Some Plans Deny Pregnancy Coverage For Dependent Children
By Michelle Andrews
August 6, 2012
KFF Health News Original
Although group health plans must cover workers or their spouses if they become pregnant, they don’t have to extend that insurance to children.
Today’s Headlines – Oct. 4, 2012
By Stephanie Stapleton
October 4, 2012
KFF Health News Original
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including highlights, analysis and fact-checking from last night’s presidential debate. The Associated Press/Washington Post: Romney, Obama Tangle Over Health Care Reform Law In First Presidential Debate Republican Mitt Romney is vowing to repeal President Barack Obama’s health care law, saying it adds costs to the health […]
Women’s Health: Advocates Seek New Plan B Consideration; Texas Lawmakers Find Planned Parenthood Decision Is Costly
December 7, 2012
Morning Briefing
NPR notes that some backers of the “morning after” pill hope to get HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius’ to review her year-old decision to not to lift the age restrictions on the drug. The Texas Tribune also finds that legislators there are coming to grips with the cost of more than 20,000 babies expected because of the lack of state-subsidized birth control.
FAQ: Obama v. Ryan On Controlling Federal Medicare Spending
By Marilyn Werber Serafini
August 29, 2012
KFF Health News Original
Here are some questions and answers about the Democratic and Republican approaches to moderating spending on the popular program, which covers 47 million seniors and disabled people.
Today’s Headlines – August 15, 2012
By Stephanie Stapleton
August 15, 2012
KFF Health News Original
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including reports that Medicaid is joining Medicare in the presidential campaign’s issue spotlight. The Washington Post: Medicaid Shapes Up As Major Battleground Mitt Romney’s choice of Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) as his running mate has reignited a debate over the future of Medicare. But Ryan’s proposed […]
Lots of ‘C’s As Hospitals Get Graded For Patient Safety
By Jordan Rau
June 6, 2012
KFF Health News Original
The cities of New York and Los Angeles grade their restaurants on cleanliness and the precautions they take to avoid making customers sick. Now hospitals are getting similar assessments for their patient safety records from the Leapfrog Group, a nonprofit devoted to patient safety. For 2,651 hospitals, Leapfrog created a single letter grade out of […]
Court Challenge Could Result In Medicaid Cutbacks Instead Of Expansion
By Phil Galewitz
June 20, 2012
KFF Health News Original
Under the health law, Medicaid will grow to cover every American with a household income below 133 percent of the federal poverty level. A ruling against the expansion — or the entire law
FAQ: How Paul Ryan Proposes To Change Medicare
By Marilyn Werber Serafini
August 11, 2012
KFF Health News Original
The Republican-controlled House, along party lines, twice approved Ryan’s proposals to overhaul the popular program by giving beneficiaries a set amount of money every year to buy coverage from competing health plans. That is a fundamental shift from today’s program, where the federal government must help pay for every doctor visit and medical service that an individual uses.
Today’s Headlines – August 16, 2012
By Stephanie Stapleton
August 16, 2012
KFF Health News Original
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including reports about how Medicare has taken center stage in the presidential campaign. The Associated Press/Washington Post: Reversing Obama Medicare Cuts May Backfire On Romney By Speeding Up Program’s Insolvency GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney’s new promise to restore the Medicare cuts made by President Barack […]
Health Policy Groups Prepare For Day Of Spin
By Shefali S. Kulkarni
June 27, 2012
KFF Health News Original
Updated at 9:15 a.m. on June 28. The anticipation over the Supreme Court’s health law ruling has the health policy world busy with activity. Interest groups, advocates and other stakeholders are not only awaiting for the Court’s decision, they are strategizing and agonizing over the best ways to get their reactions out to the public — […]
Today’s Headlines — June 29, 2012
By Stephanie Stapleton
June 29, 2012
KFF Health News Original
It’s been a tumultuous 24 hours at Kaiser Health News, here are some of the major headlines from yesterday’s big day: The New York Times: Supreme Court Lets Health Law Largely Stand, In Victory For Obama The Supreme Court on Thursday upheld President Obama’s health care overhaul law, saying its requirement that most Americans obtain […]
Marketing Mavens Offer Advice On Handling Health Law Messaging
By Sarah Barr, Matthew Fleming, Shefali S. Kulkarni, David Schultz Christian Torres
July 5, 2012
KFF Health News Original
By Sarah Barr, Matthew Fleming, Shefali S. Kulkarni, David Schultz and Christian Torres The reviews and polls are already starting to come in: The Supreme Court’s ruling last week did not have an immediate significant effect on public opinion of the health law. But that doesn’t mean that supporters and opponents won’t continue to try to shape […]
HHS: Seniors Saved $5B On Prescription Costs Thanks To Health Law; Obama Challenges Roberts On ACA Ruling
October 26, 2012
Morning Briefing
In the meantime, President Obama splits with the Supreme Court on their reasoning behind upholding the health law.
Report: States, Feds Collected $30B In Fraud Settlements In 20 Years
September 28, 2012
Morning Briefing
A new report finds federal and state authorities have collected more than $30 billion from drug company fraud settlements in the last 20 years.
Political Jockeying In Anticipation Of Supreme Court Ruling
June 20, 2012
KFF Health News Original
KHN’s Mary Agnes Carey and Marilyn Werber Serafini talk to Jackie Judd about how each party is positioning itself ahead of a Supreme Court ruling on the health law. Carey says much is at stake while Werber Serafini outlines some of the Republican alternatives to the law.
Medicare Trustee Has New Personal Stake In Program
By Phil Galewitz
April 23, 2012
KFF Health News Original
As a nationally known expert on federal health policy, Robert Reischauer has for decades had more than a passing interest in Medicare. But this week his passion for the program — and concern for its future viability — turned more personal. “I applied for Medicare yesterday,” Reischauer said Monday at a media briefing where he and […]
Today’s Headlines – June 5, 2012
By Stephanie Stapleton
June 5, 2012
KFF Health News Original
Los Angeles Times: Congress Shifting Attention To Women’s Issues, Healthcare Congress returns its attention this week to women’s issues, with the Senate voting on legislation to ensure paycheck equity as GOP front-runner Mitt Romney tapped a Republican congresswoman to be his campaign liaison in the House. … The House this week is expected to take […]
Administration: Health Law Led Medicare Beneficiaries To Save $4.5B On Rx Drugs
September 21, 2012
Morning Briefing
USA Today reports the Obama administration is annoucing that, because of provisions in the health law Medicare’s prescription drug doughnut hole, Medicare beneficiaries experienced considerable savings.
IOM Report: Estimated $750B Wasted Annually In Health Care System
September 7, 2012
Morning Briefing
The Institute of Medicine offers an analysis of how the money is misspent and some steps that might address these trouble spots.
Aetna To Buy Coventry Health For $5.7B
August 20, 2012
Morning Briefing
Aetna is joining the post-health law insurer purchasing fray and buying Coventry Health for a proposed $5.7 billion to increase its Medicaid business.
