Medicare

Latest KFF Health News Stories

Reaching Out To Legal Immigrants Who Need Health Care

KFF Health News Original

For the first time the Department of Health and Human Services is trying to help eligible legal immigrants sign up for programs like Medicaid, sometimes by going to health fairs in immigrant neighborhoods.

Health On The Hill: Congress Returning, Seeking Consensus On ‘Super Committee’

KFF Health News Original

With the summer recess ending, Jackie Judd talks to KHN’s Mary Agnes Carey about the staffing and makeup of the deficit panel and what to expect in the coming months. The “super committee” may take a closer look reining Medicare costs in through reforming Medigap plans and provider payments to cut the deficit.

How Would Perry Reform Health Care If President?

KFF Health News Original

Republican presidential candidates are often careful to not reveal during primaries how they would change health care in America, and Texas Gov. Rick Perry is no exception. But examining Perry’s legislative record gives a glimpse into just what he’d change if elected.

Rep. Schakowsky: Without New Tax Revenue, “Super Committee” Unlikely To Be Successful

KFF Health News Original

Rep. Jan Schakowsky, D-Ill., a member of President Obama’s 2010 debt commission led by Alan Simpson and Erskine Bowles, believes lawmakers on the “super committee” should aim for a balanced approach that would include new tax revenue as well as budget cuts.

Frist: ‘Super Committee’ Has ‘Shot This Time’ At Reining In Debt, Medicare Spending

KFF Health News Original

KHN’s Mary Agnes Carey talks to former Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist about the “super committee’s” chance at tamping down the nation’s debt. Frist says the panel has a chance to lower the debt and Medicare spending growth because the American public understands the stakes this time – the American Dream.

Obama: ‘Lack Of Political Will’ On Tackling Deficits

KFF Health News Original

In his remarks to the country about the S & P downgrade, President Barack Obama said the country needed tax reform and “modest adjustments to health care programs like Medicare.”

Pawlenty Points To Minn. Health Law As Model For U.S.

KFF Health News Original

The former governor says he “passed health care reform the right way. No mandates. No takeovers.” But critics argue that it is unclear if the law will lower costs and it does little to expand insurance coverage.

Health On The Hill Transcript: Medicaid Untouched, Medicare Spared – For Now – In Debt Deal

KFF Health News Original

KHN’s Mary Agnes Carey talks about the lack of Medicare and Medicaid cuts in the initial round of cuts tied to the debt ceiling increase, and about what sort of cuts the programs could be open to later in the year.

Health Care Recommendations From Previous Bipartisan Deficit-Reduction Groups: Document

KFF Health News Original

The debt-ceiling agreement calls for a bipartisan “super committee.” This is not the first effort to find a bipartisan agreement on reducing the federal deficit; here is a guide to the health-care recommendations from four groups.

Different Takes: What’s Next For Medicare Cost Controls? Vladeck And Wilensky Offer Their Views

KFF Health News Original

During the course of negotiations to raise the debt ceiling, proposals to reduce Medicare costs had an on-again, off-again presence at the table. We asked Bruce Vladeck and Gail Wilensky which of these ideas could have a positive or negative impact on the program. A ‘Pernicioius’ Idea: Proposals To Forbid First-Dollar Coverage For Medicare Beneficiaries […]

An Unreasonable Expectation

KFF Health News Original

As the country has struggled to raise the debt ceiling, there have been periodic expectations that the current fiscal distress would produce the “right environment” to finally reform entitlements — particularly Medicare. This has seemed quite astounding to me, 15 months before a presidential election year, given the presence of a divided Congress and our highly charged political environment.

Proposals To Forbid First-Dollar Coverage For Medicare Beneficiaries

KFF Health News Original

The usual laundry lists of proposals for Medicare savings are already being circulated throughout official Washington. Most of these ideas have been around for years, and have never gotten past the talking stages because of political opposition or because they are simply bad ideas. But one especially pernicious proposal appears to have increasing traction among both politicians and policy analysts.