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Joint Commission Praises 620 Hospitals For Quality

By Jordan Rau September 19, 2012 KFF Health News Original

Updated at 1:10 p.m. on Sept. 20. The Joint Commission, the nation’s major hospital accreditation board, is releasing its annual list of hospitals that have excelled at adhering to basic procedures for treating common illnesses such as heart attacks and strokes. The commission is recognizing 620 hospitals  — 18 percent of those it accredits — as “top […]

When A Rock Star Tweets About The Uninsured

By Shefali S. Kulkarni October 16, 2012 KFF Health News Original

Among the many struggles for starving artists is a lack of health insurance — something Amanda Palmer, a musician, artist and formerly with punk band The Dresden Dolls — knows all too well. Yesterday Palmer tweeted about her struggles with insurance coverage after reading a New York Times column by Nicholas Kristof. Kristof wrote about […]

Today’s Headlines – Oct. 24, 2012

By Stephanie Stapleton October 24, 2012 KFF Health News Original

Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, incluidng reports about a variety of Medicaid-related issues, such as how a scheduled pay raise for physicians who participate in the program will not be easy to implement. Los Angeles Times: Voters In Ohio Village Skeptical Of Both Obama And Romney The hardworking people in struggling […]

A Rare Capitol Hill Sighting: 2 Parties Work Together On Health Care

By Mary Agnes Carey September 12, 2012 KFF Health News Original

The rare sound of bipartisanship was heard Tuesday at the House Energy and Commerce health subcommittee. Panel members from both parties agreed — yes, you read that right, agreed — on bills dealing with clinical laboratories, recovering payments for the Medicare Trust Fund and pediatric research, among others. ”The bills before us prove that it is indeed […]

Need Help Navigating Patient Data Laws? New Website Offers One-Stop Shop

By Shefali S. Kulkarni May 30, 2012 KFF Health News Original

As more patient information goes digital, health providers, insurers and government officials are having a tougher time navigating the patchwork of state and federal laws that dictate what information can be shared without violating patient confidentiality. “Frankly there’s a lot of confusion out there about what types of information can be shared, what parties can […]

Today’s Headlines – Oct. 19, 2012

By Stephanie Stapleton October 19, 2012 KFF Health News Original

Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including reports about how Medicare and women’s health issues are playing in a number of House and Senate races. The Wall Street Journal: Candidates Flock To Florida, Coveting Electoral Votes Polls show Mr. Romney doing well among some key groups. In a recent Wall Street Journal/NBC […]

Sherpaa Offers New Options For Employee Health Plans

By Ankita Rao September 4, 2012 KFF Health News Original

In 2007, pediatrician Jay Parkinson, fresh from a Johns Hopkins residency program, rejected a traditional private practice model in developing his own approach to providing health care. To cut down on overhead costs and staff, Parkinson created a public Google calendar on his site for patients around Brooklyn’s Williamsburg neighborhood, where he lives, to request […]

2013 Medicare Drug Plan Premiums Will Be Similar To This Year — On Average

By Marilyn Werber Serafini August 7, 2012 KFF Health News Original

UPDATED 1:55 p.m. Aug. 7 Premiums for private Medicare prescription drug plans will be about the same in 2013 as they have been over the past two years, according to the Department of Health and Human Services. Based on drug and health plan bids, the average monthly premium for an individual next year will be […]

Today’s Headlines – Sept. 11, 2012

By Andrew Villegas September 11, 2012 KFF Health News Original

Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including reports exploring how, based on his recent comments, Mitt Romney’s health law replacement goals could become tricky. The New York Times: It Will Be Tricky For Romney To Keep Best Of Health Law While Repealing It Mitt Romney’s pledge to guarantee access to health insurance […]

Today’s Headlines – Oct. 10, 2012

By Stephanie Stapleton October 10, 2012 KFF Health News Original

Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including reports that GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney has pledged that his presidential agenda does not include abortion legislation. The New York Times: Obama Campaign Tells Supporters: Steady On Big Bird was part of a broader effort by Mr. Obama and his team to reassure supporters […]

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 — […]