Latest KFF Health News Stories
Branding Health Insurance Exchanges To Make The Sale
Just the word “exchange” sounds to many like off-putting government-speak, so California, like many other states, is eager to come up with a more appealing name for these new marketplaces.
Boom In Trauma Centers Can Help Save Lives, But At What Price?
More than 200 centers have opened since 2009, but experts raise concerns about cost and quality.
Health Plan Open Season Brings Rising Premiums And More Expensive Dependent Coverage
As employees review their health plan options for 2013, they can expect changes.
Obama, Ryan Offer Dueling Visions Of Medicare To AARP Members
Both candidates portray themselves as protectors of the popular entitlement program and argue their rivals’ plans would undermine it.
Q & A: Keeping Your Young Adult Child On Your Health Plan
Much of the time, even if the child is financially independent and has a job with insurance, the young adult can stay on the family plan.
Often Overlooked In Nursing Home Admission Paperwork Is An Arbitration Agreement
Signing the form means that if a problem can’t be amicably resolved, the patient or family agrees to take the dispute to a professional arbitrator rather than file a lawsuit.
Health Premiums Rise A Relatively Modest 4 Percent, Study Finds
Analysts attribute slowed growth to people using less health care as a result of higher deductibles, continuing weak economy.
Bill Clinton On Medicare: ‘There Were No Cuts To Benefits At All’
As part of his 50-minute defense of the Obama administration’s record, the former president praised Obama’s health policies, asking, “Are we better off because President Obama fought for health care reform? You bet we are.”
Biz Groups Push For Answers On Minnesota Exchange
The head of the largest business group in Minnesota has a message for both Democrats and Republicans as the state attempts to plan a health insurance exchange: We need answers, fast.
‘Obamacare’ Plays Starring Role In First Night Of Convention
Several speakers cited the 2010 health law as a signature achievement of the Obama administration Tuesday night at the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, N.C. This video sample includes Stacey Lihn, the mother of a child with congenital heart disease, HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, San Antonio Mayor Juli
Are Medicare’s New Quality Incentives Large Enough To Change Hospital Behavior?
In October, hospitals stand to gain or lose as much as 1 percent of reimbursements. But experts say most will break even.
State experiment gets scrutiny amid national debate over role of insurance regulation in rising coverage costs.
FAQ: Obama v. Ryan On Controlling Federal Medicare Spending
Here are some questions and answers about the Democratic and Republican approaches to moderating spending on the popular program, which covers 47 million seniors and disabled people.
Feds Push Maryland To Think Big On Health Cost Control
Federal officials are urging Maryland and its powerful health industry to build on the state’s unique hospital rate-setting system to develop sweeping cost controls that could be used as a model for other states.
Hospitals Look To Become Insurers, As Well As Providers Of Care
Under new model, “the last place I’ll want you to be is in the hospital,” says CEO.
Q&A: Paying For Ambulance Services
Michelle Andrews answers a reader question about what you can do when insurance only covers a portion of an ambulance bill.
Ohio Medicaid Program Raises Stakes For Nursing Homes
The state sets the largest financial incentive program in the country, tying about 10 percent of reimbursements to facilities’ meeting quality standards.
Medicare Studying Plans To Pay Nursing Homes Based On Quality
The 2010 health law directs the health program for seniors to create an incentive pay program for nursing homes.
FAQ: Ryan’s Plan Would Make Key Changes In Medicaid, Too
Under Ryan’s plan, the federal share of Medicaid spending would drop sharply as the program becomes a block grant to states, indexed for inflation and population growth.
Medicare To Penalize 2,217 Hospitals For Excess Readmissions
Too many patients are returning to the hospital soon after being discharged, a costly problem the government is tackling.
