Latest KFF Health News Stories
Pay Close Attention To The Enrollment Calendar To Avoid Penalties
Consumers can sign up on the health insurance marketplace from Nov. 15 to Feb. 15 but waiting can leave them exposed to not only medical bills but also the health law’s penalties.
Consumer Guide On Health Law Enrollment: Is The Second Time The Charm?
Starting Nov. 15, consumers can sign up for health insurance on the federal or state health exchanges. Officials say they have worked out many of the technical problems that plagued last year’s enrollment.
Kidney Dialysis Company Expands Into The Hospital Business
DaVita HealthCare Partners, a kidney dialysis company, is picking up on a new way insurers and the government are paying for health care — by keeping people healthy through primary care.
L.A. County Health Department Allegedly Falsified Nursing Home Probe Records
Two staffers accuse the county of altering the dates when complaints were received amid rising concern over the pace of investigations.
Consumer Guide To The Supreme Court’s Action On ACA Subsidy Issue
At issue is whether the federal government can pay subsidies to people living in states that use healthcare.gov, the federal exchange.
In Surprise Move, Supreme Court Will Examine Key Part Of Health Law
Once again, the Supreme Court will decide whether the Affordable Care Act lives or dies.
ALS Patients Win Fight Over Medicare Reimbursement For Speech Devices
Medicare announced Thursday it would continue covering devices that patients themselves can upgrade.
Rate Of Premature Births Fall As Health Law Provisions Begin To Take Effect
March of Dimes official says one key factor was early implementation of the Medicaid expansion in some states.
Thinking About Enrolling In Obamacare? Keep These 5 Tips In Mind
The online health insurance marketplaces open on Nov. 15 for three months. Here’s a checklist of several things to consider.
Voters Provide Mixed Messages On Health Ballot Measures
Abortion, insurance regulation and drug options for the terminally ill were among proposals.
Republican Gubernatorial Victories Make Medicaid Expansion Unlikely In 5 States
Advocates hope Republican governors in other states will move to expand coverage under the Affordable Care Act.
An interview with Consumer Reports’ Nancy Metcalf, author of a new guide to end-of-life planning.
Obama Administration Closing Health Law Loophole For Plans Without Hospitalization
Moving to close what many see as a major loophole in Affordable Care Act rules, the Obama administration will ban large-employer medical plans from qualifying under the law if they don’t offer hospitalization coverage.
Hospitals Take Cues From The Hospitality Industry
Satisfied patients have better health outcomes and, not incidentally, boost hospitals’ bottom lines under new Medicare reimbursement rules.
California Audit Finds Backlog Of 11,000 Nursing Home Investigations
California’s public health department has failed to adequately manage investigations of nursing homes statewide, resulting in a backlog of more than 11,000 complaints, according to an audit released Thursday.
For Families With Mixed Immigration Status, Health Insurance Is A Puzzle
A young outreach worker for Obamacare is delighted to be eligible for coverage but worries about family members with no such luck.
Lack Of Understanding About Insurance Could Lead To Poor Choices
A recent poll points out that while three-quarters of Americans say they are confident about understanding their health coverage options, only 20 percent could calculate what they owed for a routine doctor’s appointment.
How Obamacare Went South In Mississippi
In the country’s unhealthiest state, the failure of Obamacare is a group effort.
Soda Makers Battle Proposed Taxes In Berkeley, San Francisco
Voters could impose a penny per ounce tax on sugary drinks in Berkeley and a two-cent per ounce tax in San Francisco. Research shows that when soda prices go up, people drink less.
Medicare Changes Could Limit Patient Access To ALS Communication Tools
Patient advocates say that, because of an official coverage reminder “the door is closing” for ALS patients who depend on Medicare to get speech-generation devices.
