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Difference In What Medicare Spends On Cancer Care May Not Affect Survival Rates

By Alvin Tran March 12, 2013 KFF Health News Original

Although Medicare spending for patients with advance cancers varies regionally, a new study suggests that those differences are not related to survival rates. The study, published Tuesday in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, examined Medicare spending on patients with advanced lung, colorectal, pancreatic, breast, and prostate cancers.  Cancer care costs account for approximately 10 […]

Doctor Groups Unite Against Unnecessary Tests & Procedures

By Richard Knox, NPR News February 21, 2013 KFF Health News Original

This story comes from our partner ‘s Shots blog. Doctors do stuff — tests, procedures, drug regimens and operations. It’s what they’re trained to do, what they’re paid to do and often what they fear not doing. So it’s pretty significant that a broad array of medical specialty groups is issuing an expanding list of don’ts […]

Study: Hospice Rules May Keep Away Patients

By Jordan Rau December 3, 2012 KFF Health News Original

Nearly four out of five hospices have enrollment policies that keep away patients with potentially high-cost medical needs, such as palliative chemotherapy and intravenous feeding tubes, according to a new study. Hospice is one of the fastest growing segments of Medicare, and many health policy experts laud it as a humane and cheaper way to […]

For Med Students, How To Define ‘Best’ Residencies

By Jenny Gold October 30, 2012 KFF Health News Original

Attention medical students: When selecting your residency program, there’s more than just geography and the hospital’s reputation to consider. The nation’s 23 top academic medical centers also vary drastically in what researchers are calling “the intensity” of care they provide patients at the end of life, according to a new report from the Dartmouth Atlas Project. And more intense […]

Trinity Health, Catholic Health East Announce Plans To Merge

By Jenny Gold October 17, 2012 KFF Health News Original

Big news today in the land of hospital mergers and acquisitions. The boards of two leading Catholic health systems, Trinity Health and Catholic Health East, have announced plans to join forces in 2013. The consolidated Catholic health system would include 82 hospitals and 89 continuing care facilities, home health and hospice programs. The two health […]

Industry Likes Medicare Home Care Expansion, But Cost Is Unknown

By Jay Hancock October 24, 2012 KFF Health News Original

Patient advocacy and industry groups are cheering Medicare’s move to start paying nursing home, home care and physical therapy bills for some patients who were previously denied coverage. But how much extra it will cost the government is far from clear. The change “is expected to affect the lives of tens of thousands of Americans, perhaps hundreds of thousands” […]

Today’s Headlines – Oct. 2, 2012

By Stephanie Stapleton October 2, 2012 KFF Health News Original

Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including reports about states’ readiness to implement the health law. The New York Times: Administration Advises States To Expand Medicaid Or Risk Losing Federal Money The Obama administration is putting pressure on states to expand Medicaid, telling them they may lose federal money if they delay. […]