Latest KFF Health News Stories
A Small Business Owner Enters The Insurance Marketplace
Initially, the restaurateur was frustrated in trying to find health insurance for her family, but her effort was ultimately successful. Now she hopes to insure her ‘work family.’
Detroit’s Maternal Death Rate Is Triple The Nation’s
Experts hope to see it decline as more women gain coverage through the federal health care law and become better educated about their bodies.
Texas Sees Increased Medicaid Sign-Ups
Even though the state did not expand eligibility under the health law, experts say publicity about the law spurred greater awareness of the program.
Obamacare Help Was In High Demand, Survey Shows
Most working people in the U.S. sign up for health insurance in a very straightforward way: a few forms, a few questions for human resources, a few choices of plans. Signing up for Affordable Care Act insurance was nothing like that. It involved questions about income, taxes, family size and immigration status. And in most […]
Letters To The Editor: A New Medical Convenience; ‘Copper Plans’ And Other Coverage Issues
Letters to the Editor is a regular feature in which readers comment on KHN original stories.
Readers Ask About Contraceptive Coverage And Medicare Enrollment
Kaiser Health News’ consumer columnist Michelle Andrews answers these questions.
Tech-Savvy Subjects Test Exchange Website, Advise Changes
The University of Pennsylvania recruited young people to shop for coverage on healthcare.gov to learn what gave them trouble navigating the site.
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.