Latest KFF Health News Stories
Baucus Plan Gives A Nod To GOP Ideas
Democrats’ latest proposal includes some Republican-inspired provisions, though in a watered-down form.
How Republicans Would Overhaul the Health System: The Wish List
The GOP’s plans
Coburn Bill Would Create Panel to Oversee Quality
Bill raises questions among some Conservatives, who worry it creates a new bureaucracy.
The Indian Health Service Paradox
The Indian Health Service serves as an example of “big” government health care that is lean and efficient.
The Predicament of Near-Seniors And Health Reform
The differing interests and preferences of seniors and near-seniors reflect the perils of incremental reform in reaching universal coverage.
Highlights Of Senator Max Baucus’ News Conference
The chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., discussed his health proposal at a Capitol Hill news conference today. He acknowledged the lack of Republican support, but expressed confidence that some members of the GOP would sign on, saying: “At the end of the day, we all share a common purpose, that is to make the lives of Americans better tomorrow than they are today, and to get health-care reform done, which means the time to come for action is now.”
Update From Mary Agnes Carey: What Baucus’ New Bill Means
KHN’s Mary Agnes Carey discusses Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus’ new health care bill, which was released today.
Baucus Releases Bill: No Public Option
Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus unveiled a health care bill today that would require most people to have health insurance and would bar insurance companies from discriminating against people with medical problems.
Video Highlights Of The News Conference | Mary Agnes Carey Discusses What The New Bill Means
Press Release: Baucus’ Plan To Lower Health Care Costs
The following is a press release on Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus’ new health care reform legislation.
San Francisco’s Universal Health Care Model
The Healthy San Francisco Plan, the city’s public health plan for the uninsured, has many of the elements currently under consideration in Washington, D.C. It was proposed as a stopgap measure until Congress moved ahead with universal coverage. Now, it’s being heralded as a public option that works and a model for reform.
Transcript: Health On The Hill – September 15, 2009
NPR’s Julie Rovner and KHN’s Mary Agnes Carey and Eric Pianin discuss recent and upcoming activities on the Hill.
Health On The Hill – September 15, 2009
KHN’s Mary Agnes Carey and Eric Pianin are joined by NPR’s Julie Rovner to discuss Sen. Max Baucus’ health reform package and the chances for Republican support for a health overhaul bill.
Workers Face Higher Costs for Employer-Sponsored Insurance
Employers are passing on more of the expense of rising health insurance costs to their workers through higher deductibles and co-payments, according to new survey.
Checking In With Dr. Abraham Verghese On The Importance Of The Bedside Manner
The author of “My Own Country” and “Cutting For Stone” talks about his solution to the critical shortage of primary care physicians, the impact of technology on the patient-physician relationship and ‘the charm and magic’ of being at a patient’s bedside.
Poll Finds Most Doctors Support Public Option
In the heated, political back-and-forth of the health care debate, doctors’ voices aren’t always heard. A new, comprehensive nationwide survey finds that 73 percent of doctors support the inclusion of a public option.
Senate Health Bill On The Floor Within Two Weeks
The Senate Finance Committee could begin work on a health overhaul bill as early as next week.
Will Long-Term Care Be Included In Health Reform?
The real challenge for long-term care reform remains indifference, rather than outright opposition.
Can Obama Pay For His Health Bill?
President Obama said in his speech Wednesday that most of his health care plan “can be paid for by finding savings within the existing health care system.” Economists say there are ways to squeeze savings out of the existing health care system, but they might not make people happy.
Several states are implementing “medical home” programs, which shifts the health care system from emphasizing acute care for emergencies, such as heart attacks and strokes, to one focusing more on treating – or preventing – chronic illnesses.
Ohio Health Care Lobbyist Pays $30,000 A Year For Health Insurance
Sebelius cites case of Rick Colby, who supports Obama’s health care goals, but offers some changes.