Latest KFF Health News Stories
Why Public Support For Health Care Faltered
The Democrats’ health overhaul legislation is in trouble for many reasons, including key policy decisions that led many Americans to wonder whether they would wind up worse off.
It’s Time To Coordinate Care For The Disabled And Frail Elderly
Since the creation of Medicare and Medicaid nearly 45 years ago, the government has separated acute medical care from personal assistance and long-term care, placing many of the most vulnerable people in the nation at risk. An obscure provision of the Senate health bill attempts to crack that barrier.
Congress and Medicare: Letting Go Is Hard to Do
Democrats’ health plan would give agencies more power to test and expand promising approaches to holding down costs, but the question remains: Can lawmakers resist interfering in efforts that could hurt incomes of home-state providers?
Democrats’ Ideas To Expand Medicare Raise Hackles Of Doctors, Hospitals, Insurers
Hospitals, doctors and insurers are opposed to allowing people under 65 to join Medicare
Analysis Of Medicare Costs Knocks McAllen, Texas, Off Its Expensive Perch
An independent advisory board has a new way to evaluate geographical differences in Medicare spending. Now, McAllen, Texas is no longer considered as one of the top two expensive areas in the country.
Seniors Often Reluctant To Switch Medicare Drug Plans
Comparing plans can save hundreds of dollars for some consumers but many people are overwhelmed at the prospect of making such a change. Seniors have until the end of the year to revise their coverage.
Getting The Bugs Out Of Health Reform
When it comes to making medical care not only cheaper but also better, reducing hospital infections is among the easiest changes to make–something reform really should be able to do, even in this political universe of such limited possibility.
Doctors Fear Reform Angst Is Tainting Medicare Payment ‘Fix’
Physicians’ lobby says fixing the 12-year-old formula that sets Medicare payments would prove lawmakers’ commitment to reform health care.
New Technology Helps Elderly Stay Healthy At Home
Devices that measure blood pressure and other health information may help the elderly and people with chronic conditions stay in touch with doctors while remaining at home. The technology could cut health spending by catching problems before they escalate into crises.
Medicare Experiments To Curb Costs Seldom Implemented on a Broad Scale
Successful demonstration projects are often derailed by objections from hospitals, doctors and other providers —
Take This Conservative Argument Seriously
Lately conservatives have been making an argument you should hear. It’s about whether we can believe Congress when it promises to raise taxes or cut spending–and, as such, whether we can believe that health care reform can actually be fiscally responsible.
In Health Debate, Both Sides Vie For Seniors’ Support
Nearly all seniors are covered through Medicare, but legislators still need their support for a health care overhaul bill. Democrats have packed their bills with perks for seniors in an effort to win their backing, but they’re not doing a good p.r. job, one public opinion expert says. This story comes from our partner NPR News.
Lawmakers, White House Consider Bipartisan Route To Bend Health ‘Cost Curve’
With growing signs that health reform bills would do little to “bend the cost curve,” Sens. Judd Gregg, R-N.H., and Kent Conrad, D-N.D., want a bipartisan commission to control future Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security costs.
Politics Aside, Annual Medicare Fix Is Same Old Story
When Congress tried to fix a glitch in Medicare that threatens to cut payments to doctors, senators refused to take up the bill because it didn’t include a way to offset the estimated $245 billion, 10-year cost. Both Democrats and Republicans are claiming that previous “fixes” for the Medicare doctor fee problem were paid for, but actually they weren’t.
An Experiment In Reducing Costs, Improving Care At Hillcrest Medical Center
Seventy-six year old Frank Morrow is not only having his knee replaced at Hillcrest Medical Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He’s also helping to test a Medicare payment system.
Tulsa Hospital Gives Medicare Patients Cash Back For Surgery
At Hillcrest Medical Center, which is testing a “bundled” Medicare payment system, some seniors get paid up to $1,157 for having surgery. The pilot program aims to save money and improve care by paying doctors and hospitals a lump sum and rewards the patients with part of the savings.
As Congress Moves To Cut Medicare Advantage Funding, Some Seniors Could Get Reprieve
The Senate Finance Committee calls for cuts in private Medicare plans to help pay for health reform. Some senators on the panel, worried about the 10.5 million seniors in the plans
Advocates Urge Action Now To ‘Fix’ Medicare Doctor Payments
Legislation to ‘fix’ Medicare’s formula for physician payments is stalled in the Senate with opposition mounting to the fact that the bill comes with a hefty cost, but no plan to pay its price tag.
Congress Wrestles With Yearly Medicare Fee Cuts
Medicare payments to doctors are scheduled to be cut more than 20 percent on Jan. 1, which could lead many doctors to stop seeing Medicare patients altogether. To stop the cuts, Congress must find a way to offset the estimated $245 billion cost over 10 years. This story comes from our partner NPR News
Lawmakers to Fight for Rural Hospitals Despite Budget Concerns On Reform
The finances of Hillsboro Medical Center in North Dakota improved after it got a “critical access” designation. Sens. Conrad, D-N.D., Wyden, D-Ore., Pryor, D-Ark., and Brownback, R-Kan., want to make it easier for other rural hospitals to get the designation as part of health reform.
