Latest KFF Health News Stories
Lobbyists Challenging Limits On Health Flexible Spending Accounts
Companies that administer or profit from flexible spending accounts are trying to change provisions in the new health law restricting the pre-tax funds used by millions of consumers.
Scholars, Politicians Debating Implications Of Health Lawsuit Decision
After a federal court declared the new health law unconstitutional, it’s still unclear how far the ruling reaches. The Obama administration says that it will continue to implement the law.
Health On The Hill Transcript: With State Fiscal Pressures Mounting, Medicaid Battle Looms
As state fiscal pressures mount, governors are asking Washington to allow them to reduce their Medicaid rolls, something that’s barred under the health care law. Democrats generally prefer to give the states more federal money to help with Medicaid costs, but House Republicans are unlikely to support that, citing deficit concerns.
Video: With State Fiscal Pressures Mounting, Medicaid Battle Looms
As state fiscal pressures mount, governors are asking Washington to allow them to reduce their Medicaid rolls, something that’s barred under the health care law. Democrats generally prefer to give the states more federal money to help with Medicaid costs, but House Republicans are unlikely to support that, citing deficit concerns.
Mediation Offers An Alternative To Malpractice Lawsuits
Patients seeking redress may find this option provides the same benefits as a court battle but quicker and with less emotional toll.
Analysis: What Does Judge Vinson’s Health Law Decision Mean?
Jackie Judd talks with legal analyst Stuart Taylor about the legal blow today to the new health care reform law. Federal Judge Roger Vinson, in Florida, declared the entire law void.
Text: Judge Vinson’s Decision On Health Law
Here’s text of federal Judge Roger Vinson’s decision declaring the individual mandate, and thus the whole health care law, unconstitutional.
It Will Be Democratic Senators Leading The Charge To Fix Or Improve The New Health Law
A survey of public opinions and the current political landscape suggests it will be those vulnerable Senate Democrats facing election in 2012 who are most likely to push the agenda to improve the health overhaul.
Who Is A President To Turn To? HHS Or The Business Roundtable?
In health care speech, Obama ignores new HHS study on insurance costs and cites 2009 industry report instead.
Text: President Obama Makes Health Law Defense At Conference
President Barack Obama Friday morning addressed a group of people gathered at the Families USA Health Action conference and continued his defense of the health law.
Doctors Continued To Spend Big On Lobbying in 2010
The AMA was the biggest spender for lobbying operations among health care groups last year as it faced a backlash from members angry that the new health law didn’t reverse planned cuts in Medicare reimbursements.
Chart: Lobbying On Health Care Issues Falls In 2010
The passage of the federal health law last March brought an overall decrease in lobbying on health care from the massive effort during the heated congressional debate in 2009. Overall, 10 key health care players spent about $127 million on lobbying last year, down nearly 9 percent from 2009.
House GOP Launch Hearings On Health Law
House Republicans have launched a series of hearings aimed at giving the law the comeuppance they think it deserves.
Fixing The Failure At Physician Compare
The launch of Medicare’s Physician Compare website should have been a watershed event in the long campaign for health care transparency and patient empowerment. But, so far, it hasn’t been.
Assessing Cuomo’s Efforts To Cut N.Y.’s Medicaid Budget
Courtney Burke of the Rockefeller Institute talks about New York’s new governor’s plans to tackle the public health insurance program.
Analyzing Obama’s State Of The Union Speech: Health On The Hill
During his State of the Union Address, President Obama pledged to work with Republicans to change some elements of the health care law, such repealing a provision that the president said placed “an unnecessary bookkeeping burden” on small businesses. But the president made it clear he would not accept any major changes to the law. In the GOP response, House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan, R-Wisc., said his party would work to repeal the law and replace it with more “fiscally responsible, patient-centered reforms.”
Video: Republican SOTU Response
Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., delivers the Republican response to President Obama’s State of the Union speech and vows the GOP will work to replace the health law.
President Obama On Health Law: ‘Let’s Fix What Needs Fixing And Move Forward’
In his State of the Union message, the president also said he’s “not willing … to go back to the days when insurance companies could deny someone coverage because of a pre-existing condition.”
Video: President Obama On Health Law
In President Obama’s State of the Union speech, he signaled a willingness to make some changes to the health law while leaving its main form intact.
Republican And Tea Party SOTU Response: ‘We Will Work To Replace’ Health Law
Rep. Paul Ryan delivered the official GOP response to the president’s State of the Union address and Rep. Michele Bachmann separately added remarks geared to tea party concerns. Both called for repeal of the health law.