Medicare Premium Holds Steady In 2015
October 10, 2014
Morning Briefing
The premium that most older people pay for outpatient, or “Part B,” care will stay the same in 2015 — $104.90 a month, while cost-sharing for hospital and skilled nursing stays will increase slightly, the government announced.
FAQ: High Court’s Hobby Lobby Ruling Cuts Into Contraceptive Mandate
By Mary Agnes Carey
June 30, 2014
KFF Health News Original
The court says closely held corporations may be exempted from the health law’s mandate that employer health plans cover certain types of contraception at no cost to the employee.
Study: Healthcare.Gov Costs Top $2B
September 25, 2014
Morning Briefing
The finding by a Bloomberg Government analysis exceeds the cost estimates provided by the Obama administration. Meanwhile, an administration official says efforts are “continuing, step by step” to improve the health insurance website, but also steers clear of specific pledges.
Cancer Care Giant Faces Medicare Billing Probe
November 14, 2014
Morning Briefing
The Justice Department is investigating whether 21st Century Oncology “knowingly billed for services that were not medically necessary,” reports The Wall Street Journal. Other stories look at the government’s withdrawal of a rule regarding the 340B drug discount program, double-digit increases in the prices hospitals pay for technology and the increase in plans covering gender reassignment surgery.
GOP To-Do List: Fix Health Law’s Medical Device Tax, Refine Work Hours Provision
November 7, 2014
Morning Briefing
Flush with the power of the majority, congressional Republicans plan to have a vote to repeal Obamacare, although the president has vowed to veto that. The “plan B” strategy will then be to undo some of the overhaul’s most unpopular provisions. News outlets also report on how congressional committees may deal with the Affordable Care Act and other health policy.
State Highlights: Mass. Gets $41B Deal With CMS; Huge Nursing Home Complaint Backlog In Calif.
November 3, 2014
Morning Briefing
A selection of health policy stories from California, Ohio, Massaschusetts, Oklahoma, Arizona and Kentucky.
What’s At Stake For Birth Control In Upcoming SCOTUS Decision
By Julie Rovner
June 13, 2014
KFF Health News Original
Many health plans could be affected by the coming high court ruling on cases challenging the mandate to provide specific types of contraception.
CBO Reports That Health Law Provision Called ‘Bailout’ By GOP Will Raise $8B
By Mary Agnes Carey
February 5, 2014
KFF Health News Original
New findings from the Congressional Budget Office may make it harder for Republicans to portray a provision in the health law designed to limit insurers’ losses and gains as a “bailout” for the industry. The House Oversight and Government Reform panel is scheduled to have a hearing Wednesday examining the law’s “risk corridors,” which limit […]
Justices To Weigh Contraceptive Mandate Against Religious Freedom Claims
By Stuart Taylor Jr.
March 20, 2014
KFF Health News Original
Two businesses are challenging the health law’s birth control coverage requirement on religious freedom grounds.
Can Congress Put An End To Annual Medicare Payment Ritual?
By Susan Jaffe
March 17, 2014
KFF Health News Original
This story comes from our partner ‘s Shots blog. Congress is still searching for money to avoid a 24 percent cut in pay for doctors who treat Medicare patients. But seniors are already paying their share of the cost in premiums, as if the pay cut — scheduled to kick in on April 1 — […]
Obama Signs $16.3B Overhaul Of Vets’ Health Care System
August 8, 2014
Morning Briefing
Military veterans who have been suffering long waiting times for medical care or live significant distances from VA facilities should be able to turn to private doctors almost immediately as a result of this law, which President Barack Obama signed Thursday. The measure also provides funding to hire new health care professionals. Already, though, some say that recruiting physicians to come into the system will present a challenge.
How Will Hepatitis C Drug Affect Health Care Spending?
June 24, 2014
Morning Briefing
Elsewhere, pharmaceutical companies are upset over new rules for a drug discount program — known as 340B.
Hill Plan Would Reward Medicare Doctors For Quality
By Mary Agnes Carey
February 7, 2014
KFF Health News Original
But finding a way to finance the SGR replacement may be even more difficult.
State Highlights: New York Faces $1.3B Medicaid Payback Problem
July 30, 2014
Morning Briefing
A selection of health policy stories from California, North Carolina, Iowa, Massachusetts and Illinois.
15-Minute Visits Take A Toll On The Doctor-Patient Relationship
By Roni Caryn Rabin
April 21, 2014
KFF Health News Original
Patients are more likely to leave frustrated and without the tools they need to take charge of their own health after rushed visits.
Medicare Records Provide Tantalizing New Details Of Payments To Doctors
By Jordan Rau
April 9, 2014
KFF Health News Original
But physicians and database experts caution that the information can be easily misconstrued or misunderstood.
Florida Jury Rules: RJ Reynolds Should Pay $23B To Widow Of Smoker
July 21, 2014
Morning Briefing
With its huge reward, the case is certain to be appealed.
VA Request This Week For $17.6B Stalls Congressional Effort To Reform Agency
July 18, 2014
Morning Briefing
Talks between the House and Senate over revamping care for veterans were already difficult, but the big spending request complicates the situation.
Waiting For Medicaid To Kick In
By Anna Gorman
April 21, 2014
KFF Health News Original
About 800,000 people in California are presumed to be eligible for the newly expanded program but lack final approval. For a Los Angeles hairdresser and others like her, that means medical appointments are on hold.
For High-Risk Women, Some Breast Cancer Drugs To Be Free
By Phil Galewitz
January 9, 2014
KFF Health News Original
Starting next September, women at increased risk for breast cancer will be able to get some drugs shown to help prevent the disease without a co-pay, the Obama administration said Thursday. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommended last September that clinicians give medications such as tamoxifen or raloxifene to such women to reduce their risk of the disease. […]