Latest KFF Health News Stories
Avoid The Rush! Some ERs Are Taking Appointments
This KHN story also ran on Southern California Public Radio. It can be republished for free. (details) >>Click here to listen to the radio story Three times within a week, 34-year-old Michael Granillo went to Northridge Hospital Medical Center because of intense back pain. Each time, Granillo, who didn’t have insurance, stayed for less than an […]
Nurse Practitioners Gain Flexibility With New State Law
The law, effective July 15, is viewed as an innovative compromise in Kentucky, but some people involved in national scope-of-practice debates are skeptical.
Veterans’ Needs ‘Should Drive Where They Get Their Care’
As Congress and the VA look to ease long wait times by sending more patients to outside providers, Dr. Ken Kizer, a former VA undersecretary for health, discusses how such an effort could play out.
A Reader Asks: Does Selling Your House Affect Eligibility For Assisted Living?
KHN’s consumer columnist Michelle Andrews answers this question.
Feds Demand Medicaid Backlog Fixes By Six States
This KHN story can be republished for free. (details) Tired of waiting for states to reduce their backlogs of Medicaid applications, the Obama administration has given six states until Monday to submit plans to resolve issues that have prevented more than 1 million low-income or disabled people from getting health coverage. The targeted states are Alaska, California, […]
Report: Adults With Serious Mental Illnesses Face 80% Unemployment
This KHN story can be republished for free. (details) Employment rates for people with a serious mental illness are dismally low and getting worse, according to a report from the National Alliance on Mental Illness. Just 17.8 percent of people receiving public mental health services were employed in 2012 – down from 23 percent in […]
Will Health Reform Bring New Role, Respect To Primary Care Physicians?
By paying primary care doctors to cut specialist and hospital revenue, CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield is helping to alter the medical spoils system.
Putting The Home In A Nursing Home
LaVrene Norton’s firm specializes in helping retirement communities and nursing homes train staff and design their residencies to fit the “household model.”
CMS May Soften Paperwork Requirements For Home Health Care
This KHN story can be republished for free. (details) Doctors may not have to write a narrative summary for patients needing home health care if a proposed rule by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services is finalized. For Medicare to pay for a home health visit, which includes physical therapy, speech therapy and skilled […]
Lawsuit Accuses Anthem Blue Cross Of ‘Fraudulent’ Enrollment Practices
Consumer group alleges the insurer put out inaccurate information about benefits and providers to gain market share.
Study: Hospitals Using Electronic Medical Records Not Bilking Medicare
In 2012, Medicare was rocked by allegations hospitals were systematically overcharging the government program by misusing electronic medical records. A study published Tuesday disputes that.
Conflicting Views Of Supreme Court’s Contraception Decision Cloud Other Cases
If the justices thought they were creating a clear path for others to follow, they were wrong.
Some Plans Skew Drug Benefits To Drive Away Patients, Advocates Warn
Groups file complaint with federal officials saying four Florida insurers discriminated against people with HIV in setting up pricing structure for drugs, and another analysis finds that many silver plans place medications for costly diseases in highest formulary tier.
Chattanooga’s success in achieving bargain-priced policies offers valuable lessons for other parts of the country as they seek to satisfy consumers with insurance networks that limit their choices of doctors and hospitals.
How Illinois Has Spent $56M From Health Law’s Prevention Fund
The health law seeks to reduce health care costs by spending more money on prevention and wellness efforts.
Florida Shifts Medicaid Mental Health Strategy
It offers a plan geared to people with serious mental illnesses that will coordinate physical and behavioral services.
Advocates Say California Is Rejecting ‘Free Money’ To Renew Poor People’s Insurance
This KHN story can be republished for free. (details) Consumer advocates and some legislators were surprised and frustrated when California health officials recently refused a $6 million donation to help people re-up their Medi-Cal health coverage. Now two senators have proposed an unusual solution: a bill to force the state to accept the offer from […]
The Latest In Medical Convenience: ER Appointments
Hospitals around the country are allowing patients to wait at home rather than endure hours in crowded emergency rooms. Warning: It’s not for life-threatening cases, and you could be bumped for someone sicker.
Did The Supreme Court Tip Its Hand On Contraception Cases Yet To Come?
Advocates on both sides of the debate think the Hobby Lobby ruling could help their causes.
Who Shopped The SHOP Exchanges? Very Few Small Businesses
This story is part of a partnership that includes WNYC, NPR and Kaiser Health News. It can be republished for free. (details) Monteith Illingworth and Chris Abbate both have small public relations firms in Manhattan. Both offer their employees health coverage through Oxford Health, a division of insurance giant United Healthcare. Both faced double-digit premium […]