Latest KFF Health News Stories
Nevada Quietly Moves Ahead On Health Law
Nevada was one of the 27 states that challenged the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act in court. But now GOP Gov. Brian Sandoval is moving forward on a key part of the law.
Obama Administration Extends Deadline For State Exchanges
The decision is a concession to the reality that many states had delayed planning as they waited to see who won the presidential election.
Missouri, Kansas Reject State-Run Health Insurance Exchanges
The moves by Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback and Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon open the door for increased federal involvement in health care in staunchly Republican territory.
FEMA Hurricane Sandy Workers Win Health Benefits
That didn’t take long. Just one week after an online petition made news by calling for the Federal Emergency Management Agency to give health benefits to part-time disaster workers responding to Hurricane Sandy, the United States government changed its policy. The Office of Personnel Management, which oversees federal worker benefits, granted “certain employees who work on […]
Hospital Shift Changes A Dangerous Time For Patients
Before physicians at Massachusetts General Hospital finish their 13-hour shifts in the surgical intensive care unit, they hand off their patients to the crew taking over. The outgoing and incoming doctors carefully exchange important information about each patient to ensure that they are properly cared for through the next shift. Cheryl Ryan, a clinical nurse […]
Today’s Headlines – Nov. 13, 2012
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including reports previewing this week’s actions regarding negotiations about the fiscal cliff. The Associated Press/Washington Post: Most Of America Would Be Hit By Tax Increases And Spending Cuts From ‘Fiscal Cliff’ Everyone who pays income tax — and some who don’t —will feel it. So will […]
High Deductible Plans Offer Low Premiums But Steep Risks
More employers are offering these insurance options, but they can leave workers paying thousands of dollars for care before the coverage kicks in.
Doctors’ And Nurses’ Licenses Snagged By New Immigration Law In Georgia
The law requires everyone, no matter where they were born, to prove citizenship or legal residency to renew a license. But with too few staff to process the extra paperwork, hundreds of licenses for doctors, nurses, pharmacists and other health professionals are expiring.
Health System Touted By Obama Is Not Yet Endorsing Medicaid Expansion
Intermountain Healthcare, the Salt Lake City-based hospital system praised by President Barack Obama as being a model for low-cost, high quality care, says it is not convinced Utah should expand Medicaid under the federal health care overhaul. The system wants those who would gain Medicaid coverage from the law to have the choice to obtain private insurance, which generally […]
Today’s Headlines – Nov. 9, 2012
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including news about effort to cut a deal on taxes and entitlements to avoid the “fiscal cliff.” The New York Times: With Obama Re-Elected, States Scramble Over Health Law After nearly three years of legal and political threats that kept President Obama’s health care law in […]
Bloggers Parse What Happens Next On Health Law
The health policy world has moved on from what happens IF the health law survives to what happens NEXT now that its future appears secure. Bloggers are focusing on how the law will be implemented, what the role of states may be, how patient care will be affected and how the work left to be done […]
Medicare Extends Enrollment Period For Those Affected By Sandy
Medicare beneficiaries battered by Superstorm Sandy have one less problem to worry about: Federal officials have extended the Dec. 7 deadline to enroll in a private medical or drug plan for next year for those still coping with storm damage. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services “understands that many Medicare beneficiaries have been affected by […]
Status Update: Medical Schools May Check Applicants On Facebook
While applying to medical school as a college student, Drew Lee did what many of his fellow “premeds” were doing at the time – he gave himself an anonymous name on his Facebook account. “We always heard of students being denied admission because of Facebook,” Lee said, adding that he had nothing to hide but […]
Today’s Headlines – Nov. 8, 2012
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations including analyses of how states move forward on implementing the health law and efforts by President Barack Obama and congressional leaders on solving the nation’s debt issues. Los Angeles Times: Obama’s Win Means His Healthcare Law Will Insure All Americans President Obama’s victory all but assures […]
Post-Election, Insurance Exchanges, Other Health Care Issues Loom Large In States
Six public radio reporters – Martha Bebinger (Mass.), Sarah Varney (Calif.), Elizabeth Stawicki (Minn.), Erika Beras (Penn.), Lynn Hatter (Fla.) and Elana Gordon (Missouri) – talk about how yesterday’s vote could affect the future of the health law implementation and public health in their states.
Maine May Warm To ‘Obamacare’ After Democratic Sweep
Newly elected lawmakers pledge to push ahead with health law implementation despite the Republican governor’s opposition.
Hospitals Gamble On Urgent Care Clinics To Keep Patients Healthy
Urgent care clinics are part of a growth strategy for some hospital chains. But some analysts wonder if hospitals will be able to provide good customer service at the clinics.
Health Care Issues On The Ballot: The Final Tally
The rich variety of health issues at stake in Tuesday’s elections included the federal health law, abortion, medical marijuana and more. Here’s a round-up of state health initiatives and the results: Implementation of the 2010 federal health law Four states—Alabama, Florida, Montana and Wyoming—had provisions to block the federal health law’s requirement that almost all Americans have insurance or pay a […]
Electoral Politics End; Legislative Season Begins
Jackie Judd talks to KHN’s Mary Agnes Carey and Richard E. Cohen about what the new political landscape means for the health law and for federal budget negotiations.
State Political Shifts Likely To Affect Health Law
In a power shift that could affect how the federal health law is carried out, Democrats took complete control of five additional state legislatures on Tuesday, while Republicans added a governorship and control of three additional state legislatures . All told, Republicans will have 30 governors and control 24 state legislatures next year, compared to 19 Democratic governors and […]