Latest KFF Health News Stories
Exploring Palliative Care’s Positives And Negatives
The Los Angeles Times looks at various issues surrounding palliative care.
Modern Healthcare reports that this aspect of the concierge medicine trend is holding up well despite the economy.
VA Reviewing Millions Spent Outside The Agency On Care In Phoenix
The Arizona Republic reports that the Veterans Administration is looking into spending after noting that the system had surpassed its budget for community fee care.
Some States Limit Medicaid Hospital Coverage
States, facing budget shortfalls, look for ways to save money on their Medicaid programs, including limiting hospital stays for enrollees. Wisconsin is holding hearings on plans to alter the programs there, and California is looking at restructuring the way health care is delivered to people who qualify for both Medicare and Medicaid. Meanwhile, Stateline reports that a number of states are using new technology to run their benefits programs.
Wal-Mart Increases Premium Costs, Cuts Benefits
Costs for this employer’s most popular health coverage plan will increase to about $15 per two-week pay period. It’s current cost is $11 per pay period.
Earlier Medicare Enrollment Period Brings New Round Of Ads
Open enrollment periods for health plans also focus the spotlight on how health coverage is likely to change in 2014 when key elements of the health law take effect.
Viewpoints: Health Law Curbs Savings From OTC Meds; Calif. Wrestles With Managing Medical Marijuana
A selection of opinions on health policy from around the country.
Romney’s Next Health Policy Challenge: Medical Help For Illegal Immigrants
A new issue from the Massachusetts health law has surfaced and is now haunting GOP presidential hopeful Mitt Romney. Meanwhile, other candidates – specifically Rick Perry and Herman Cain – take on abortion issues and positions.
House To Consider Bill To Scale Back Health Law’s Medicaid Expansion
In other Medicaid news, AIDS experts worry that the current model of HIV/AIDS care could be put at risk by fiscal pressures and the changes that will occur as a result of the health law.
Though Declared Over, CLASS Act Still Draws Attention
A group of House and Senate Republican lawmakers sent a letter to Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius last week reiterating earlier criticisms of the long-term care insurance program and noting that ending the program did not completely address their concerns.
First Edition: October 24, 2011
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including speculation about how the Supreme Court might review the health law and what’s happening with the super committee.
Vets, Medicare Beneficiaries Worry About Future Health Coverage
News outlets covered protests of seniors and concern by veterans’ groups about possible increases in costs for their health insurance.
Health Care Providers Approve Of ACO Rule Revisions
Some insurers and employers complained, however, that the changes will increase the chances that providers will consolidate, which could reduce competition and drive up costs.
Eighth Circuit Hears Health Law Arguments
The Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals heard arguments Thursday regarding whether a health law legal challenge brought by two Missouri residents should be revived.
Research Roundup: Disparities In Heart Failure Improvements
This week’s reports come from the Journal of the American Medical Association, the Government Accountability Office, the Kaiser Family Foundation, the Urban Institute and the Commonwealth Fund.
JAMA Examines KFF/UNAIDS Analysis On Global HIV/AIDS Funding
A news and perspectives piece in the current issue of JAMA examines a recent funding analysis from the Kaiser Family Foundation and UNAIDS showing that “[g]overnments that support treatment and services for people with HIV/AIDS in low- and middle-income countries cut their annual contributions in 2010 by 10 percent,” spending $6.9 billion last year compared with $7.6 billion in 2009. The article quotes Bernhard Schwartlander, the UNAIDS director for evidence, strategy, and results; Drew Altman, president and CEO of the Kaiser Family Foundation; and Sharonann Lynch, HIV/AIDS policy adviser with the Campaign for Access to Essential Medicines of Medecins Sans Frontieres (Voelker, 10/19).
Learning About Politics In The Midst Of Screening Recommendations
The recent recommendation by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force that women get less frequent screenings for cervical cancer demonstrated a remarkably different response than other such recommendations.
Health Costs Continue Upward Trend
MarketWatch reports that an index tracking health care costs rose for the fourth time in a row. Meanwhile, McClatchy reports that disability benefits are on a financially unsustainable path. Finally, NPR offers advice for handling health expenses during one’s golden years.
State News: Wis. Insurance Savings; N.Y. Major Hospital Merger Possible
A selection of health care stories from Minnesota, New York, California, Vermont, Texas, Maryland, Iowa and Kansas.
