Latest KFF Health News Stories
The House, Senate and You: A New Guide to Health Reform
Now that the Senate has passed a hotly debated health care bill, Congress is headed to the next step: House-Senate negotiations in January to try to hammer out a final version. Here’s where things stand and how you might be affected.
Analysis: Health Care Polls Don’t Tell Whole Story
Polls show opposition and unease about the Democrats’ health overhaul bills, but these snapshots of public opinion aren’t necessarily good indicators of how voters will feel later about the legislation and the politicians who are trying to push it through Congress.
On Health Bill, Reid Proves The Ultimate Deal Maker
All 60 members of the Democratic caucus closed ranks behind the bill. And the man getting the credit for bringing them on board is the leader of the Democrats’ supermajority, Nevada Sen. Harry Reid.
Transcript: Health On The Hill – December 22, 2009
The Senate continues to debate health care reform with passage of the Democrats’ health care bill expected by Christmas Eve.
Health On The Hill – December 22, 2009
The Senate continues to debate health care reform with passage of the Democrats’ health care bill expected by Christmas Eve. Key differences between the two bills — in the areas of abortion, financing and a government-run “public plan” health insurance option — would need to be resolved in a House-Senate conference deal, and approved by both chambers before reaching President Obama’s desk.
When Senate’s Done, Health Bill Work Continues
As the Senate lurches towards a final vote on its health overhaul bill, some people are daring to look ahead to the last step in the painstaking process: marrying the Senate and House bills.
The Senate Bill Saves Families Money
Analysis from MIT’s Jonathan Gruber shows under the Senate health overhaul bill, some families could save as much as $18,000 a year on health care costs.
Requirement For Americans To Get Insurance Is Central To Health Overhaul
Both the House and Senate health care overhaul bills require most Americans to carry health insurance or pay a penalty. Yet government mandates don’t necessarily ensure compliance: Not all Americans buckle up, or get their children vaccinated.
Democrats Move To Regulate How Insurers’ Spend Customers’ Money
Both the House and Senate health overhaul bills would force insurers to spend the vast majority of premium revenue on medical care for their customers, reducing the amount available for profits, executive salaries, sales and administration.
As Health Debate Heats Up, Public Opinion Appears To Cool
According to a new tracking poll, while the majority of Americans still consider health reform important they are growing dispirited with the ongoing debate.
COBRA Help For Laid-Off Workers May Come Before Christmas
The COBRA subsidy extension now pending in Congress could be considered in the Senate this weekend.
Fact Check: Taxes And Health Reform
As part of a continuing series, “Is That So?” NPR examines a claim from Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Texas. She said that if the Democrats’ health bill passes, some taxes would increase right away, while benefits wouldn’t start until 2014.
Losing the Real Health Care Debate
The Democratic health reform bills are riddled with contradictions and fiscal gimmicks
Congress and Medicare: Letting Go Is Hard to Do
Democrats’ health plan would give agencies more power to test and expand promising approaches to holding down costs, but the question remains: Can lawmakers resist interfering in efforts that could hurt incomes of home-state providers?
Let Women Decide On Medical Tests
It is entirely reasonable for women to decide to get mammograms beginning in their forties. It is also reasonable for them to decide against it, and neither guidelines nor their physician’s personal opinion
Checking In With Consumer Union’s Jim Guest
Consumers Union added its voice to the congressional health care debate by airing a 30-second television ad supporting reform. Although the group is known for taking public positions on consumer products and services, it has never before broadcast a television commercial on a public policy question. KHN talked to the group’s president and CEO about the decision to air the ad as well as the results from a recent telephone survey the organization conducted.
Related Article: Insurance Terminology Creates Barrier To Understanding And Using Health Benefits
This is a Test: Disregard This
By Eric Pianin With prospects for a bipartisan deal dimming, Democrats are considering the use of Byzantine budget rules this fall to ram through their own version of health care overhaul legislation without fear of a Republican filibuster. The gambit is laden with parliamentary hurdles that could give GOP opponents plenty of opportunities […]