Latest KFF Health News Stories
Romney’s Choice Of Ryan Is Key To Politics Of Medicare Debate
KHN’s Mary Agnes Carey and Marilyn Werber Serafini discuss how Medicare reforms could figure into November’s presidential election now that presumptive GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney has chosen Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., to be his running mate.
Today’s Headlines – August 13, 2012
Good morning, here are your headlines: CBS News: “60 Minutes”: Romney, Ryan Answer Critics Of Medicare Position Romney answered critics who say Ryan’s Medicare plan will hurt the ticket’s chances, especially in Florida. “There’s only one president that I know of in history that robbed Medicare, $716 billion to pay for a new risky program […]
2013 Medicare Readmissions Penalties By Region
Medicare evaluated the readmission rates of 3,104 hospitals in determining the first year of penalties in the Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program, ultimately penalizing 71 percent of those hospitals. The first column in this chart lists 305 hospital referral regions, which are area health care markets identified by the Dartmouth Atlas. The second column in this chart […]
2013 Medicare Readmissions Penalties By State
Medicare evaluated the readmission rates of 3,104 hospitals in determining the first year of penalties in the Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program, ultimately penalizing 71 percent of those hospitals. This chart lists states in the first column. The second column shows how many hospitals in each state had at least 25 heart attack, heart failure or […]
Medicare To Penalize 2,217 Hospitals For Excess Readmissions
Too many patients are returning to the hospital soon after being discharged, a costly problem the government is tackling.
Hospitals Treating The Poor Hardest Hit By Readmissions Penalties
Many hospitals warn that Medicare penalties for high readmission rates will hurt facilities that most need resources.
Sources and Methodology: Where the Hospital Readmissions Data Came From
Kaiser Health News’ data on hospital readmissions penalties comes from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), which oversees the Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program. On Aug. 1, CMS published data tables containing the “Readmissions Adjustment Factor” for individual hospitals. More On Readmission Penalties Medicare To Penalize 2,211 Hospitals For Excess Readmissions Hospitals Treating The […]
FAQ: How Paul Ryan Proposes To Change Medicare
The Republican-controlled House, along party lines, twice approved Ryan’s proposals to overhaul the popular program by giving beneficiaries a set amount of money every year to buy coverage from competing health plans. That is a fundamental shift from today’s program, where the federal government must help pay for every doctor visit and medical service that an individual uses.
3 House Republicans Ask For GAO Report On CMS Spending
Three House Ways and Means Committee Republicans have asked the Government Accountability Office to review money spent by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services on programs not related to Medicare and Medicaid. In January 2011, Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced that the Office of Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight, […]
Today’s Headlines – August 10, 2012
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including reports about the health law’s tax provisions and insurance rebates: The Associated Press/Washington Post: Health Care Law’s Big Tax Hikes Hit The Wealthiest 2 Percent – Others Also Caught In The Net Who gets thumped by higher taxes in President Barack Obama’s health care law? […]
KHN periodically shares readers’ comments on recent original stories.
Medicare Seeks To Cut Number Of Seniors Denied Nursing Home Coverage After Hospital Stays
The government is testing new hospital payment rules to see if fewer beneficiaries will be classified as observation patients, which can be a costly designation for seniors.
Colorado Pursues Insurance Exchange-But Keeps Fighting About It
A special legislative committee gave Colorado the green light on Thursday to continue working on its health insurance exchange by allowing it to apply for a $43 million federal grant. But first the lawmakers had to fight about it.
Survey: Boomers Worry About Medicare’s Future, Want More Details From Candidates
A new AARP survey suggests that baby boomers aren’t confident they can retire as planned – or that they will have access to Medicare when they do. The organization asked registered voters, including an oversample of people age 50-plus, about their five top financial concerns to measure what they call an “Anxiety Index.” Health expenses ranked […]
Today’s Headlines – August 9, 2012
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including news about campaign trail sparring over women’s health issues, a political ad that has drawn criticism and a Romney aide’s response. Los Angeles Times: Survey: 61% Of Employers Expect Cost Increase From Healthcare Law More than 60% of employers in a new survey anticipate some […]
Rep. Courtney Pushes Bill To Expand Medicare Coverage Of Nursing Home Stays
Congress may be in recess, but Rep. Joe Courtney (D-Conn.) isn’t taking a vacation just yet. He went to a New London nursing home Wednesday to drum up support for legislation that would help residents such as a 98-year-old woman whose life savings were wiped out by nursing home bills Medicare wouldn’t pay. That woman’s niece, […]
Where Have All The Forensic Pathologists Gone?
Television crime dramas may draw big audiences, but they don’t seem to work as a recruiting tool for forensic pathologists. A draft report by a Justice Department Scientific Working Group for Medicolegal Death Investigation, which is open for comment through Aug. 22, spotlights the nation’s shortage of these highly trained professionals who perform autopsies to determine the […]
Contraception Coverage Issue Continues To Smolder On Capitol Hill
Jackie Judd and KHN’s Mary Agnes Carey discuss the health law provision mandating contraception coverage at no cost to consumers, as the focus of the dispute broadens from Congress to the courts.
Today’s Headlines – August 8, 2012
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including a variety of stories that reflect how health policy issues are playing on the campaign trail. The Wall Street Journal: Puzzling Over What To Call State Insurance Exchanges Health-insurance exchanges are a central part of the Obama administration’s health overhaul, serving as marketplaces for people […]
Q&A: Does My Travel Insurance Have Me Covered?
Michelle Andrews discusses options for protecting yourself when traveling if you have a preexisting condition.