The independent source for health policy research, polling, and news.
The debate in Washington over how much the health care overhaul bills will cost has largely centered on the bottom line for the federal government. But polls repeatedly show Americans are much more concerned about how a reshaped health care system will affect their own family’s financial situation.
A poll “shows little movement in measures of public opinion” on health reform. About one-third like the current Democratic bills, another third want reform, but not what Democratic lawmakers have in mind and one-quarter think Congress should not spend time on the issue now.
Perhaps the political and media elite shouldn’t wait for an impending presidential election to pay attention to what Iowa has to say.
Panelists discuss the Senate’s vote to begin debate on health reform legislation.
Over the weekend, the Senate voted 60 to 39 to begin debate on health reform legislation, which will begin after the Thanksgiving break. Panelists discuss what’s ahead.
When it comes to making medical care not only cheaper but also better, reducing hospital infections is among the easiest changes to make–something reform really should be able to do, even in this political universe of such limited possibility.
About 11 percent of people ages 60 and older suffer from some kind of abuse every year. But as a part of health care overhaul legislation, lawmakers are taking steps that would for the first time establish a federal beachhead in fighting such abuse.
Patients often find it difficult to base medical decisions on study results. This story comes from our partner NPR News.
The Senate and House health bills differ in important ways. We ask and answer questions consumers might have about the bills.
Levies on liposuction, breast augmentation and other cosmetic procedures would generate billions of dollars to help cover the uninsured.
Read or download the Congressional Budget Office and Joint Committee on Taxation’s estimates of the the Senate Democrats’ health bill, called “The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.”
Last night, Senate Majority leader Harry Reid unveiled a health care reform bill that he plans to soon bring to the Senate floor. The bill would cost an estimated $849 billion dollars over 10 years, and cover about 31 million uninsured. Mary Agnes Carey discusses the major provisions of the bill.
Majority Leader Harry Reid added new taxes and modified major provisions of health bills passed by two Senate panels in a health bill unveiled Wednesday night.
Some say moving kids from the Children’s Health Insurance Program to health exchanges would add stability, but others fear they could lose benefits and their families could face higher co-payments for coverage.
Physicians’ lobby says fixing the 12-year-old formula that sets Medicare payments would prove lawmakers’ commitment to reform health care.
Are fears about kids and the swine flu overblown?
Nearly all adults who die in La Crosse, Wisconsin, have filled out “advance directives” – explicit instructions on what treatments they do and don’t want at the end of life. The medical ethicist who started the program says “We believe it’s part of good patient care.”
Devices that measure blood pressure and other health information may help the elderly and people with chronic conditions stay in touch with doctors while remaining at home. The technology could cut health spending by catching problems before they escalate into crises.
KHN’s Mary Agnes Carey and other experts discuss recent and upcoming activities on the Hill — part of a weekly series of video reports.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., may unveil his health care overhaul plan this week. A podcast is also available. Read Transcript.
