Latest KFF Health News Stories
Today’s Headlines – Oct. 18, 2012
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organiztions, including resports about how the presidential candidates are crafting messages on women’s health issues in order to appeal to female voters. Politico: Boehner And Obama Haven’t Talked Fiscal Cliff It’s a striking admission from the nation’s top elected Republican and clear evidence that the most urgent […]
Accountable Care Explained: An Experiment in State Health Policy
ACOs are among the most ambitious of the new Medicaid cost containment and quality improvement schemes that have arisen in response to the federal health law and state fiscal pressures.
Video: Weighing The Impact Of Health Issues On Campaign 2012
KHN hosts a discussion on the Obama and Romney plans with former Democratic Sen. Tom Daschle and conservative health care analyst Avik Roy, followed by a reporters’ roundtable with KHN’s Mary Agnes Carey and Sarah Varney, Karen Tumulty of the Washington Post and Politico’s Jonathan Allen.
Trinity Health, Catholic Health East Announce Plans To Merge
Big news today in the land of hospital mergers and acquisitions. The boards of two leading Catholic health systems, Trinity Health and Catholic Health East, have announced plans to join forces in 2013. The consolidated Catholic health system would include 82 hospitals and 89 continuing care facilities, home health and hospice programs. The two health […]
Today’s Headlines – Oct. 17, 2012
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including health policy highlights from last night’s presidential debate. The New York Times: Rivals Bring Bare Fists To Rematch President Obama and Mitt Romney engaged Tuesday in one of the most intensive clashes in a televised presidential debate, with tensions between them spilling out in interruptions, […]
Houston Hit Hard In Latest Medicare Fraud Bust
When federal law enforcement agents swept through seven U.S. cities earlier this month to arrest more than 91 doctors, nurses and others for Medicare fraud, one of their targets was Houston. For the Bayou City, it was the latest in a disturbing series of revelations about health care fraud there. A picture has emerged in […]
Health Policy Finds Its Way Into Town Hall Debate
Even when the questions aren’t about health care, many of the responses are. Here’s what Obama and Romney had to say Tuesday night about contraception, Medicare and the health law.
Putting The ‘Care’ Into Long-Term Care Insurance
States enact new rules to help consumers make claims.
Today’s Headlines – Oct. 16, 2012
The New York Times: Political Memo: Debt Impasse Shadow Race For Presidency Substantively, any agreement in Congress, which opens a week after the election, could define the terms for how Mr. Obama and lawmakers move next year on efforts to contain the long-term costs of Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security, the programs that are driving […]
When A Rock Star Tweets About The Uninsured
Among the many struggles for starving artists is a lack of health insurance — something Amanda Palmer, a musician, artist and formerly with punk band The Dresden Dolls — knows all too well. Yesterday Palmer tweeted about her struggles with insurance coverage after reading a New York Times column by Nicholas Kristof. Kristof wrote about […]
Idaho, Texas: Best Places For Physicians To Practice
From the lakes of Minnesota, to the … clinics of Tennessee? The best places to practice medicine may surprise you. According to a report prepared annually by Physicians Practice, an online media and resource tool for doctors, Idaho, Mississippi, Tennessee and Texas rank highest on the this year’s list, based on metrics like malpractice frequency, reimbursement […]
As More Employers Drop Coverage, Retirees Turn To Specialized Insurance Exchanges
Counselors help consumers who are eligible for Medicare enroll in plans that replace their old workplace benefits.
Study Finds Premium Support Plan Could Raise Medicare Premiums In Many Parts of Country
Seniors in both traditional Medicare and Medicare Advantage plans would be affected by the change, according to research that looks at how a voucher system would have worked in 2010.
Today’s Headlines – Oct. 15, 2012
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including the latest developments and polling news from the presidential campaign trail as well as details about how Medicare and other health issues are shaping up in House and Senate races. The Washington Post: Presidential Contest Tight Nationally Ahead Of Second Debate On the eve of […]
Enrollment Season Opens For Medicare Advantage And Drug Plans
Today, Medicare beneficiaries can begin choosing their drug and medical coverage for 2013, and most seniors are expected to stick with the same policies they have already, despite price changes and a rating system that shows some plans may be better than others. Seniors have been reluctant to change plans, even if there are cheaper […]
Safety-Net Hospitals Brace For Cut To Federal Subsidies
Because more people are supposed to be insured, the health law trims funding that is used to defray the expenses of treating a large number of uninsured and poor patients.
Chemo IV Vs. Pill Decision Can Come Down To Cost
KHN’s Insuring Your Health columnist Michelle Andrews answers a reader’s question about whether insurance companies cover chemotherapy pills at a lower rate — if at all — compared to intravenous treatment.
VP Candidates’ Answers On Abortion, Medicare Get A Second Look
Last night’s vice presidential debate provided contentious contrast on the issues of abortion and Medicare between Vice President Joe Biden and the Republican nominee, Rep. Paul Ryan. The candidates sparred over the role their faith plays in their positions on abortion and laid out their tickets’ visions for Medicare reform. Here’s a sample of how […]
Medicare, Medicaid, CHIP All Targets For Fraud
When it comes to health care fraud, medical facilities and hospitals are the top two offenders. That’s according to a new Government Accountability Office report released this week. According to the report, 10,187 individuals and entities were investigated in 2010 for defrauding Medicare, Medicaid, and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). Medical facilities (including medical […]
Today’s Headlines – Oct. 12, 2012
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including the health policy highlights from last night’s vice presidential debate. Los Angeles Times: Vice Presidential Debate Gets Prickly On Healthcare As the candidates for vice president parried, Ryan accused the Obama administration of “getting caught with its hand in the cookie jar,” and Biden charged […]