the House and Senate.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
A selection of opinions on health care from around the country.
A selection of health policy stories from Florida, Wisconsin, Texas, California, Washington, Minnesota, Kansas, North Carolina and Indiana.
Gilead Warns Over Heart Drug After Patient Problems
The drug maker says nine patients who were taking its hepatitis C drugs in tandem with amiodarone, a heart drug, developed slow heartbeats, and one died from cardiac arrest. Elsewhere, Biogen’s Alzheimer’s drug shows promise in slowing the disease.
Tenet Nearing Deal To Buy United Surgical
A deal between the companies, which could be valued at more than $2.5 billion, including debt, might be announced as early as Monday, the Wall Street Journal reports. Other stories analyze the move away from fee-for-service medicine and whether it will improve quality of care, as proponents argue, and the evolution to today’s complex hospital bill.
Big Tax Surprises For Some Obamacare Enrollees
The complicated nature of who qualifies for tax subsidies has Americans — and small businesses — struggling to cope with how the health law fits into their tax bills this year, even as many choose to pay a tax penalty instead of carry coverage. Elsewhere, officials are sending out corrected tax forms for Obamacare enrollees.
Health Law Brings 11 Million People Into Medicaid Or CHIP
The gains in the two programs designed for low-income residents have been growing since new insurance enrollment began under the health law in 2013, the administration says.
Diabetes Care Improves For Low-Income Patients With Medicaid Expansion, Study Finds
The study, which was done by Quest Diagnostics, analyzed lab test results in 50 states from the company’s database over two six-month periods. In states that expanded Medicaid, the number of enrollees with newly identified diabetes increased 23 percent in the first six months of 2014 compared with 0.4 percent in the states that did not expand the low-income health insurance program.
Taking Stock Of The ACA On Its Fifth Anniversary
President Barack Obama signed the health law on March 23, 2010 amid applause and fanfare. But since then, its existence has been tortured — with continued repeal efforts by congressional Republicans, fits and starts in the marketplace and court challenges. News outlets take inventory of how the law has played out.
Federal Officials Ready Charges Against Sen. Robert Menendez
The New Jersey senator has been under investigation by the FBI for more than two years for corruption. He is suspected of receiving gifts from a Florida eye surgeon and, in turn, helping the physician with business interests and Medicare billing issues. News outlets report, though, that as this case goes forward it is being haunted by a 2008 investigation involving another senator.
GOP Budgets Highlight Views Of Medicare, Medicaid
But the difference between House and Senate Republicans’ versions could heighten tensions. In the meantime, the Obama administration pushes the GOP to detail how it would make the cuts.
Abortion Issue Threatens To Snag ‘Doc Fix’ Progress
Some people are questioning whether the community health center funding in the House bill that seeks to replace Medicare’s payment system for doctors will be compromised because of abortion restrictions. The politically charged issue has already held up progress in the Senate on a measure to fight human trafficking.
House Vote Likely This Week On Medicare ‘Doc Fix’ Legislation
The measure, which has been hammered out by House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, and Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., would revamp how Medicare pays doctors and includes an extension of the Children’s Health Insurance Program. However, the path forward is not necessarily going to be a smooth one.
In 2015, Health Care Data Is Hacking Target
The Washington Post reports that this type of data breach is on the upswing. The health care information of more than 120 million people has been compromised since 2009, and this year’s major incidents are reasons to look carefully at the issue. ProPublica reports on the office at the Department of Health and Human Services that examines these complaints. Meanwhile, insurance regulators in Washington state and Alaska are digging into the cyberattack on Premera Blue Cross, which was reported last week.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
A selection of opinions on health care from around the country.
Research Roundup: Exchange Premiums; Altering Doctor Practices; Workers’ Preferences
Each week, KHN compiles a selection of recently released health policy studies and briefs.
A selection of health policy stories from D.C., Delaware, Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, New York, New Jersey, Georgia, Maryland, Kansas and North Carolina.
