Latest KFF Health News Stories
Breaking Down The Debate, Word-By-Word
President Barack Obama and former Mass. Gov. Mitt Romney had plenty to say about health care in the first debate in Denver Wednesday night. Here are they words they chose — with the most-frequently used words shown larger — during the discussions about health policy issues during the debate. Obama words: Romney’s words:
Today’s Headlines – Oct. 4, 2012
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including highlights, analysis and fact-checking from last night’s presidential debate. The Associated Press/Washington Post: Romney, Obama Tangle Over Health Care Reform Law In First Presidential Debate Republican Mitt Romney is vowing to repeal President Barack Obama’s health care law, saying it adds costs to the health […]
Denver Debate: Medicaid As A Domestic Priority
The Medicaid program was not a major focus of Wednesday night’s debate between President Barack Obama and former Mass. Gov. Mitt Romney, but it was a topic of discussion as the two candidates laid out their domestic policy priorities.
Denver Debate: Obama And Romney On ‘Obamacare’
The bulk of Wednesday night’s presidential debate in Denver focused on the topic of health care. In this segment, President Barack Obama and former Mass. Gov. Mitt Romney discuss the 2010 health law.
How Will The Election Change Medicaid?
Frequently asked questions about Romney and Obama’s very different visions for the future of state-federal health program.
HHS Secretary Touts The ACA’s Benefits For Older Hispanics
Just hours before the first presidential debate, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius delivered a message about the dire need to protect Medicare and Medicaid funding to a critical electoral constituency. Sebelius was the keynote speaker at the National Hispanic Council on Aging’s National Summit in Washington, an annual meeting of Hispanic health care, housing, aging […]
Grover Norquist Prods Georgia Legislators To Drop Hospital Tax Used To Raise Funds For Medicaid
The author of an anti-tax pledge signed by many of the nation’s GOP lawmakers says renewing the hospital tax would amount to “a violation” of their promise. Some hospitals are firing back saying the tax is needed.
Today’s Headlines – Oct. 3, 2012
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including presidential debate previews and reports on a new round of polling. The Wall Street Journal: Race Tightens In 2 States As Ohio Gap Widens The presidential race is tightening in the battleground states of Florida and Virginia, but one of the biggest prizes—Ohio—remains a difficult […]
Medicaid Stars In New Obama Campaign Ad
http://www.youtube.com/v/dzMHhFOdXCc?version=3&hl=en_US At last, Medicaid is getting some respect. Medicaid, not Medicare, is the subject a new television campaign advertisement for President Barack Obama (above). The 30-second ad is being broadcast in five election battleground states — Colorado, Virginia, Nevada, Iowa and Ohio. It accuses GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney of supporting the plan passed by […]
Maine Seeks To Cut Medicaid Eligibility
Gov. Paul LePage is seeking cuts to the rolls of MaineCare, the state’s Medicaid program, by more than 23,000 people and reduced benefits for nearly 3,800 others.
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. […]