Medicare

Latest KFF Health News Stories

Obama Talks Medicare And Debt Limit In Press Conference

KFF Health News Original

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

KFF Health News Original

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

KFF Health News Original

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.

Berenson: Take Small Steps Now To Lower Medicare Costs

KFF Health News Original

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

KFF Health News Original

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: Democrats, Republicans Stake Out Positions In Budget Talks

KFF Health News Original

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.

Democrats Revive Medicare As Political Weapon

KFF Health News Original

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

KFF Health News Original

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.

GOP Presidential Hopefuls Debate Medicare

KFF Health News Original

At the New Hampshire debate, candidates Newt Gingrich, Tim Pawlenty, Rick Santorum, Herman Cain and Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas, discussed the controversial Ryan budget plan that would revamp Medicare and put forth some solutions of their own.

On Political Expediency and Health Care Reform (Guest Opinion)

KFF Health News Original

Once upon a time, President Barack Obama and many others who championed his health care plan actually professed faith in the power of a functioning health care marketplace. That now seems like a distant memory.

Ryan’s Unintended Consequences (Guest Opinion)

KFF Health News Original

There is one good thing about Ryan’s plan, and it has been completely overlooked. Offering beneficiaries the same voucher, no matter where they live, would expose the egregious amount of money Medicare wastes in many parts of the country.