Latest Morning Briefing Stories
Connecticut Department of Social Services’ Dawn Lambert discusses the state’s efforts to address residents’ long-term care needs while minimizing the strain on the state’s Medicaid budget.
St. Louis’ Busiest Safety Net Hospital Braces For Health Law Challenges
Christian Hospital’s struggle to serve the disadvantaged is not likely to get easier under the Affordable Care Act.
Armed With Bigger Fines, Medicare To Punish 2,225 Hospitals For Excess Readmissions
Penalties will total $227 million, but many hospitals will see their fines go down in October in the second year of the program.
Sources and Methodology: A Guide To Medicare’s Readmissions Data And KHN’s Analysis
Kaiser Health News’ data on hospital readmissions penalties comes from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
Readmissions Penalties By State: Year Two
This chart lists state averages of readmission rates and the number of hospitals in each state that will be penalized.
What To Say When Mom Or Dad Has Cancer
The Lyndon B. Johnson Hospital and MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston offer emotional and practical support for families dealing with the disease.
HHS Inspector General Scrutinizes Medicare Observation Care Policy
The difference between inpatient and observational care status can have a big effect on Medicare beneficiaries — both in terms of the bills they face and the post-hospital options available to them.
Health Law Boosts Status Of Alternative Medicine — At Least On Paper
The Affordable Care Act says that insurance companies “shall not discriminate” against any state-licensed health provider, which could lead to better coverage of chiropractic, homeopathic and naturopathic care. Alternative medicine is also mentioned in parts of the law on wellness, prevention and research.
Report recommends that Congress use Medicare’s influence to push doctors and other providers to work more closely and share in financial risk for care that is too costly.
Letters to the Editor is a periodic KHN feature. We welcome all comments and will publish a selection.
Florida Providers Jump On ACO Bandwagon
The health care model encouraged by the Affordable Care Act rewards physicians for coordinating patient care and controlling costs.
Medicaid Coverage Limits Access To Medications For Painkiller Addicts
Patients face severe limitations on the amount and duration of medicines they take to fight addiction to pain pills.
As the health care industry revamps, physicians are seeking new skills. At MIT’s Sloan School of Management, health care professionals make up 20 percent of the class.
Hospitals May Soon Be Reaching For The Stars
Medicare is considering assigning stars or other symbols to hospitals so that patients can compare quality more easily. Hospital groups are wary.
Cerner Builds Recession-Proof ‘Bunker’ For Health Data
As more doctors turn to digitizing patient health records, large companies like Cerner are building bigger and more sophisticated ways to house — and secure — the nation’s health data, and it’s turning into a big business.
Why Your Doctor May Still Have Paper Records
The federal government is paying doctors go to digital. But many practices are daunted by the expense and other obstacles as they struggle to take the leap from paper to electronic records.
Kentucky’s Rush Into Medicaid Managed Care: A Cautionary Tale For Other States
Doctors, hospitals, patients and their advocates complained about disruptions in care and payments after Kentucky moved more than half a million people on Medicaid into private plans.
‘Wildfire’ Growth Of Freestanding ERs Raises Concerns About Cost
Health experts and insurers predict the trend will boost insurance premiums for everyone.
Connecting Minnesota’s Latino Community To Health Care
One-in-eight Minnesota Latinos is uninsured. As the health law rolls out, community clinics in the state will be connecting Latinos to their new insurance options.
Small-Town Clinic Provides Care To A Farming Community’s Poor
Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center operates seven family clinics in four rural counties to fill the gap for rural patients.
