Latest KFF Health News Stories
Alaska Doctors Overwhelmed By New Federal Rules
The new requirements for electronic medical records and other technological upgrades can be a heavy burden for Alaska’s small medical practices and aging physician workforce.
Some Experts Dispute Claims Of Looming Doctor Shortage
Nurse practitioners and physician assistants can fill some primary care gaps, but specialists say an aging population will need more intensive care.
Wall Street Is Bullish On 2015 Obamacare Enrollment
Analysts project that 11 million people will sign up in 2015 — and more will be younger and healthier.
A Quarter Of Uninsured Say They Can’t Afford To Buy Coverage
Poll finds that the high cost was the biggest obstacle noted by Americans who lack insurance and don’t expect to buy it next year. About half of the uninsured hope to get coverage in 2015.
Researchers Campaign Against Americans’ Sweet Tooth With Public Health Initiative
The Sugar Science webpage spells out dangers from average consumption of sugar, including increased risks of diabetes, heart disease and liver problems.
Former HHS Official Calls For ‘Smarter’ Networks That Deliver Cost-Effective Care
Gary Cohen, a former deputy administrator for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, says the challenge for regulators and insurers is to create networks that not only save money but also deliver better patient outcomes.
Hospitals And Pharmacies Grapple With Rising Drug Prices
Spending on drugs by Ascension, a large Midwestern health care system, has increased $36 million in the last year — with two-thirds of that attributed to costlier generics.
Seniors’ Obesity-Counseling Benefit Goes Largely Unused
Experts say low reimbursements and restrictions on providers have hampered the Medicare program.
Costly Hepatitis C Treatments Help Drive 12 Percent Drug Spending Jump
Increases are expected to moderate as more brand-name drug patents expire and the impact of the liver disease treatments lessens.
Study: American Seniors Face Health Care Gaps, Despite Medicare
The Commonwealth Fund finds cost barriers and limits on care for Medicare beneficiaries consistently places the U.S. low on the list of an 11-nation ranking of how older people fare in industrialized nations.
Big Changes For 2015 Workplace Plans: Watch Out For These Six Possible Pitfalls
Consumers who get health insurance through their employers need to pay close attention this year to their enrollment materials.
Most Illinois Medicaid Patients Denied New Hepatitis C Drugs
Spending for the medications dropped from $1 million per week to about $200,000 per week after the state imposed restrictions.
California’s Managed Care Project For Poor Seniors Faces Backlash
Nearly half of those eligible for a combined Medi-Cal and Medicare program are opting out.
Pacemakers Get Hacked On TV, But Could It Happen In Real Life?
Concerns about the potential vulnerability of medical devices are getting the attention of regulators, health care providers and manufacturers.
Jonathan Gruber Video Comments Roil Health Law Politics
Videotaped comments by a former consultant on the Affordable Care Act has created serious political blowback for the Obama administration, just as the administration seeks to focus attention on the health law’s second open-enrollment season.
Laws Spreading That Allow Terminal Patients Access To Experimental Drugs
Five states have approved the measures this year, but critics note that they don’t address the issues of patient costs and don’t mean the drug makers will necessarily make the medications available.
As California Expands Medicaid To New Beneficiaries, Many Others Are Dropped
Previous enrollees in the program for low-income residents must reapply and many are finding the new applications too onerous to complete, advocates say.
Paying On Faith: Ministries Offer Alternative To Health Insurance
The ACA’s coverage mandate spurs growth in health-care sharing ministries, in which members agree to abide by Christian principles and contribute to each other’s medical expenses.
Insurance Exchanges Launch With Few Glitches
More than 100,000 apply for coverage of federal marketplace as year-two health law enrollment period begins.
You Paid What? How Negotiated Deals Hide Health Care’s Cost
A patient’s portion of a health care bill is a complicated equation – but it’s simple compared to the deals between insurers and hospitals.