Latest KFF Health News Stories
New Medicare Payment Data Expose Doctors And Hospital Reimbursement Patterns
The Wall Street Journal digs into the trove of Medicare billing data just released by CMS and in a variety of stories reports on a California doctor’s heavy billing for an unusual procedure, a “self-referral” loophole, a Florida oncology group that submitted high bills for a discredited cancer drug, and a Virginia lab that pays doctors per blood test submitted. A Bloomberg report focuses on the high rate of bacterial infection billed by hospitals to Medicare.
Fla. Senate Approves Medicaid Expansion But Adds Provisions Seeking To Gain House Support
The measure, prompted by a cut in federal funding to hospitals that serve large numbers of poor and uninsured patients, would allow up to 800,000 people to gain coverage. The House and governor remain opposed.
House Conservatives Hint They Might Agree To Extending Subsidies Temporarily
With the Supreme Court set to rule later this month on a challenge that could invalidate health insurance subsidies for millions of people, conservative Republicans are hinting they might support a short-term extension as part of a contingency plan. Other stories look at how the justices might weigh the loss of insurance to so many people.
Pennsylvania, Delaware Take Steps Toward Running Their Own Health Exchanges
Both states are using the Obamacare federal marketplace and their actions are viewed as “contingency” plans that would shield residents from potential loss of insurance subsidies if the Supreme Court strikes them down in the upcoming King V. Burwell decision.
Sticker Shock: Insurers Lay Out Obamacare Rate Request Increases For The Coming Year
Under the health law, insurance companies are required to make public their plans for rate increases that exceed 10 percent. News outlets in New York, Montana, Minnesota and Missouri report on possible rate changes.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Viewpoints: Assessing Rate Increase Requests; GOP’s Lack Of Contingency On Subsidies
A selection of opinions on health care from around the country.
News outlets report on health issues from West Virginia, D.C., Maryland, North Carolina, Connecticut, Florida, California, New Hampshire, Kansas, Indiana, New Mexico, Texas, Wyoming and Pennsylvania.
New Rule Makes States, Local Governments Show Retiree Costs On Books
New rules approved by the Governmental Accounting Standards Board will require states and municipalities to disclose the cost of health insurance and other benefits, besides pensions, in their financial statements, rather than in the footnotes.
Calif. Senate OKs Measure To Ease Undocumented Immigrants’ Access To Health Insurance
The hotly debated measure, which will now be considered by the state assembly, would allow — pending a federal waiver — undocumented immigrants to purchase health insurance on the state exchange.
Screenings Suggest Rising Drug Use Among U.S. Workers
The share of employees testing positive for drug traces from marijuana to prescription opiates is increasing, according to screening data from Quest Diagnostics Inc. Meanwhile, the nation’s biggest tobacco companies drop their lawsuit against the FDA over a labeling dispute after the agency agrees to review its policy.
To Fight Superbugs, FDA Issues Guidelines For Antibiotic Use In Farm Animals
The Obama administration is taking steps to limit the antibiotics used for both animals and humans. The Food and Drug Administration announced the change at a White House forum focused on combating drug-resistant bacteria.
A Court Designed To Protect Patients — And Vaccine Makers
NPR looks at the no-fault compensation program established in 1986 after a series of big lawsuits against vaccine makers. The goal was to make the legal process more efficient for litigants, while ensuring that manufacturers continue to supply the shots. Meanwhile, a study suggests that even with special training, doctors struggled to convince vaccine-resistant families to inoculate their children.
CMS Study Highlights High Cost Of Cancer Drugs
The information compared cancer drug costs and other services provided by oncologists. Also in the news, the CEO of AstraZeneca said his company would be open to acquiring a startup company called Juno that is developing an immune therapy drug.
Bets On Health Care Paying Off For Investors
Despite high prices, shares of health care companies continue to soar. Elsewhere, an investor wins an arbitration award against UBS, the feds crack down on Medicare Advantage fraud and health insurer Anthem is offering workers free college tuition to entice new employees.
House Committee Advances Bills To Repeal Medical Device Tax, Medicare Cost Panel
The House Ways and Means Committee voted Tuesday to repeal two parts of the Affordable Care Act — the tax on medical devicemakers and the Independent Payment Advisory Board, a yet-to-be-established panel tasked with proposing ways to reduce Medicare spending. The bills are slated to be considered by the full House the week of June 15.
Report: Blue-State Hospitals May Not See Predicted Medicaid Expansion Boost
The Wall Street Journal reports that the operating margins of these hospitals may not be improving as a result of this health law provision. Meanwhile, the Kansas Health Institute has an update on the expansion debate in Kansas.
Higher Rate Requests Come As Insurers Wrestle With Effects Of Health Law
The Obama administration released a list of insurers seeking to raise premiums more than 10 percent. Insurers are using their first full year of experience in the new Obamacare market to set prices.
Beyond King V. Burwell … A Look At Another Legal Challenge To Obamacare
CNN reports on the pending lawsuit brought by House Republicans against the Obama administration. Meanwhile, other news outlets preview how the Supreme Court’s decision in King v. Burwell could shake out, including possible state contingency plans and various other political and policy issues.
More Than 10M People Paying Their Premiums For Health Law Policies, HHS Announces
The report shows how many people signed up for insurance under the health law and have kept those policies active by paying their premiums. The number is down from the nearly 12 million who signed up by February but it is still well above the administration’s goal of 9.1 million customers.
