Latest KFF Health News Stories
Minnesota Exchange Chief Resigns Amid Criticism
MNsure Executive Director April Todd-Malmlov stepped down under fire for the troubled rollout of the state’s health marketplace and an ill-timed, two-week Costa Rica vacation she took in November.
Study: It’s All Healthy People — Not Just Young Adults — Who Are Critical To ACA Success
Pushing back against those who warn that low levels of younger subscribers could threaten coverage sold under the health law, analysts for the Kaiser Family Foundation say enrollment of young adults “is not as important as conventional wisdom suggests.” Even if insurance pools contain only 25 percent young adults rather than the hoped-for 40 percent, […]
Medicare Identifies 97 Best And 95 Worst Hospitals For Hip And Knee Replacements
The new analysis is part of the government’s effort to improve the quality of care.
Table: Hospitals Judged Best And Worst For Hip And Knee Readmissions And Complications
Medicare has evaluated how often patients undergoing hip and knee surgery were readmitted or suffered a serious complication. These hospitals did much better or worse than average.
Consumer columnist reminds consumers that details make all the difference.
Latest Federal Rules, Requests Put New Pressure On Insurers, Says Moody’s
Insurers responded softly if not sweetly to the Obama administration’s latest requests and rule changes for individuals trying to buy coverage in online marketplaces by Jan. 1. Moody’s Investor Service, which is watching Obamacare from the outside, isn’t so tactful. The latest changes “impose additional financial risks” on the companies, Moody’s said in a Monday […]
In California, It’s Not A Done Deal Until You Get The Insurance Card
Even in California, the path to finalizing new insurance coverage can be long and arduous.
How Palliative Care Helps: One Iowa Family’s Journey
‘This is their life. They’re the boss,’ says Dr. Tim Ihrig of the palliative care department at UnityPoint hospital in Fort Dodge, Iowa. ‘It’s an honor to be on this journey.’
In Hollywood, Health Coverage Presents Unique Challenges
The entertainment industry relies heavily on freelancers and independent contractors who rarely are able to gain health insurance through their employers. Though the health law might help some, people in this industry still sometimes face difficulties in the health care system.
Californians Continuing To Flock To New Insurance Exchange
Enrollment in California’s new health insurance marketplace is picking up speed, with more than 156,000 signed up for coverage through last week, officials announced Thursday. Nearly a third of the enrollees – 49,700 – completed their applications during the first week of December. “The momentum is very positive,” Peter Lee, executive director of Covered […]
Claims Drop After Texas Takes Over Women’s Health Program
With the exclusion of roughly 40 Planned Parenthood clinics, claims for birth control and wellness exams dropped for the first six months of 2013, as did enrollment numbers.
A Reader Asks: Can I Opt Out Of My Retiree Plan To Get Subsidized Insurance?
The health law treats retirees differently than workers getting insurance through their jobs.
Promises To Fix Mental Health System Still Unfulfilled
Even for those with the will and drive to pursue treatment, the process remains difficult, frightening and full of holes. On the federal level, little has come from the task forces and promises that followed the Newtown shootings.
Thousands In Obamacare’s High-Risk Pools Get Month’s Reprieve
The program’s extension is one of several initiatives the Obama administration announced Thursday to make it easier for consumers to get health coverage despite balky enrollment websites.
Marketplace Plans’ Networks Are Very Small, Study Finds
To keep premium prices down for individuals and small businesses buying coverage through new online marketplaces, insurers have created smaller networks of hospitals. But consumers and policy experts have wondered, just how small? Turns out, many are very small. “About two-thirds of hospital networks on the exchanges are narrow or ultra-narrow,” said Paul Mango, a director at the consulting […]
Congress Moves Closer To Changing How Medicare Pays Doctors
Key House and Senate committees approved legislation Thursday to repeal the Sustainable Growth Rate, the formula officials use to pay doctors who treat Medicare patients. KHN’s Mary Agnes Carey and Politico Pro’s Jennifer Haberkorn discuss.
Some Ski Country Coloradans Angry About Higher Insurance Rates
Health insurance costs more in the famous ski areas of Colorado than in nearby Denver, and residents are crying foul.
New York Data Show Hospital Charges All Over The Map
Consumers should not assume that facilities provide better care because they charge more, experts say.
Obesity Rate Flat For First Time In Decades, Health Rankings Find
An annual state-by-state survey says the country is making good progress in improving its overall health — including a flat obesity rate and a lower rate of smoking. But individual states, especially in the South, continue to lag. The 2013 edition of “America’s Health Rankings” by United Health Foundation, the American Public Health Association and […]
Why Some State Health Exchanges Worked
The most successful exchanges kept things simple, amply tested systems