Latest KFF Health News Stories
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 […]
VP Debate: How Faith Informs The Candidates On Abortion
Vice President Joe Biden and Rep. Paul Ryan talked about how their Catholic faith informs their stances on abortion at the vice presidential debate in Danville, Ky., on Thursday.
VP Debate: Two Visions For Medicare
Vice President Joe Biden and Rep. Paul Ryan laid out their parties’ competing visions for Medicare at the vice presidential debate in Danville, Ky., on Thursday.
Romney: People Don’t Die For Lack Of Insurance
The GOP presidential nominee’s claim – in an interview with The Columbus Dispatch – is belied by a large and growing body of academic studies.
Study: Seniors Overspend On Medicare Part D
Seniors spent on average $368 more than they needed to on drug coverage through Medicare Part D plans in 2009 — their decisions complicated by the sheer volume of plans available and difficulties involved in determining what makes a plan a good choice, a Health Affairs study released Tuesday has found. There are 1,736 plans available to Medicare beneficiaries for purchasing prescription […]
Today’s Headlines – Oct. 11, 2012
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including previews of how Medicare and other health policy issues might play in tonight’s vice presidential debate. The New York Times: This Election, A Stark Choice In Health Care When Americans go to the polls next month, they will cast a vote not just for president […]
Adderall For Healthy Kids: A Cost Shift To Medicaid?
Doctors in Georgia are prescribing ADHD medications to help low-income children struggling in elementary school, even when they do not have an attention deficit disorder, reports a front-page article in Tuesday’s New York Times. The story focused on Dr. Michael Anderson in Canton, Ga., who said he had little choice in the matter if he […]
Study: CMS Penalties Don’t Change Hospital-Acquired Infection Rates
Updated at 8:00 p.m. to add comment from CMS. A Medicare payment policy designed to push hospitals to cut their infection rates has had no effect in reducing two types of preventable infections among patients in intensive care units, researchers say in a study out Wednesday in the New England Journal of Medicine. In 2008, […]
Docs Say Concerns About ER ‘Frequent Flyer’ Use Are Overblown
When Mitt Romney advised uninsured Americans to head to the emergency room for care, analysts were quick to point out the burden of high ER costs and the danger of abusing a safety net system. But emergency departments only account for 2 percent of health care spending, according to research presented by the American College […]
Today’s Headlines – Oct. 10, 2012
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including reports that GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney has pledged that his presidential agenda does not include abortion legislation. The New York Times: Obama Campaign Tells Supporters: Steady On Big Bird was part of a broader effort by Mr. Obama and his team to reassure supporters […]
Sen. Schumer Says Increasing Medicare Age Won’t Be In Any Deal
Democrats have said they are willing to overhaul entitlements if Republicans agree to new tax revenues as part of a “grand bargain” to reduce the deficit, but don’t expect the Medicare eligibility age to be increased as part of any deal, Sen. Charles E. Schumer, D-N.Y., said Tuesday. “I don’t think raising the age will […]
Revealing Angioplasty Outcomes Didn’t Improve Patient Mortality: Study
In the 23 years since New York State began publishing hospital death rates of coronary artery-bypass graft patients, the number of publicly reported outcome measures has proliferated. There are now 258 public reports on health care quality available around the country, according to the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Researchers are still studying what impact this […]