Latest KFF Health News Stories
Blue-Dog Deal Dogs Health Overhaul Effort
An agreement between the House leadership and conservative Democrats sparked protests from states worried about higher Medicaid costs and liberals upset about the paring back of subsidies.
Obama’s Former Physician: Not This ‘Bogus Plan’
Dr. David Scheiner wants to make a house call to one of the most famous houses in the world. For 22 years, he was President Obama’s doctor. Now, he would like to counsel his former patient and says the President should be doing more to heal the system’s ills by holding out for a single-payer approach to health reform.
Taxing ‘Cadillac’ Health Plans Has Widespread Effects
One funding option before Congress is to tax expensive health insurance plans. But it’s not as simple as taxing the rich to help the poor. Many other Americans benefit from such plans, from union workers to big city residents to those employed by small businesses. This story comes from our partner NPR News.
Medicare data tell a different story about a public plan option.
Jubilant Democrats Move Ahead, But Still Face Many Obstacles on Reform
After weeks of painstaking talks, Democrats celebrated breakthroughs on health care overhaul on both sides of the Capitol. Yet many lawmakers and health care experts said that yesterday’s events marked only one step on the very bumpy road to a final deal that President Barack Obama might sign into law.
“Free-Rider” Penalty For Employers Draws Ire From Advocates, Yawns From Business
Unions and advocates for low-income workers are criticizing a possible Senate Finance Committee move to drop an employer mandate in favor of a “free-rider” penalty. The provision would require companies to pay for part of the subsidies for uninsured workers to buy health insurance on the proposed exchanges. Business lobbyists say it’s better than a straight mandate.
Transcript: Health On The Hill Features Significant House, Senate Developments
Jackie Judd talks with Eric Pianin, reporting from Capitol Hill, on today’s significant developments. A stalemate between Blue Dogs and House Energy and Commerce Committee chairman Henry Waxman was broken, and in the Senate Finance Committee, a new CBO score was substantially less than what had been projected. Listen to the Interview
Coming To A Doctor’s Office Near You: Photo ID Check
The little-known crime of medical identity theft can cause havoc – victims end up with big bills and wrong medical records. A new federal “Red Flags Rule” would require physician offices, among other businesses, to spot phony IDs. Doctors protest that the regulation could have “serious adverse consequences” for patients, even as the government tries to protect them.
Health On The Hill – July 29, 2009
Jackie Judd talks with Eric Pianin, reporting from Capitol Hill, on today’s significant developments. A stalemate between Blue Dogs and House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Henry Waxman was broken, and in the Senate Finance Committee, a new CBO score was substantially less than what had been projected.
Baucus: New CBO Score ‘Good News’
Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus, D-Mont., said Wednesday that a preliminary Congressional Budget Office score of his panel’s draft health care overhaul package would cost under $900 billion over the next decade and provide health coverage to 95 percent of uninsured Americans.
Prevention Efforts May Not Reduce Health Care Costs
There are ways to reduce expensive diseases, but they must be deployed strategically. This story comes from our partner NPR News.
Big Employers Could End Up Paying “Cadillac” Tax
To raise money to help pay for a health overhaul, Sen. John Kerry is proposing taxing insurance companies on expensive “Cadillac” policies. A new group of opponents is emerging: employers who “self-insure.” They say they shouldn’t have to pay taxes on the benefits they give their workers.
Health On The Hill – July 28, 2009
Mary Agnes Carey and Eric Pianin of Kaiser Health News provide an update on health overhaul negotiations on Capitol Hill.
Transcript: Health On The Hill – July 28, 2009
Mary Agnes Carey and Eric Pianin of Kaiser Health News provide an update on health overhaul negotiations on Capitol Hill.
Transitional Care Cuts Hospital Re-Entry Rates, Costs
A study published earlier this year finds 1 out of 5 older patients who are discharged from a hospital will return within a month, costing Medicare about $17 billion a year. A program in Philadelphia assigns nurses to follow up with discharged patients in order to prevent readmission. This story comes from our partner NPR News.
Just Rewards? Healthy Workers Might Get Bigger Insurance Breaks
Consumer and patients’ groups criticize proposal that would let employers bestow bigger premium discounts on employees who embrace wellness programs.
Transcript: Health On The Hill, July 27, 2009
Mary Agnes Carey discusses the possibility of a House floor vote, the ‘gang of six’ on the Senate Finance Committee and other health overhaul activity on Capitol Hill this week.
Health on the Hill – July 27, 2009
In today’s Health On The Hill, Jackie Judd talks to Kaiser Health News’ Mary Agnes Carey about what will be a crucial week for health care legislation.
Health Commission Plan Wins Some, Angers Others
The problem with putting together a big proposal – like overhauling the nation’s entire health care system – with lots of moving parts and many different interests to please, is that every time you satisfy one important constituency, you upset another.
What Counts as a Sacrifice in Health Reform?
Do the Democratic plans in Congress ask for changes that qualify as a “sacrifice”?