Latest KFF Health News Stories
State Roundup: Calif. Schedules Health Care Special Session; Fla. To Boost Medicaid Payment Rates
A selection of health policy stories from California, Colorado, Florida, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Oregon and Texas.
Aetna CEO: Deficit Fix Rests On Slowing Health Care Wasteful Spending
The Washington Post also offers advice on open-enrollment season for the federal employee health plan.
Online Access To Colorado Docs Linked To More Office Visits
The assumption had always been that offering patients e-mail access to their doctors and records would reduce office visits, but a new study from Kaiser Permanente of Colorado showed the opposite.
Meningitis Outbreak Could Prompt Call For Executive Jail Time
A tough prosecutor, the large number of people harmed and high public scrutiny could mean jail time for executives of the New England Compounding Center — the pharmacy at the center of the deadly meningitis outbreak. The pharmacy’s lawyers counter that the executives had no direct hand in the illnesses.
Study Predicts Shortage of Primary Care Doctors Will Worsen
The U.S. will need about 52,000 new primary-care doctors by 2025 as the population grows and ages, projects a study in the Annals of Family Medicine.
OB-GYN Group Calls For Over-The-Counter Birth Control Pills
In an opinion in their monthy journal, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists said OTC pills would help curb unintended pregnancies.
Health Law Provisions Still Unknown To Lots Of Americans
The Washington Post reports that the public is largely unaware of major changes coming. Meanwhile, the administration continues to get ready to implement the law.
‘Doc Fix’ Cost: $25 Billion For One Year, CBO Says
The Hill reports that delaying a scheduled pay cut for one year to doctors who treat Medicare patients would cost $25 billion.
Study: 40% Of Surgery Complications Occur When Patients Are Home
Meanwhile, in other hospital news, Bloomberg looks at the increasing number of emergency departments that offer online reservations.
Fiscal Cliff: Lame Duck Budget Talks Begin
News outlets report on the early negotiations among White House and congressional staff.
New Rules For ‘Obamacare’ Scrutinized By Insurers, Employers, States, Consumers
Long-awaited draft regulations offer new guidance to insurers, states and employers.
Viewpoints: Protecting Us From Counterfeit Medicines; Simpson-Bowles And The Health Law
A selection of opinions and editorials from around the country.
First Edition: November 21, 2012
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including articles about regulations for the health law released by the administration Tuesday and the road ahead on implementing the law.
HHS Releases Proposed Rules On Essential Health Benefits, Other Key Parts Of Health Law
News sources summarize new proposed rules regarding essential health benefits, employer-based wellness programs and how insurers can vary premiums based on age, tobacco use, family size and geography.
Dems Face Internal Divide On Medicare, Safety Net Questions
A split is evident on proposals to raise Medicare’s eligibility age and increase premium costs for wealthier beneficiaries as part of a ‘grand bargain’ on the deficit, according to media reports.
As HHS Gears Up For Health Exchanges, States Wrestle With Policy Choice
Oklahoma has opted not to proceed with a state-based exchange or with the Medicaid expansion, while Republican governors from Tennessee, Utah and Iowa continue to press the Department of Health and Human Services for more guidance.
40 Percent Of Vets Have Little Understanding Of Benefits Due Them
A Department of Veterans Affairs analysis found that many of America’s veterans remain unaware of benefits they’re entitled to, despite a campaign to educate them.
Federal Judge Grants Temporary Injunction In Bible Publisher’s Contraception Rule Challenge
In separate action, another judge ruled against Hobby Lobby’s effort to be exempted from the contraception mandate.
Unjustified Repeat Tests Common Among Medicare Patients
Dartmouth researchers found that up to half of older adults who had a heart, lung, stomach or bladder test had the same procedure repeated within three years despite guidelines against routine testing, leading to unnecessary costs.
Questions Continue Over State, FDA Oversight Of Specialty Pharmacies
Several news outlets analyze the hearings last week into the meningitis outbreak resulting from a New England compounding pharmacy.
