Latest KFF Health News Stories
Some Medicaid Doctors Rely Heavily On Potent Drugs
Over the last five years, Texas physicians wrote Medicaid patients nearly 3.4 million prescriptions for antipsychotics.
Transcript: Health On The Hill – July 12, 2010
President Obama’s decision to use his recess appointment powers to nominate Donald Berwick to head the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services continues to anger Republicans who wanted a public examination of Berwick’s record.
Week In Review: Berwick As CMS Chief Sets Washington Abuzz
President Obama used a recess appointment to bypass the usual congressional confirmation process, advancing his administration’s health reform implementation efforts but triggering GOP cries of political foul.
Seven Health Care Changes You Might Have Missed
Provisions such as eliminating co-payments for some preventive services, reviewing premium increases and expanding Medicaid coverage to adults without children could have a lasting impact on the health system.
Transcript: Dr. Donald Berwick’s Speech To The British National Health Service
President Obama’s appointment – during a congressional recess – of Dr. Donald Berwick to head the Center for Medicaid and Medicare Services is focusing new attention on Berwick’s record and beliefs, in particular a 2008 speech about Britain’s National Health Service. This is an edited transcript.
Transcript: Health On The Hill – July 6, 2010
Congress left town for the July 4th recess without taking action on legislation that would give states additional Medicaid funding through June of next year. A bipartisan group of governors who came to Washington last week said that without the extra funds they would have to make budget cuts beginning July 1.
Health On The Hill – July 6, 2010
Congress left town for the July 4th recess without taking action on legislation that would give states additional Medicaid funding through June of next year. A bipartisan group of governors who came to Washington last week said that without the extra funds they would have to make budget cuts beginning July 1.
COBRA, Medicaid Subsidies Still Loom Over Congressional Agenda
Democrats had hoped to extend health insurance subsidies for newly laid off workers, extend extra Medicaid payments to the states, and pass a long term Medicare ‘doc fix’ before the July 4 recess. But all they could accomplish was a short-term Medicare fix.
What You Need To Know About The Government’s New Health Insurance Website
The new health law mandated that the government set up a website to help consumers understand all of their insurance options. The site, http://www.healthcare.gov, launched July 1.
Governors To Congress: Extend Extra Medicaid Funds
Kansas’ Mark Parkinson is one of a number of governors who are urging Congress to extend the additional Medicaid funds that are now scheduled to expire in December. The governors say without the extra help, state budgets could be devastated.
As Congress temporarily delayed the 21 percent Medicare pay cut to doctors, it failed to resolve the issue of COBRA benefits and Medicaid funding for hard-pressed states.
Health Overhaul Train Leaves Doctors On The Platform
Good news and bad news for doctors who treat Medicare patients.
Medicaid’s Ticking Bomb – Long Term Care – Could Wipe Out State Budgets
A new study claims the costs of Medicaid’s long-term care services could cripple states’ already-fragile budgets.
Transcript: Health On The Hill
The Senate has passed a six-month payment increase for Medicare physicians but it is unclear if the House will pass that measure.
Health On The Hill – June 21, 2010
The Senate has passed a six-month payment increase for Medicare physicians but it is unclear if the House will pass that measure.
Experts Outline Ways To Enroll Children, Adults In Medicaid
Experts say states can employ a variety of strategies to identify and enroll eligible children in the Medicaid and CHIP programs this year
States, Community Groups Press Efforts To Sign Up Uninsured Children For Coverage
Federally funded initiatives to enroll kids in Medicaid and CHIP hold lessons for enrolling adults once health overhaul goes into effect in 2014.
‘Door Knockers’ Help Uninsured Kids Get Coverage
The “Walkers/Talkers” program in New Orleans sends workers into the poorest neighborhoods to find uninsured children and then helps sign them up for Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program.
States, Community Groups Efforts to Sign Up Uninsured Children
The Walkers/Talkers program in New Orleans sends workers into the poorest neighborhoods to help sign uninsured children up for government health insurance programs.
Transcript: Health On The Hill
The Senate is debating ways to reverse a 21 percent cut in Medicare physician payments that began on June 1.
