Breaux: Bipartisanship Necessary To Fix Medicare Finances
By Marilyn Werber Serafini Mary Agnes Carey
April 27, 2012
KFF Health News Original
Louisiana Democrat John B. Breaux left the Senate seven years ago, but old habits die hard. Today he fell back easily into his former role of compromise builder as he stressed the need for political common ground to overhaul Medicare next year. After a House Ways and Means Health Subcommittee hearing to delve into “premium support” models, Breaux held […]
Trained Interpreters For Patients With Limited English Can Help Avoid Medical Mishaps
By Michelle Andrews
May 21, 2012
KFF Health News Original
Too often, however, hospitals and other providers are not reimbursed for such services and can’t afford to keep them.
Today’s Headlines — June 27, 2012
By Stephanie Stapleton
June 27, 2012
KFF Health News Original
Good morning! Tomorrow’s the big day, here are your headlines. Reuters/Chicago Tribune: The Immigration Ruling: A Hint On Healthcare? The Supreme Court’s decision in the Arizona immigration case on Monday showed a conciliatory streak within a divided court that could emerge again when the justices issue their climactic healthcare decision on Thursday (Biskupic, 6/26). The […]
Studies Reignite Mammography Debate For Middle-Aged Women
By Rob Stein, NPR News
April 30, 2012
KFF Health News Original
This story comes from our partner ‘s Shots blog. Should women in their 40s routinely get mammograms to detect breast cancer? Two studies released Monday aim to help resolve that question, which is one of the most intense debates in women’s health. The studies identify which women in their 40s are most likely to benefit from […]
Report: N.Y. Public Employees Face $250B Gap In Covering Retiree Health Care Costs
September 6, 2012
Morning Briefing
A new report has found a gaping $250 billion hole in what New York state and local governments have promised to public employees to help pay for their retiree health care costs — a $45 billion increase since 2010.
Social Media Rundown: Three Days At The Supreme Court
By Shefali S. Kulkarni
March 29, 2012
KFF Health News Original
This week, the Supreme Court heard oral arguments on the 2010 health law, in what court watchers are calling the biggest case at the high court in decades. Here’s a rundown from the social media-sphere of what happened in those three days. Day 1: Can We Even Argue About The Health Care Law? Mon., March 26 […]
Tentative ‘Doc Fix’ Deal Would Cut Health Law’s Prevention Fund by $5B
By Mary Agnes Carey
February 15, 2012
KFF Health News Original
After wrangling for weeks over how to finance a Medicare “doc fix,” House and Senate conferees have a plan. The proposal would cut Medicare payments to hospitals and other providers for “bad debt,” Medicare payments to clinical laboratories and Medicaid “disproportionate share” payments to hospitals that serve many poor patients, and divert $5 billion from the health law’s $15 […]
Today’s Headlines – May 10, 2012
By Stephanie Stapleton
May 10, 2012
KFF Health News Original
Today’s headlines detail the fight at the Capitol over the budget and what automatic cuts could mean if allowed to take effect next year. NPR: House To Vote On GOP Bill Favoring Guns Over Butter Republicans who control the House want to block some $55 billion worth of automatic cuts to the Pentagon budget next […]
Today’s Headlines – April 27, 2012
By Stephanie Stapleton
April 27, 2012
KFF Health News Original
Happy Friday from Kaiser Health News. Here are today’s top headlines: Los Angeles Times: Obama Healthcare Reforms Lead To $1.3 Billion In Insurance Rebates U.S. consumers and businesses will receive an estimated $1.3 billion in rebates from insurance companies this year, according to a new study quantifying a key early benefit of the healthcare law […]
Diagnosing Autism In Minutes; Finding New Uses For Old Drugs
By Jessica Marcy
April 13, 2012
KFF Health News Original
Every week, Kaiser Health News reporter Jessica Marcy selects interesting reading from around the Web. Time: Can Autism Really Be Diagnosed In Minutes? Autism is an extremely complex diagnosis. Parental insight, physician observations and hours of data can factor into determining whether a child actually has the condition or is just a little on the […]
Today’s Headlines – May 4, 2012
By Stephanie Stapleton
May 4, 2012
KFF Health News Original
Happy Friday! Here are your end-of-week headlines! The Washington Post: Poll: Obama Leads Romney As Campaigns Converge On Virginia The Democratic president has a key advantage in his bid for re¬election: The coalition of Virginians that helped propel him to victory in 2008 — young voters, suburban Washingtonians, women and African Americans — is largely […]
HHS Says Billing Rule Will Cut Red Tape For Doctors, Save Up to $9B
August 8, 2012
Morning Briefing
Officials say the interim rule, published Tuesday, will streamline electronic billing for doctors and save time and money.
CMS: Doughnut Hole Provision In Health Law Has Saved Seniors $4B
July 26, 2012
Morning Briefing
According to the Obama administration, seniors have saved on average $629 on their medications during the first half of this year.
Some Women’s Groups See Another Agenda In Attacks On Contraceptive Coverage
By Judith Graham
April 18, 2012
KFF Health News Original
Opponents of the Obama administration’s contraception coverage mandate emphasize religious freedom, but others say the real issue is birth control.
Feds OK Oregon Medicaid CCOs, Ready $1.9B In Funding
July 10, 2012
Morning Briefing
The federal government has granted Oregon a waiver to run Medicaid coordinated-care organizations and will provide enhanced Medicaid money — $1.9 billion over five years — for the program.
Health Literacy’s Effect On Costs
By Jessica Marcy
March 22, 2012
KFF Health News Original
Every week, reporter Jessica Marcy selects interesting reads from around the Web. Huffington Post: Women’s Health Care Is Stronger Thanks To The Health Care Law In many families, women are the health care decision makers. When children go for their checkups, we are often the ones who make the appointment and sit in the room […]
GlaxoSmithKline Agrees To Plead Guilty, Pay $3B Settlement
July 3, 2012
Morning Briefing
Drugmaker GlaxoSmithKline has agreed to plead guilty to fraud charges and pay $3 billion in total — with some money going to nearly every state — for promoting its bestselling antidepressants such as Paxil and Wellbutrin for unapproved uses, failing to report safety data about a top diabetes drug and improperly marketing other drugs.
Webcast Replay: Deconstructing The Supreme Court’s Historic Health Law Arguments
March 29, 2012
KFF Health News Original
Our panelists, who answered questions from readers that even the justices didn’t ask, includes KHN Senior Correspondent Mary Agnes Carey; Stuart Taylor, attorney, author and KHN legal analyst; Tom Goldstein, Goldstein & Russell, P.C., and publisher of SCOTUSblog; and Julie Rovner, health policy correspondent, NPR.
If Mandate Is Overturned, Obama Could Need Help To Salvage The Health Law
By Jordan Rau
March 28, 2012
KFF Health News Original
Should the Supreme Court throw out the requirement to carry insurance, the administration might need assistance from Congress or the insurance industry to complete the overhaul.
Document: GOP Payroll Tax Bill – Summary, Text Of Health Care Sections
December 11, 2011
KFF Health News Original
On Friday, Dec. 9, House Republicans unveiled the “Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act,” which avoid the scheduled cut to Medicare reimbursement rates for physicians – the “doc fix.”
