Latest KFF Health News Stories
Iowa Telemedicine Abortion Ban Stands After Ruling
Planned Parenthood of the Heartland had claimed the ban was meant to limit abortions for women who live in rural areas.
Advocates Decry Closing Of Mental Health Clinics In Chicago
But officials say the closings, which planned to shutter six of the city’s 12 mental health clinics, actually expanded care for those with mental illnesses.
Big Support For Insurance Rate Regulation Measure In California
A proposal to randomly drug test doctors and increase the limit on medical malpractice lawsuit awards also has a strong show of support in the poll.
A selection of editorials and opinions on health care from around the country.
State Highlights: Mass. Insurers Press On Medicaid Pay
A selection of health policy stories from the District of Columbia, California, Massachusetts and Minnesota.
First Edition: August 20, 2014
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including a report from California that Anthem Blue Cross is being sued again regarding its narrow-network health plans as well as a prediction from Maryland officials regarding the state’s online insurance marketplace.
Chinese Cyberattack Steals 4.5 Million Patients’ Data From Hospital Records
Tennessee-based Community Health Systems, which runs 206 hospitals in 29 states, says no medical information was exposed, however.
White House Won’t Turn Over Security Info For Healthcare.gov
The Obama administration rejects a request from The Associated Press, saying the information could be used by hackers to break into people’s accounts.
Amid Tumult And Turmoil, Health Care Sector Expected To Show Revenue Growth
The Wall Street Journal reports on how health care firms are currently faring in the marketplace.
Poll Shows California Voters’ Health Law Support Improving
News outlets in California, Connecticut and Oregon examine issues related to the health law and how voters are viewing it — including how the overhaul has impacted the cost of coverage as well as uninsured and poverty rates.
GOP Ad Strategy On Health Law Shifts In Senate Races
Some Republican strategists say the health overhaul is losing its punch, Bloomberg reports. In other political news, the American Hospital Association reports that it gave $3.3 million to state affiliates to lobby local officials on Medicaid expansion.
Alaska Challenge: Signing Up Those Entitled To Free Care
The Washington Post explores the difficulties of enrolling Native Americans in coverage when they are exempt from the health law’s mandate and get free care. Other stories look at the still scanty evidence that medical homes are more efficient, and how thousands of consumers eligible to sign up for coverage before the next enrollment period because they changed jobs, gave birth, gained citizenship or got married.
Illinois Took Federal Medicaid Money It Couldn’t Repay, Audit Says
Elsewhere, an auditor in Louisiana questions data the governor’s office has provided on the outlook of the state’s Medicaid privatization efforts, and Florida pediatricians could soon see higher Medicaid payments.
State Highlights: Messy Health Care Divorce In Pittsburgh
A selection of health policy stories from Pennsylvania, Kansas, Massachusetts, Texas, Georgia and California.
Viewpoints: New Debate On Shrinkage In Health Enrollments; ‘Mad Medicine’ On Generics
A selection of editorials and opinions on health care from around the country.
First Edition: August 19, 2014
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including stories about a how a hospital system’s data was hacked, involving as many as 4.5 million patients’ records.
House GOP Focuses On Administration Official’s Instruction To Delete Email
House Republicans are pointing fingers at Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Administrator Marilyn Tavenner’s direction to delete an email related to the health law’s troubled launch.
Consumer Groups: Chronically Ill Still Face Insurer Discrimination
Patient advocacy groups are complaining to federal officials that some insurers’ policies, such as the high prices charged for certain drugs, “are highly discriminatory against people with chronic health conditions.” Other stories look at whether the health law has helped young people get mental health treatment and how hospitals are rethinking their charity policies.
Rocky Rollout Of ACA Benefits For Oregon’s Developmentally Disabled
Many developmentally disabled Oregonians qualify for more money to cover services at home under the Affordable Care Act, but families say there aren’t enough providers to go around. Meanwhile, consumer advocacy groups in North Carolina look for people who qualify for Obamacare and don’t know it. And Connecticut reports a 55 percent increase in the size of its individual insurance market.
GOP Senate Candidate Seeks Wider Birth Control Access And End To Charges Of War On Women
Rep. Cory Gardner is the first Republican candidate to talk up a new Republican idea of making birth control available over the counter.
