Latest KFF Health News Stories
New Health Law Court Decisions Could Have Limited Political Impact
Analysts say it’s hard to see either party broadly benefiting in the fall elections.
Groups Sue Tennessee Over Medicaid Enrollment Delays
The plaintiffs accuse state officials of depriving thousands of residents of health care coverage.
What’s Next In The Wake Of Conflicting Federal Court Decisions
KHN’s Julie Rovner and SCOTUSblog’s Tom Goldstein joined Gwen Ifill on PBS NewsHour Tuesday to discuss the implications of two federal court decisions that disagreed about the legality of selling subsidized insurance on healthcare.gov. Watch the video below.
King County’s Wellness Plan Beats the Odds
Most employee wellness plans have few participants and little effect on health care costs. A program in King County, Washington, is an exception.
Business Groups, Consumer Advocates Draw Lines In The Sand About Essential Benefits
The essential health benefits (EHBs) countdown is on for 2016. That’s when this provision of the Affordable Care Act, which sets out 10 specific health services that must be covered by plans sold on the exchanges, will likely be reviewed by the Department of Health and Human Services. Business interests and consumer advocates are already making their […]
California Nurses Union Braces For Contract Battle
The powerful California Nurses Association is threatening to strike as it begins negotiations with Kaiser Permanente on a new four-year contract.
Appeals Courts Split On Legality Of Subsidies For Affordable Care Act
The D.C. circuit struck down the administration’s decision to offer financial help for lower-income consumers buying coverage on the federal insurance marketplace. But the 4th Circuit court in Richmond, Va., said the subsidies were valid.
Medicare Testing Payment Options That Could End Observation Care Penalties
The pilot projects underway at hospitals eliminate the requirement that seniors must be admitted for three days before they qualify for nursing home coverage.
Arkansas Weighs Plan To Make Some Medicaid Enrollees Fund Savings Accounts
The state is proposing that many people enrolled in the “private option” Medicaid expansion program contribute between $5 and $25 a month. Those who don’t could face additional medical expenses.
Florida’s Biggest Health Insurer Signals Rate Hikes Ahead
High demand for care and a larger-than-expected number of older, sicker enrollees are key factors.
Docs Slam Recertification Rules They Call A Waste Of Time
Some say the requirements will push older doctors to retire early, worsening the physician shortage.
Medicare Modifies Controversial Hospice Drug Rule
In response to strong criticism, Medicare officials are modifying rules intended to prevent the agency from paying twice for the same prescriptions for seniors receiving hospice care. Under the rules that took effect in May, hospice patients or their families could not fill prescriptions through their Part D drug plans until first confirming that the prescriptions […]
Half Of Texas Abortion Clinics Close Due To State Law
This story is part of a partnership that includes Houston Public Media, NPR and Kaiser Health News. It can be republished for free. (details) In just over the past year, the number of abortion clinics in Texas fell from 41 to 20, and watchdogs say that as few as six may be left by September. […]
A Reader Asks: If You Have A Job-Based Plan, Can You Buy On The Marketplace?
KHN consumer columnist Michelle Andrews points out that standards for eligibility to buy a plan off the exchange is different than eligibility for subsidies.
Biggest Insurer Drops Caution, Embraces Obamacare
This KHN story can be republished for free. (details) UnitedHealthcare, the insurance giant that largely sat out the health law’s online marketplaces’ first year, said Thursday it may sell policies through the exchanges in nearly half the states next year. “We plan to grow next year as we expand our offering to as many as two […]
Registered Nurses Increasingly Delay Retirement, Study Finds
Despite predictions of an impending nurse shortage, the current number of working registered nurses has surpassed expectations in part due to the number of baby-boomer RNs delaying retirement, a study by the RAND Corp. found. The study, published online Wednesday by Health Affairs, notes that the RN workforce, rather than peaking in 2012 at 2.2 million […]
Specialty Care Is A Challenge In Some ACA Plans
“Narrow networks” keep the price of some Obamacare insurance plans low, but they also keep certain hospitals and physicians out of reach for sick patients.
Seattle Providers Mostly Keep Up With More Insured, But Worries Loom
With thousands more people newly insured under the Affordable Care Act in Washington, medical providers have been braced to deal with more patients. So far – in the Seattle area, at least – they appear to be keeping up with the influx. But that doesn’t mean the concern has abated.
California Releases Proposal For Clearing Medicaid Backlog
As the federal government demands more accountability, other states are working on plans to fix delays and glitches in their systems as well.
Senate Democrats Launch Fight To Reverse Supreme Court, State Abortion Restrictions
But the bill that would reverse the Hobby Lobby court ruling is not expected to pass a crucial voting test Wednesday.