Latest KFF Health News Stories
Medicare Revises Hospitals’ Readmissions Penalties
Federal officials made small errors in calculating how much hospitals will be docked for having too many patients return within 30 days. Many hospitals will lose a bit more money under revised calculations.
Hospitals Need Networks To Prevent Readmissions
The federal government wants many hospitals to adopt a model like Denver Health, which keeps readmissions low through its own network of neighborhood clinics.
Study: Newly Insured Likely To Be Healthy, And To Have Trouble Deciphering Health System
Good news for insurers: 88 percent of people new to health coverage after the health law fully goes into effect will be in relatively good health. That means providers won’t be overwhelmed, at least initially, says a report out today by PricewaterhouseCoopers. The challenge, however, is the newly insured also will be less educated, slightly […]
“Health Savings Accounts”? I Have Bingo!
Here we go again (to paraphrase a memorable debate line). It’s time for the first installment of this campaign’s presidential debates: Wednesday at 9 p.m Eastern we will all tune in to watch 90 minutes of President Barack Obama and former Mass. Gov. Mitt Romney finding new and creative ways of deflecting criticism. Kaiser Health News feels your […]
States Requiring Broader Choice Of Drugs Than Skimpy Federal Limit
When the Obama administration set initial rules last December to determine what minimum benefits insurers must offer in plans sold to individuals and small groups starting in 2014, one provision stood out: Insurers selling small group and individual policies would have to provide at least one drug per class of drug. In other words, insurers could cover just […]
Today’s Headlines – Oct. 2, 2012
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including reports about states’ readiness to implement the health law. The New York Times: Administration Advises States To Expand Medicaid Or Risk Losing Federal Money The Obama administration is putting pressure on states to expand Medicaid, telling them they may lose federal money if they delay. […]
For Patients, What A Difference A Note Makes
Doctors are required by federal law to provide patients with a copy of their medical notes upon request, but few patients ask and doctors generally don’t make the process easy. When patients were offered online access, however, 90 percent read their doctors’ notes with some impressive results. A study published in the most recent issue […]
Insurance Dependents Can Face Special Challenges On Privacy
The health law may create new challenges for maintaining dependents’ medical confidentiality.
Drug Coupons: A Good Deal For The Patient, But Not The Insurer
Makers of brand-name prescription drugs often offer discounts to help defray patients’ co-pay costs, but insurers say that drives up their overall health spending.
Today’s Headlines – Oct. 1, 2012
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including reports about the start of a Medicare pay-for-performance effort as well as the latest from the campaign trail. The Associated Press: Why It Matters: Issues At Stake In Election America’s health care system is unsustainable. It’s not one problem, but three: cost, quality and coverage. […]
Eyes Turn To Arkansas’ Bold Effort To Cut Medicaid Costs, Add Transparency
Arkansas hopes a unique collaboration with the state’s big insurers can help them and the state.
Medicare’s Pay For Performance Effort Begins, Targeting Quality and Readmissions
Monday is the start of the federal fiscal year, and with it begins Medicare’s biggest effort yet at paying for performance. Starting Oct. 1, Medicare is withholding 1 percent of its regular hospital reimbursements in the new Value-Based Purchasing Program, which was created by the 2010 health care law. Over the course of the year, […]
States Moving Ahead On Defining ‘Essential’ Health Insurance Benefits Under Federal Law
At least 16 states have decided on a minimum set of benefits for individual and group health plans starting in 2014, and many more states are close to decisions.
Today’s Headlines – Sept. 28, 2012
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including reports about political and policy-oriented health care developments. The Washington Post: Medicare Working To Boost Obama In Swing States, Poll Finds Voters in three critical swing states broadly oppose the far-reaching changes to Medicare -associated with the Republican presidential ticket and, by big margins, prefer […]
Study: States, Feds Recover Billions In Medicaid Drug Fraud Settlements
Eager for revenues, states are settling more cases than ever — and at record amounts — with drug makers accused of defrauding Medicaid programs, according to a new analysis from the consumer group Public Citizen. In just the first half of 2012, the federal government and states have recovered $6.6 billion, according to the report. Overcharging health […]
Not Your Typical Presidential Debate Forum For Obama, Romney
There’s nothing unusual about the way The New England Journal of Medicine displays the “Perspective” section this week: In dueling columns, under an original article on a “novel androgen-receptor blocker” for prostate cancer. But the authors of two of the perspectives are far from typical: B. Obama and M. Romney. The introduction to both is basic: […]
Today’s Headlines – Sept. 27, 2012
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including reports about how the health law and Medicare are buzz words in public opinion polls and on the campaign trail. Los Angeles Times: Romney Cites His Healthcare Law As Proof Of His Compassion Mitt Romney, while campaigning in Ohio on Wednesday, highlighted the healthcare law […]
Md. Blues Chief Blasts Plan To Shift Hospital Costs To Insurers
Negotiations to avert a breakdown in Maryland’s unique system of regulating hospital prices have deteriorated into a stalemate between the state’s largest insurer and the Maryland Hospital Association. CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield CEO Chet Burrell, speaking out for the first time about the talks, blames hospitals for their proposal to shift hundreds of millions in costs to CareFirst and other private insurers in an attempt […]
Poll: Younger Americans More Receptive Than Seniors To GOP Medicare Plan
Among those under 55, a majority want to keep the current program, but 44 percent prefer switching to premium support
Lawmaker Pitches New FDA Office Of Mobile Health
A bill set to be introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives later this month aims to smooth the FDA’s evaluation process for mobile health apps.