Latest KFF Health News Stories
A selection of health policy stories from Virginia, Colorado, Texas, North Carolina and D.C.
Vermont’s Failure To Create New Health System Disappoints Single-Payer Fans Around The US
Although officials in Gov. Peter Shumlin’s administration say they want to implement some less ambitious parts of the plan, many advocates of a single-payer health system fear the Vermont effort may have set back their cause.
Hospital News: A Stepped-Up Focus On Antibiotic Resistance
In addition, Modern Healthcare reports on the debate over whether programs to encourage efficiency and prevent hospital readmissions are helping control health care costs.
Obama Signs Bill Allowing People With Disabilities To Open Tax-Free Savings Accounts
The accounts will allow those with disabilities to save for long-term health, housing and other needs.
Military Hospital Workers Often Fear Reprisal For Speaking Up
The New York Times details how at these hospitals, whistleblowing is sometimes met with punishment. Elsewhere, homeless and struggling veterans in California get access to medical care and other services.
Questions Arise Over Private Medicaid Plans
In Florida, some question whether Medicaid managed care is the right solution. North Carolina continues to explore Medicaid expansion. In Texas, Gov. Perry fires officials over a Medicaid contract.
Cindy Mann, Top Medicaid Official, To Step Down After 5 Years
Since taking the helm in 2009, Cindy Mann, deputy administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, has overseen historic expansions of both Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP).
New Hep C Treatment Competes With Costly Gilead Drugs
The largest manager of U.S. prescription drug benefits, Express Scripts, announced that it would require all patients to use AbbVie’s newly approved hepatitis C treatment rather than two costly regimens made by rival Gilead Sciences.
Skipping The Mortgage To Pay For Prescription Drugs
Bloomberg News explores the impact of prescription drugs that cost $50,000 a year or more. Other outlets examine how Latinos and African-Americans struggle with access to care because of cultural and language barriers. And NPR profiles one family’s battle to get their child access to an experimental drug.
Governments Push Consumers To Sign Up For Health Insurance
News outlets examine how the federal government, Minnesota, California, Oregon and Massachusetts are working to get people who don’t have a plan from work to enroll on the insurance exchanges.
Patient Groups Ask HHS To Redefine Insurance Discrimination
The coalition of 279 patient groups wants more safeguards for consumers and language that would prohibit specific practices by insurance companies. In other news about implementation of the health law, another look at a possible strategy for Republicans opposed to the overhaul and a study about low-cost plans.
First Edition: December 22, 2014
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Viewpoints: Medicaid Surges — In States That Didn’t Expand The Program; Mumps In The NHL
A selection of opinions on health care from around the country.
Research Roundup: Lowering Premiums; Basic Health Program Options; Slowdown In Medicare Spending
Each week, KHN compiles a selection of recently released health policy studies and briefs.
State Highlights: Alabama’s Medicaid Overhaul; End-Of-Life Counseling Mandate In Mass.
A selection of health policy stories from Alabama, Massachusetts, Vermont, Maryland, Missouri, Arizona, Oregon, Kansas, New Jersey and North Carolina.
Aetna’s Rate Increase For Calif. Small Business Insurance Plans Is Too Much, Says Commissioner
Based on filings, Aetna’s small business rates are “excessive and unreasonable” for plans taking effect Jan. 1, said state insurance commissioner David Jones.
HHS Partnering With Pharmacies To Promote Obamacare Plans
Elsewhere, a lawsuit accuses Gilead of price gouging consumers in regard to its hepatitis C drug Sovaldi.
Poll Finds Many Americans Think Paying For Health Care Is A Hardship
A New York Times/CBS poll examines the lengths many people must go to when trying to pay their medical bills. Also, NPR and ProPublica look at a nonprofit hospital in Missouri that has turned to lawsuits against patients who don’t or can’t pay their bills.
Medicare Cuts Payments To Hospitals With High Rates Of Problems That Harm Patients
The hospital-acquired condition penalties, which will total $373 million, are new this year.
