Latest KFF Health News Stories
Fiscal Deal Kills New Funding For Health Law’s Co-Ops
Going, going, gone. The fiscal cliff deal, approved by Congress on New Year’s Day, eliminates most of the more than $1.4 billion in remaining funding from the federal health law for new nonprofit, customer-owned health plans designed to compete against the major for-profit insurers. That means the Obama administration won’t be able to approve loans […]
Counting Health Care Changes In The ‘Fiscal Cliff’ Deal
KHN’s Mary Agnes Carey and Politico Pro’s Jennifer Haberkorn detail the deal struck between President Obama and Congress to avert the so-called “fiscal cliff” and what the compromise means for hospitals and doctors who serve Medicare patients.
Today’s Headlines – Jan. 2, 2013
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including a number of reports about congressional efforts to avert the “fiscal cliff.” The New York Times: Amid Pressure, House Passes Fiscal Deal Ending a climactic fiscal showdown in the final hours of the 112th Congress, the House late Tuesday passed and sent to President Obama […]
‘Doc Fix’ In ‘Fiscal Cliff’ Plan Cuts Medicare Hospital Payments
Updated at 9:30 a.m. on January 2. Legislation passed by Congress New Year’s Day to avert the dreaded “fiscal cliff” would stop a scheduled payment cut in Medicare physician payments. But hospitals, which have to bear a major part of financing for that “doc fix,” are not happy. The bill would require that, over the […]
When Employers’ Health Plans Disappear, Workers Often Have Few Options
Unexpected events, such as a corporate bankruptcy or sale or a decision by an employer to discontinue insurance, can undermine the security of on-the-job coverage.
Health Care Predictions For A New Year
KHN reporters preview some of the big issues coming this year: The fight over controlling spending and what it means for Medicare; state decisions on health law implementation; and changing how hospitals and doctors are paid.
Senior Correspondent Sarah Varney Discusses What 2013 Will Hold For Health Care
KHN reporters preview some of the big issues coming in the new year: KHN Senior Correspondent Sarah Varney says she will follow the stories of people who will be affected the most by implementation of the health law.
Web Reporter Alvin Tran Discusses What 2013 Will Hold For Health Care
KHN reporters preview some of the big issues coming in the new year: KHN Web Reporter Alvin Tran discusses how important the coming year will be for health exchanges and addressing health disparities and barriers to care.
Senior Correspondent Jordan Rau Discusses What 2013 Will Hold For Health Care
KHN reporters preview some of the big issues coming in the new year: KHN Senior Correspondent Jordan Rau says he’ll be watching for changes in how hospitals and doctors are paid — away from “fee-for-service” and toward paying for better quality.
Web Reporter Ankita Rao Discusses What 2013 Will Hold For Health Care
KHN reporters preview some of the big issues coming in the new year: KHN Web Reporter Ankita Rao says that in 2013 she will follow new models of health care delivery designed to counter health care system inefficiencies.
Web Reporter Shefali Kulkarni Discusses What 2013 Will Hold For Health Care
KHN reporters preview some of the big issues coming in the new year: KHN Web Reporter Shefali Kulkarni says that she’ll be watching closely how doctors and patients interact with and educate themselves about the health law.
Senior Correspondent Jay Hancock Discusses What 2013 Will Hold For Health Care
KHN reporters preview some of the big issues coming in the new year: Senior Correspondent Jay Hancock says he will closely watch insurers and what they offer to a throng of new people entering the insurance market.
Senior Correspondent Phil Galewitz Discusses What 2013 Will Hold For Health Care
KHN reporters preview some of the big issues coming this year: KHN Senior Correspondent Phil Galewitz says he’ll be watching state decisions on expanding Medicaid, establishing exchanges and reaching out to the public on the law.
Reporter Jenny Gold Discusses What 2013 Will Hold For Health Care
KHN reporters preview some of the big issues coming in the new year: KHN Reporter Jenny Gold discusses the coming shift to new payment systems such as accountable care organizations.
Senior Correspondent Julie Appleby Discusses What 2013 Will Hold For Health Care
KHN reporters preview some of the big issues coming in the new year: KHN Senior Correspondent Julie Appleby discusses health insurance exchanges — and how officials are scrambling to meet the deadlines for their launch.
Senior Correspondent Mary Agnes Carey Discusses What 2013 Will Hold For Health Care
KHN reporters preview some of the big issues coming in the new year: KHN Senior Correspondent Mary Agnes Carey discusses how Medicare could be center stage if the national debate continues to center on the federal debt and spending.
In a new KHN feature, Michelle Andrews writes about the coming changes to health care. Please send comments or ideas for future topics to questions@kffhealthnews.org Read 2010’s Insuring Your Health stories. See Andrews answer your health insurance questions via video. $6.8 Billion Spent Yearly On Unnecessary Medical CareNovember 1, 2011 The conclusion comes from a […]
Florida Facing Huge Medicaid, ‘Obamacare’ Decisions In 2013
State leaders could move forward with a long-awaited overhaul of the Medicaid system and likely will decide how to carry out the federal health law, affecting the health care of millions of poor and uninsured Floridians.
School Cafeterias Join Fight Against Childhood Obesity
Kathy Del Tonto started cooking school food 30 years ago in the Montrose school district at the foot of Colorado’s San Juan Mountains. Back then, the cafeteria workers made everything from scratch. “My first kitchen that I managed was a little country school out south of town, and we made our own ketchup and everything,” she […]
Connecticut Health Agency Fights Desperation Among the Insured
Connecticut was one of the first states to establish a health care advocacy agency, a response to the numerous complaints lawmakers were receiving at that time from constituents about their managed care plans.