Medicare

Latest KFF Health News Stories

Health On The Hill: ‘Gang Of Six’ In The Health Care Spotlight

KFF Health News Original

NPR’s Julie Rovner talks with Jackie Judd about the re-emergence of the “Gang of Six” senators in the debt-ceiling debate, what their plan means for the CLASS Act, and how missing details are likely to be filled in.

Health On The Hill Transcript: ‘Gang Of Six’ In The Health Care Spotlight

KFF Health News Original

NPR’s Julie Rovner talks with Jackie Judd about the re-emergence of the “Gang of Six” senators in the debt-ceiling debate, what their plan means for the CLASS Act, and how missing details are likely to be filled in.

President: ‘Shared Sacrifice’ Means ‘Taking On Health Care Spending’ (Video Excerpts)

KFF Health News Original

In his second news conference in a week, President Barack Obama said he is “willing to look at” a number of ways to reduce health care spending, including provider cuts and changing the eligibility age for Medicare. But he dismissed the Republican approach, saying “it’s not necessary to completely revamp” Medicare to deal with the deficit and the debt ceiling.

Budget Expert: Don’t Expect Medicare Cuts In Debt Deal – The KHN Interview

KFF Health News Original

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.

Rising Health Care Curve Won’t Bend, Even for Obama

KFF Health News Original

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.

Medicare Payment Board Draws Brickbats

KFF Health News Original

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)

KFF Health News Original

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

KFF Health News Original

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

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.

Health On The Hill Transcript: 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.

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.

Enthusiasm Rises Among Med Students For Primary Care-The KHN Interview

KFF Health News Original

Dr. Andy Bindman says educators at the University of California, San Francisco, are seeing a “pretty significant uptick” in applicants for primary care residencies.