Latest KFF Health News Stories
Rep. Issa Subpoenas HHS Records On Medicare Advantage Program
Republicans have suggested that a demonstration project providing more funding to the program is helping to cover up the cuts from the health law. The administration provided 1,300 pages of documents to Issa last week.
State Roundup: Wis. Judge Keeps Law Barring Most Collective Bargaining On Shelf
A selection of health policy stories from Wisconsin, Mississippi, the District of Columbia, Nevada, New York, Florida and Oregon.
A selection of editorials and opinions on health care from around the country.
Meningitis Outbreak Linked To Compounding Has Long History
News outlets report that the FDA released a list of customers – including some major hospitals – of the New England Compounding Center. But the FDA later “found technical problems” and withdrew the list, promising to repost it as soon as the data are corrected.
First Edition: October 23, 2012
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including reports from the campaign trail as well as the latest news about current meningitis outbreak.
In Campaign’s Home Stretch, Presidential Candidates Launch Ads On Women’s Health Issues
President Barack Obama and GOP presidential hopeful Mitt Romney continue to fight for women’s votes, which are considered key to winning the election. Medicare also figures prominently in strategies for the last two weeks of the campaign.
Democrats And Republicans See Medicare Issue Working To Their Advantage
Regardless of who emerges as the victor, the Medicare debate makes it likely that changes will be made to the program in the future, according to The Associated Press. Also, Kaiser Health News examines how Medicare policies are playing among Reagan Democrats.
Are Some Factors Related To Readmissions Beyond Hospitals’ Control?
Reuters reports on a “fresh look at past research” that finds several non-medical variables may be central to how some patients do once they are discharged from the hospital.
States Facing, Making Health Law Decisions That Could All Change Post-Election
While next month’s election will likely affect how states implement the health law’s insurance exchange and Medicaid expansion provisions, state legislators are facing — and making — decisions on them now.
Federal Judge Blocks Ariz. Law Stopping State Money For Planned Parenthood
A federal judge in Arizona has issued an injunction barring Arizona from enforcing a law that halts state money from flowing to Planned Parenthood, saying the women’s health provider’s challenge will likely succeed on a “freedom-of-choice” provision in Medicaid.
Large Companies Eye On-Site Health Clinics To Lower Health Costs, Boost Employee Productivity
The Washington Post reports on how some companies are finding on-site clinics to be a tool to reduce health care costs.
House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman Darrell Issa, R-Calif., will subpoena internal documents from the Department of Health and Human Services related to Medicare Advantage pilot projects. Meanwhile, Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, continues to question HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius about the federal operation of health exchanges.
A selection of editorials and opinions on health care from around the country.
Implementation Update: What Health Law Changes Will Be Evident In 2013
The Wall Street Journal reports on how the 2010 health law might impact consumers’ health coverage in 2013. In addition, CQ HealthBeat examines what might become of insurance exchanges if GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney wins the election.
State Roundup: High Hopes For Co-Ops In Calif.
A selection of health policy news from Oregon, California, Wisconsin and North Carolina.
Senate Control, Congressional And State Outcomes Tied To Presidential Contest
In many battleground states, Senate contests are tracking closely with the tight presidential race. News outlets are also reporting on how the federal health law is emerging as an important issue in the Massachusetts Senate campaign and the New Hampshire governor’s contest.
Medicare’s Policy On Compounded Drugs Under Scrutiny
The Associated Press reports on the role Medicare plays in national drug purchasing and how that affected the use of compounding pharmacies. The Washington Post finds the “race is on” to sign up clients for lawsuits.
First Edition: October 22, 2012
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including the latest reports about how health policies are playing on the campaign trail as candidates move into the home stretch.
Congressman’s Comments On Abortion Set Off Dispute With Medical Experts
Rep. Joe Walsh, R-Ill., said after a debate Thursday that abortion is never necessary to save the life of the mother. Women’s groups and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists quickly blasted his comments.
Florida Is Key Battleground In Presidential Contest
A recent poll shows GOP presidential hopeful Mitt Romney doing well among key groups in the Sunshine State, including with older voters, which is considered notable because of his proposal to overhaul Medicare. Meanwhile, on the campaign trail, President Barack Obama continues to offer warnings regarding GOP challenger Mitt Romney’s positions on abortion and women’s health issues.
