Latest KFF Health News Stories
More Exchange Money Headed to States
New federal money is headed to ten states to help them establish insurance exchanges through which individuals and small businesses can buy insurance beginning in 2014. The Department of Health and Human Services is sending a total of $229 million in exchange establishment grants to ten states, the agency announced Wednesday. Half are receiving this […]
Can Massachusetts Lead The Way On Controlling Health Costs?
As of April 1, base health insurance rates for small businesses will increase, on average, just 1.8 percent. Four prominent economists discuss why the state is having success keeping premium costs down.
Today’s Headlines – February 22, 2012
Good morning! The Associated Press/Washington Post: Supreme Court Adds 30 Minutes to Next Month’s Health Care Arguments, Up To 6 Hours Overall The Supreme Court has added another 30 minutes to upcoming arguments over President Barack Obama’s health care overhaul. The sessions now will span six hours over three days in late March. The justices […]
Convenient Methods For Birth Control Aren’t Always Easy To Pay For
Free contraception has sure been a hot topic lately. But there’s still one facet that hasn’t received much attention. Religious leaders and politicians have debated whether requiring employers to cover prescription birth control for employees gratis — as required under the health care overhaul — tramples on religious freedom. But what about over-the-counter methods like […]
Feds Jump-Start Health Insurance Co-Ops With Loans
Seven organizations will receive a total of $639 million in federal low-interest loans to launch new health insurance plans in eight states, the federal government announced Tuesday.
Today’s Headlines – February 21, 2012
Good morning! Hope you enjoyed Presidents’ Day! Here are your morning headlines to get you back in the swing of things: USA Today: Court Action Could Prolong Health Care Fight Next month’s challenge to the Obama-sponsored health care law could affect the care available to most Americans, alter the balance of power between Washington and […]
Seniors Need To Reevaluate Their Needs For Popular Medical Treatments: The KHN Interview
Dr. Nortin Hadler argues in a new book that older Americans need to be more aggressive about challenging doctors on prescribed procedures. “People should want to know the likelihood that death will be postponed by doing something,” he says.
Insurance Coverage Might Steer Women To Costlier – But More Effective – Birth Control
Long-acting methods such as the IUD and the hormonal implant are nearly 100 percent effective and require no effort after insertion. But birth control pills are about 92 percent effective.
Hospitals Demand Payment Upfront From ER Patients With Routine Problems
Proponents say the policy saves time and money, but critics fear people will be discouraged from seeking emergency room care when they need it.
GOP Contraceptive Amendment Could Have Wider Effect; The Love Of Caregiving
Every week, reporter Jessica Marcy selects interesting reading from around the Web. Mother Jones: The GOP Plan To Give Your Boss ‘Moral’ Control Over Your Health Insurance In their latest move in the battle over contraception coverage, top Republicans in Congress are going for broke: They’re now pushing a bill that would allow employers and […]
Reid Vows Health Prevention Fund Will Be Replenished, Eventually
Prevention advocates, take heart. The $5 billion cut to the health law’s prevention fund included in a House-Senate conference deal on the “doc fix” will be replenished in the years ahead by design as the fund grows, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., said Thursday. At a news conference Thursday, Reid said, “We put into law […]
Today’s Headlines – February 17, 2012
Happy Friday! The Wall Street Journal: Catholic Bishops Fight Contraception Rule At House Hearing Catholic bishops took their fight against a new federal rule requiring health insurance plans to cover contraception to a House hearing, where a representative of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops testified that Obama administration changes announced last week are “simply […]
An Animated Conversation About ACOs
Accountable Care Organizations are a continuing source of interest to both health care providers and consumers. We at KHN have called them “the hottest three-letter word in health care.” Now WBUR’s CommonHealth blog has put together a video animation that walks viewers through how ACOs work and what that means for consumers. The blog promises that […]
SCOTUS Preview Part 2: Analyzing The Likely High Court Arguments On The Health Law
In part two of analysis of the Supreme Court’s upcoming decision on the health law, Stuart Taylor talks with Jackie Judd about the arguments each side is likely to make defending or against the individual mandate and the Medicaid expansion.
Health On The Hill: Congressional Leaders Reach Deal On 10-Month ‘Doc Fix’
KHN’s Mary Agnes Carey talks with Jackie Judd about the agreement Senate and House negotiators reached today on the “doc fix,” which avoids a cut in Medicare physician payment rates for the rest of the year.
Today’s Headlines – February 16, 2012
Good morning! Los Angeles Times: Lawmakers Reach Tentative Deal To Extend Payroll Tax Break Despite discomfort in the Republican ranks, House and Senate negotiators reached a deal in principle early Thursday to extend a payroll tax break, continue unemployment benefits and ensure that Medicare doctors do not get a pay cut this year. … One […]
Tentative ‘Doc Fix’ Deal Would Cut Health Law’s Prevention Fund by $5B
After wrangling for weeks over how to finance a Medicare “doc fix,” House and Senate conferees have a plan. The proposal would cut Medicare payments to hospitals and other providers for “bad debt,” Medicare payments to clinical laboratories and Medicaid “disproportionate share” payments to hospitals that serve many poor patients, and divert $5 billion from the health law’s $15 […]
Does Contraception Really Pay For Itself?
This story comes from our partner ‘s Shots blog. Last week, President Barack Obama announced that religious groups won’t have to pay for contraceptive services themselves. Instead, the cost would be borne by their insurance companies. That compromise has raised a whole new set of questions on its own, though. Here’s the way the new […]
In just over 5 weeks, the Supreme Court will hear challenges and defenses of the 2010 Affordable Care Act
Really, America, Most Mass. Residents Like Health Reform
Latest WBUR poll shows that 62 percent of residents support Massachusetts’ health reform law, despite the drubbing it’s taken during the Republican presidential primaries.