Latest KFF Health News Stories
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.
Hill Democrats Outline Consumer Impact If High Court Overturns Health Law’s Subsidies
The suit that the Supreme Court has agreed to consider argues that the law does not allow subsidies in states that don’t run their own online health marketplace. Florida and Georgia would be among the hardest hit states, according to the analysis by Democratic staffers on the House Energy and Commerce Committee.
Alabama Gov. Explores Block-Grant Approach To Medicaid Expansion
Gov. Robert Bentley emphasized Thursday that his administration is in the early stages of considering this approach. In other Medicaid news, members of a Wyoming state legislative panel endorsed an Indiana-style expansion plan.
Maryland Claiming Success With Its ‘Revamped’ Online Insurance Marketplace
Meanwhile, in Connecticut, ConnectiCare Benefits has claimed the largest share of new customers who enrolled in health plans via the state exchange, while MNsure officials report significant progress in signing Minnesotans up for coverage despite some difficulties with the exchange system. Also, in Florida, a conflict of interest emerges as federal officials raise concerns about a public relations firm’s effort to promote a state marketplace that doesn’t provide the health law’s subsidies.
First Edition: December 19, 2014
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Viewpoints: GOP Needs Subsidy Plan; Schumer Surprised By Reaction To His Health Law View
A selection of opinions on health care from around the country.
Longer Looks: Covering Mental Health; Doctors And Torture; Bogus Health Claims
Each week, KHN’s Shefali Luthra finds interesting reads from around the Web.
State Highlights: Patient Data Held For Ransom In Ill.; Senior Guardianship Law In Fla.
A selection of health policy highlights from Illinois, Florida, Michigan, Texas, Minnesota and New York.
Federal Grand Jury Indicts 14 People Linked To 2012 Meningitis Outbreak
The indictments were handed down against company officials, pharmacists and technicians who worked for the Massachusetts company responsible for tainted drugs that led to 64 deaths.
Vermont Gov. Drops Plan For Single-Payer Health System
After investing four years in the project, Gov. Peter Shumlin said the timing wasn’t right for a universal, publicly funded health care system in Vermont because the current state of the economy would have made the required tax increases difficult for Vermont residents and businesses to handle.
UnitedHealth, Humana Remain Medicare Advantage’s Major Players
The latest government data indicate that these insurers have more Medicare Advantage members than any others, and those numbers are likely to get even bigger when Medicare’s current open enrollment period closes.
CMS Database Will Add Industry Payments To Doctors For Medical Education Seminars
The payments will be reported on the new Open Payments database, which provides details about compensation to doctors from drugmakers and medical device companies.
