Latest KFF Health News Stories
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including analysis and speculation surrounding the Supreme Court’s health law ruling, which could come as early as today.
Jarrett Says White House Will Be Prepared If Court Strikes Health Law
Key Obama adviser acknowledges that the administration was out-manuevered by opponents but says they “distorted what we were doing.”
GOP Weekly Address Blasts Health Law
Rep. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana promises that if the Supreme Court upholds the law, Republicans will continue to fight to repeal the law.
Likely ‘Decision Day’ Moves To Next Week
Indications are the Supreme Court’s much-anticipated ruling on the health law may come on Wednesday or Thursday. However, the court is also scheduled to hand down decisions on Monday.
High Court’s Health Law Ruling Likely To Renew Debate On Range Of Issues
News outlets report on what’s at stake in terms of politics and policies when the Supreme Court issues its health law decision.
Study: 5.6M New Health Care Jobs By 2020
A new Georgetown University study says the health care sector will create 5.6 million new jobs by 2020, but most of them will require special education and training, leaving many unemployed workers out in the cold.
Abbott Challenges Copies Of Its Biologic Drugs
Drugmaker Abbott is challenging the manufacture of copies of its biologic drugs, including the potential world’s number one selling drug this year, Humira.
Calif. Budget Cuts Will Move 880,000 Kids To Medi-Cal Managed Care
Among a series of budget cuts to help California Gov. Jerry Brown close that state’s budget deficit is a cut to a health care program for 880,000 low-income kids, who will be shifted to Medi-Cal after the state shutters its “Healthy Families” program.
The Health Law On The Campaign Trail
As the White House prepares for the upcoming high court health law ruling, President Barack Obama heads out to speak to Latino leaders. He is likely to speak about the overhaul — a day after GOP presidential hopeful Mitt Romney pledged that he would do away with it.
Some organizations, such as Dick Armey’s FreedomWorks, are preparing to celebrate if the Supreme Court finds the health law unconstitutional. Meanwhile, the National Federation of Independent Business, which is one of the law’s challengers, is working on very official and strategic responses. Insurers are working on their images.
Ill. Gov. Signs Bill Requiring Retired State Workers To Pay Health Premiums
Retired public employees will now have to chip in for the cost of their health insurance — on a scale based on their income — after Gov. Pat Quinn approved legislation Thursday.
Hospital Collection Company Criticized For Failing To Turn Over Records To Congress
Democratic Reps. Henry Waxman and Diana DeGette press Accretive for documents related to its debt collection practices, which resulted in a lawsuit against the company by the Minnesota attorney general.
Planned Spending Cuts Would Hit Some Discretionary Health Programs
While programs like Medicare and Medicaid are virtually untouched by the cuts designed to reduce the deficit, other scheduled trims to the budget will have significant reach. Meanwhile, Democrats find an unlikely ally in their opposition to the GOP Medicare plan.
State News: Conn. Taps Former Mass. Official For Health Exchange
News outlets report on health developments in California, Connecticut, Kansas, Massachusetts, New York and Oregon.
Medicaid Highlights: Calif. Readies Expansion To Foster Youths
State Medicaid news includes discussions around the expansion of Medicaid in California both for the general public who need assistance and for youth in foster care. Additionally, Oregon is close to finalizing its waiver request with the federal government to move forward with its own reforms in the program.
Boehner: Don’t Gloat If Supreme Court Strikes Health Law Down
House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, has told fellow Republicans in a memo released Thursday to avoid “spiking the ball” if the Supreme Court strikes down the health law.
HHS Says Health Insurers Will Pay Beneficiaries $1.1 Billion In Rebates
Under the health law, insurance companies must use at least 80 percent of premiums on medical care. Any excess is owed back to customers.
Research Roundup: Helping The Homeless Transition Out Of The Hospital
This week’s studies come from the Journal of General Internal Medicine, The Urban Institute, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, The Kaiser Family Foundation and other news outlets.
Longer Looks: Alzheimer’s Researcher Turns To Drug She Helped Invent
This week’s selections include articles from The Atlantic, Mother Jones, The New Yorker and Slate.
A selection of editorials and opinions on health care policy from around the country.
