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Latest KFF Health News Stories

Workforce Shortages To Strain Certain California Communities

KFF Health News Original

Medical workforce shortages will disproportionately strain certain communities in California, as at least 4 million more people receive coverage in coming years through the 2010 federal health law, a new report finds. Researchers at the Center for the Health Professions at the University of California, San Francisco, wrote that “distribution (of health professionals) poses a […]

Super Committee Republicans Offer Deal On Tax Revenues That Includes Medicare Changes

KFF Health News Original

Jackie Judd talks with KHN’s Mary Agnes Carey about what Medicare changes would be part of the latest proposal from super committee Republicans to strike a deficit reduction deal. Also in the background is the status of a $300 billion Medicare physician pay fix.

Does Herman Cain Want A State Takeover of Medicare?

KFF Health News Original

http://c.brightcove.com/services/viewer/federated_f9?isVid=1 Herman Cain is certain to face tough questioning about his personal behavior in tonight’s CNBC debate among the Republican presidential hopefuls. But one of the candidate’s recent policy proposals might merit more attention from the debate’s moderators:  Just how does Cain propose to fix Medicare’s finances? During his health policy speech last week, Cain […]

Helping Low-Income Veterans Maintain The Best Possible Quality Of Life

KFF Health News Original

The Veterans’ Affairs Aid and Attendance program can help wartime veterans remain at home or assist them in paying for long-term care. A large number of veterans across the country who qualify for this aid, however, somehow are slipping through the cracks. A Washington state pilot program is correcting this problem.

How PARIS Is Helping Veterans In Need

KFF Health News Original

In Washington state, the Public Assistance Reporting Information System — PARIS — has proven to be an important tool in efforts to identify eligible veterans and connect them with the benefits they earned while serving their country.

Different Takes: Shifting Vets From Medicaid To The VA Is A Win-Win

KFF Health News Original

Washington state officials have created a program, which has since been copied by other states, to identify veterans who have fallen through the cracks in terms of the benefits they earned with their military service.

Today’s Headlines – Nov. 9, 2011

KFF Health News Original

Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including reports on the latest super committee’ developments, an appeals court upholds the health law and results from yesterday’s elections. The New York Times: Health Law Survives Test In Court Of Appeals The decision came as the Supreme Court is about to consider whether to take […]

Mixed Verdict: Ohioans Vote Against Health Law; Miss. ‘Personhood’ Fails

KFF Health News Original

Ohioans overwhelmingly endorsed a constitutional amendment designed to block implementation of the individual mandate in the Buckeye State, but Mississippi voters rejected an anti-abortion amendment to that state’s constitution. Here are some details of last night’s election results — and what they mean about the voters’ mood on health policy issues: Ohio Referendums: By a […]

FAQ On HSAs: The Basics Of Health Savings Accounts

KFF Health News Original

Health Savings Accounts are increasingly among the options that consumers can consider when making their health insurance choices. Here are some of the advantages and disadvantages they offer.

Walmart Wants To Be Nation’s Biggest Primary Care Provider

KFF Health News Original

According to confidential documents obtained by KHN, Walmart is seeking to become the largest provider of primary health care in the United States in order to “lower the cost of health care.” Analysts say Walmart could also be trying to get more people in their stores.

Panel Proposes Cures For Health IT Ills

KFF Health News Original

For all of the federal government’s enthusiasm to move the health care system into electronic medical records —  in tandem with the implementation of the health care law — the widespread use of information technology for patient care still raises some concerns, according to a new report today from the Institute of Medicine (IOM). The IOM’s 197-page report, requested by the […]

Grumpiest Hospital Patients Are In New York City, Chicago and Florida

KFF Health News Original

Not all hospital patients are alike. Some are harder to satisfy. Especially those who are admitted to hospitals in and around New York City, Chicago and sections of Florida. Patients in those regions of the country gave some of the lowest evaluations of their hospital stays, a Kaiser Health News analysis of Medicare data shows. Those […]

Today’s Headlines – Nov. 8, 2011

KFF Health News Original

Good morning! Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including stories on malpractice reforms and previews of voting in Ohio on two ballot questions affecting health care issues and a Mississippi abortion issue. Politico: Medical Malpractice Reform Efforts Stalled In a bid to win support for health reform from skeptical doctors back in 2009, […]

Study Finds Potential, Challenges For Bundled Payments

KFF Health News Original

It’s almost Black Friday, when people across the country will be doing price comparisons to save money on their holiday gifts. And a new study  shows that reducing price differences among hospitals could provide the U.S. health care system with a similar gift: lower costs. Researchers reporting in Health Affairs on Monday found that, after adjusting for […]