Latest KFF Health News Stories
Budget Expert: Don’t Expect Medicare Cuts In Debt Deal – The KHN Interview
Federal budget guru Stan Collender offers his views on the current debt-ceiling talks and how efforts to include entitlement spending reforms in the final deal could effect future budget battles.
Health On The Hill: Debt Limit Talks Intensify As Deadline Nears
Jackie Judd and KHN’s Mary Agnes Carey discuss what Democrats, Republicans and special interest groups are saying in front of the cameras and behind the scenes.
Rising Health Care Curve Won’t Bend, Even for Obama
A forthcoming report from the Congressional Budget Office shows that more than two dozen demonstrations projects launched by Medicare and Medicaid over the past decade have failed to stop the upward march of health care costs. But health care policy experts say the findings paint too gloomy a picture.
PhRMA Chief Says Support For Health Law ‘Was Right Decision’-The KHN Interview
But John Castellani, who came to the drugmakers’ lobbying group after the health care debate, also warns officials against further cuts to the industry.
Medicare Payment Board Draws Brickbats
The health care overhaul law calls for an independent board to make recommendations for ways to reduce Medicare payments without cutting benefits or increasing costs to beneficiaries. But Congressmen from both sides of the aisle are growing doubtful that such a board will work.
President Calls For ‘Meaningful Changes’ To Medicare, Medicaid (Video Excerpts)
In his news conference today, President Barack Obama discussed negotiations with Republicans regarding the debt ceiling and the deficit. He also paid some attention to efforts to curb entitlement spending, including Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid.
Letter To The Editor: Hospices Are Serving A Critical Need
This letter was written in response to Jordan Rau’s story, Concerns About Costs Rise With Hopices’ Use, which was published by Kaiser Health News and the New York Times on June 27.
Obama Talks Medicare And Debt Limit In Press Conference
President Obama on Wednesday said corporations should give up some tax breaks before the United States asks seniors to pay more for their Medicare benefits. But, Obama also opened the door to make changes and spending reductions to Medicare. Watch these video excerpts from the press conference.
Health On The Hill: Obama Confers With Senate Leaders On Budget
KHN’s Mary Agnes Carey talks with Jackie Judd about President Obama’s separate meetings with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid in which the trio is trying to find common ground on Medicare cuts and other controversial proposals to lower the deficit.
Health On The Hill Transcript: Obama Tries To Aid Deficit Talks With Meetings
KHN’s Mary Agnes Carey talks with Jackie Judd about President Obama’s separate meetings with Senate leaders Mitch McConnell and Harry Reid in which the trio is trying to find common ground on Medicare cuts to help lower the deficit.
Growing Hospice Care Costs Bring Concerns About Misuse
Although the benefit is intended for patients who have no more than six months to live, 19 percent now receive hospice services for longer.
Berenson: Take Small Steps Now To Lower Medicare Costs
Robert Berenson, an Urban Institute fellow and former official at the Department of Health and Human Services, says a number of small Medicare initiatives are “low-hanging fruit” that could be pursued now in order to control the program’s spending.
Controlling Medicare Costs – Robert Berenson
The Urban Institute’s Robert Berenson talks about controlling Medicare costs and says it’s not about rationing but about identifying places where the health care program is being abused.
Health On The Hill Transcript: Democrats, Republicans Stake Out Positions In Budget Talks
PBS Newshour’s David Chalian talks with Jackie Judd about the latest developments in the budget negotiations being led by Vice President Joe Biden and the role of Medicaid and Medicare in those talks.
Health On The Hill: Democrats, Republicans Stake Out Positions In Budget Talks
PBS Newshour’s David Chalian talks with Jackie Judd about the latest developments in the budget negotiations being led by Vice President Joe Biden and the role of Medicaid and Medicare in those talks.
Health Law Expands Medicare To Montana Asbestos Patients
The provision could help cover the hundreds of people diagnosed with the condition, but Republican efforts to repeal the law raise concerns for patients.
Enthusiasm Rises Among Med Students For Primary Care-The KHN Interview
Dr. Andy Bindman says educators at the University of California, San Francisco, are seeing a “pretty significant uptick” in applicants for primary care residencies.
Panel Urges Crackdown On Medicare’s Use Of Imaging
Congressional advisory group recommends that doctors who order a lot of MRIs, CT scans and other such procedures be forced to get prior approval.
Democrats Revive Medicare As Political Weapon
Republicans used Medicare as their weapon in the midterm elections last fall, and now Democrats are turning the tables on them. They’ve taken aim at the budget plan House Republicans voted for in April.
Health on the Hill: GOP Presidential Candidates Debate Health Law, Medicare
KHN’s Mary Agnes Carey is joined by Politico Pro’s David Nather to discuss Monday’s GOP presidential debate that featured the candidates talking about repeal of the health law as well as Medicare reforms proposed by Rep. Paul Ryan.
