Latest KFF Health News Stories
First Edition: February 4, 2013
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including reports about the Obama administration’s effort to advance a compromise on its birth control coverage mandate.
It is unclear whether the rule will address the concerns of a number of religious nonprofits that have filed legal challenges to the health law’s birth control coverage mandate. KHN has tracked the afternoon news coverage.
Survey: Few States Have Laws To Enforce Consumer Protections
A report by the Commonwealth Fund finds that 39 states do not have measures to allow officials to enforce some key insurance regulations from the federal health law.
Debate About Health Law’s Medicaid Expansion Is Hot Topic In State Capitols
Lawmakers, officials and health advocates continue to press their policy positions on the pros and cons of expanding the Medicaid program.
CMS OKs Applications For Bundled Payment Initiative
The initiative is designed to test whether this payment model will lower costs without undermining the quality of care.
State Highlights: Milwaukee County Board Considers Dropping Employee Coverage
A selection of health policy stories from California, New York, Texas, Minnesota, Florida and Wisconsin.
Experts Contemplate Whether Medicare Should Pay For Alzheimer’s Test
Also in the news, AstraZeneca and Bristol-Myers Squibb step up their diabetes-drug partnership.
Health Law Counts New Allies, All-Time High Support In Calif.
The battle to win American hearts when it comes to supporting the health law continues as a new organization takes hold, a ranking lawmaker reiterates his intent to defend it and the law finds all-time high support in California.
Mental Health Efforts In Gun Debate Are Raising Concerns
Some advocates worry that a new focus on mental health issues could lead to unfair assumptions about patients and could keep them from seeking help.
Battles Over Availability and Coverage Of Abortion Move To States
States are the arena for new abortion battles — both the fight over their availability and coverage of them by state and private insurance. In the meantime, new legistation on the procedure is winding through the Washington state and Arkansas legislatures.
Sperling: Obama 2014 Budget Won’t Cut Medicaid
White House economics adviser Gene Sperling also told a gathering at a conference sponsored by Families USA that GOP efforts to transform the program into a block grant would be an “attack.”
Ark., Ga. Latest To Ponder Medicaid Budget Shortfalls, Solutions
Also, an audit of North Carolina’s Medicaid program has the governor there calling the system “broken.”
Facing A ‘Transition Year,’ Aetna’s Fourth-Quarter Profits Are Halved
The insurer’s net income sank 49 percent as higher medical costs squeezed the profit margin for the insurer’s commercial health coverage.
Overbilling And Out-Of-Network Care Contribute To Marketplace Tension
News outlets examine what providers charge for surgical care.
A selection of editorials and opinions on health care from around the country.
Health Sector Emerges As Major New Jobs Creator
According to the National Journal, the health care industry is responsible for a large proportion of the new jobs that have been created since the recession hit in late 2007.
Research Roundup: Concerns About Ambulance Diversions
This week’s studies come from the Annals of Emergency Medicine, The Kaiser Family Foundation, Health Affairs, the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, the American Journal of Psychiatry and other news sources.
First Edition: February 1, 2013
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including reports about state level action regarding health law and consumer protections.
Eligibility For Health Insurance Subsidies Narrower Than Many Consumer Groups Had Hoped
A final rule, released Wednesday, set out a strict definition of affordable health insurance that will prevent many families with modest incomes from obtaining federal financial assistance.
Ohio Might Join Ranks Of Red States Opting For Medicaid Expansion
John Kasich, the state’s Republican governor, hints to The Cincinnati Enquirer that he might call for this step in his two-year budget plan, expected to be released in the next few days.
