Latest KFF Health News Stories
Hospitals Look To Become Insurers, As Well As Providers Of Care
Under new model, “the last place I’ll want you to be is in the hospital,” says CEO.
Hospitals Tally Likely Costs From New Readmissions Penalties
Across the country, hospitals are estimating how much money they are going to forfeit when Medicare’s new penalties for excess readmissions kick in. Hospitals are also issuing divergent verdicts on whether they think the program is a good idea or not. Starting in October, 2,211 hospitals will lose a portion of their regular Medicare reimbursements […]
Today’s Headlines – August 24, 2012
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including reports comparing presidential candidates’ Medicare plans and health reform views. The Associated Press/Washington Post: Romney-Ryan Medicare Overhaul Plan Could Give Rise to A New Family Dynamic: Health Care Envy As the issue rises in importance in the presidential campaign, it’s leading to inevitable comparisons for […]
Mayo Clinic Seeks To Extend Its Reach With Series Of Affiliations Around The Country
The Minnesota-based medical center once looked to grow by building facilities outside its region but now is focusing on cooperative agreements with other hospitals.
Hospital Banks ‘Liquid Gold’: Human Breast Milk
When Ashley Beecher had her first daughter, nursing was a struggle, and she sometimes had to supplement her baby’s diet with formula. But when she had her second daughter in January, it was a very different story. “Very early on I noticed [that] I’ve got so much more milk than what this child is drinking,” […]
15 Minutes With Your Doctor; Ransoming Health Records
Every week Shefali S. Kulkarni selects interesting reading from around the Web. The New York Times: How Much Can Patients Learn In A 15-Minute Doctor Visit? Built more like a former professional basketball player than an elementary schoolteacher nearing retirement, the patient dropped a bagful of prescription medications on the table in the examining room […]
Today’s Headlines – August 23, 2012
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including the latest round of stories about how Medicare and abortion issues are emerging both in the presidential campaign and congressional races. The New York Times: In Poll, Obama Is Given Trust Over Medicare The Romney-Ryan proposal to reshape Medicare by giving future beneficiaries fixed amounts […]
Medicare Takes Center Stage In Close Pennsylvania Races
Romney’s selection of Ryan as his running mate has energized Democratic faithful in many congressional districts with large numbers of seniors.
CBO Says Medicare Spending Growth Slower Than Expected
Amid its grim projections for the economy overall, the Congressional Budget Office on Wednesday said that Medicare spending growth is slowing, although the program will take up a larger share of the economy in a decade than it does now. In an update to its January report on the nation’s budget and economic outlook, CBO […]
Clinics Go Mobile To Take Health Care To The Street
This story comes from our partner ‘s Shots blog. Matt Levy, medical director of community pediatrics at Georgetown University, calls mobile health clinics permanently temporary. He runs one of the clinics in a truck that stations itself at various parking spots throughout Washington at regular hours during the week. He says the clinics like his are both a […]
Today’s Headlines – August 22, 2012
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including political reports related to the abortion debate and Medicare issues. The New York Times: Patients Would Pay More If Romney Restores Medicare Savings, Analysts Say Mitt Romney’s promise to restore $716 billion that he says President Obama “robbed” from Medicare has some health care experts […]
Today’s Headlines – August 21, 2012
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including reports from the campaign trail, where House candidates are turning up the Medicare debate; and from the health care marketkplace, where Aetna acquired Coventry Health, a Medicare and Medicaid insurer. The New York Times: As Romney Enjoys Ryan’s Spark, Rivals Try To Fan It But […]
Survey: Hospitals Name Their Least Favorite Insurers
Updated at 11 a.m. with comments from Cigna. It is a truth universally acknowledged that health insurance companies can be a pain for patients. What may be a surprise is that hospitals often complain, too. For the same reasons: Denied claims. Low reimbursement. Late reimbursement. Thickets of red tape. Each year ReviveHealth, a hospital public relations firm in Santa Barbara, […]
Medicare Fraud Squads Wield New Weapons
The fraud squads who look for scams in the federal Medicare and Medicaid programs have some new weapons: tools and funding provided by the health law.
Health Law Prompts Review Of Some Medigap Plans; Defining Who Gets Dependent Status
In responses to readers’ questions, columnist Michelle Andrews looks at efforts to curb spending by Medigap insurance. In addition, she explores how health plans determine who can be on your coverage.
Today’s Headlines – August 20, 2012
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including reports about how the Medicare story is continuing to unfold on the presidential campaign trail. The Associated Press/Washington Post: Romney And Ryan To Hold Town Hall Meeting With NH Voters To Explain Medicare Plans Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan are ready to face New Hampshire […]
Maryland Seeks A New Balance In Its Unique Hospital Payment System
Maryland hospitals want insurers to pay more as the state considers cuts in Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement rates.
FAQ: Decoding The $716 Billion In Medicare Reductions
As the political campaigns tussle over how to handle the program, KHN examines the ongoing debate.
Hospitals React To Readmission Penalties
This week, a KHN analysis of Medicare data showed that 2,211 hospitals will face penalties in October for having too many patients readmitted for care within 30 days of discharge. Hospital executives around the country have had something to say about those penalties and the new policy. Here’s a round-up of how the story played as it […]
Today’s Headlines – August 17, 2012
One last batch of health policy headlines before you head to the beach. The Washington Post: Mitt Romney, Obama Camp Spar On Medicare Plans Mitt Romney wants to make the Medicare debate easy to understand. So on Thursday, he pulled out a black marker and stepped toward a trusty white board propped up on a […]