Latest KFF Health News Stories
New Hospital Safety Effort To Link ICU Machines
Peter Pronovost’s reputation as a health care safety maven was built on his success in getting doctors and nurses to think more systematically about avoiding hospital infections from catheters by using checklists. Now Pronovost is trying to see if the machines in hospital intensive care units can be taught to communicate with each other to […]
Today’s Headlines – August 28, 2012
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including reports about new polling insights regarding the presidential campaign and Medicare, as well as what might become of the House of Representatives. Los Angeles Times: Poll Watch: Tight Presidential Race In Both Convention States As Republicans prepare to get their storm-delayed convention underway in Florida, […]
Feds Push Maryland To Think Big On Health Cost Control
Federal officials are urging Maryland and its powerful health industry to build on the state’s unique hospital rate-setting system to develop sweeping cost controls that could be used as a model for other states.
Health Law Has Gaps In Men’s Care
At the urging of women lawmakers and advocacy groups, the overhaul provides coverage for some specific preventive care, especially for sexual and reproductive health, but men’s coverage is more limited.
Vermont Goes For Gold (Silver, Bronze And Platinum, Too)
Vermont is the only state in the nation on a path to a single payer health system. That could take a while, though. And in the meantime, the state has to set up an insurance exchange to comply with the Affordable Care Act. While some states are still struggling with the basic question of whether […]
Today’s Headlines – August 27, 2012
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including reports about this week’s GOP convention, the politics of Medicare and abortion, and the latest health policy news from the states. The Washington Post: Poll: Obama, Romney Neck-And-Neck Ahead Of Party Conventions The Republican National Convention opens this week with President Obama and presumptive nominee […]
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.