Latest KFF Health News Stories
What’s At Stake For Medicare Beneficiaries In Supreme Court Decision
If the Supreme Court strikes down the health law, 49 million Medicare beneficiaries could lose a variety of benefits that have already kicked in.
What’s At Stake For Women If SCOTUS Overturns The Health Law
A provision in the health law requiring free contraceptive coverage has gotten most of the press, but much more is at stake for women if the Supreme Court strikes down the law.
Catholic Hospital Leader Defends Split With Obama Administration On Contraceptives
Catholic Health Association chief Sister Carol Keehan, a key ally of President Obama on the health law, said last week that the organization could not support a compromise on the free birth control provision of the law.
Some Health System Changes Will Stay, No Matter How SCOTUS Rules
Soaring costs, tight budgets, better technology and industry consolidation ensure health care won’t go back to 2009, no matter what the Supreme Court or Congress do.
GOP Promises Smaller-Scale Health Care Agenda If Court Strikes Down Law
If the court kills part or all of the health law, Republicans will likely wait until after the elections to roll out detailed proposals.
College Health Plans: Exploring The Options
College students and their families will have better health insurance options in the upcoming school year, but costs will be higher.
Uncertainty Over Law Casts Shadow Over Health Care Innovations
Under the 2010 health law, the government has invested in a decade’s worth of ideas on how to improve patient care and change the ways doctors and hospitals function — changes could be halted if the Supreme Court throws out all or part of the law.
Uninsured And Unaware Of Supreme Court Case Against Health Law
‘What new law?’ ask patients attending a free weekend clinic in rural Tennessee. Few people understood that their future benefits are at stake as the Supreme Court weighs the fate of the federal health overhaul law.
Establishing A World-Class Health Benefit Exchange In Maryland
As Maryland awaits the Supreme Court’s health law decision, wrties Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown, the state remains committed to forward progress in implementing health reforms that will lead to a healthier, more productive workforce and help bend the curve of rising health care costs.
Utah’s Health Exchange: Running, But Waiting For The Court’s Decision
Patty Conner, the director of Utah’s health exchange, writes that her state has been able to build a functioning health care solution for its citizens, but now faces the challenges of integrating it with a national system, for which specifics are unclear.
Implementing The Federal Health Law In Rhode Island: More Than Insurance Access
The federal health law provides enormous financial and policy-oriented resources to aid the Ocean State in advancing its ambitious health agenda, according to Rhode Island Health Insurance Commissioner Christopher Koller, which focuses not only on insurance access but on improving the value of medical care.
California Bullish On Health Exchange-No Matter What
California Democratic lawmakers have been introducing legislation that would replicate key pieces of the federal law, so the state will continue to develop its health insurance exchange even if the Supreme Court overturns the law.
N.Y. Insurance Co. Exec: ‘Life Will Go On,’ Expensively, Without Individual Mandate
If the Supreme Court strikes down the health law, New York would be in a somewhat unique position, according to David Abernethy, a senior vice president of EmblemHealth.
Oregon’s DeMars: SCOTUS Decision Won’t Change State’s Reform Plans
Even if the Supreme Court overturns the law, Chris DeMars, a senior program officer at Oregon’s Northwest Health Foundation, expects the state to move forward with insurance exchanges and an effort to coordinate care.
AdvaMed’s Nexon: Expect More Health Cost Reduction Pressure
David Nexon, a top health care adviser to the late Sen. Ted Kennedy, says that no matter what, tremendous pressure to reduce spending will continue to push lawmakers to find ways to control health care costs.
Q&A: How Are Retired Military Personnel Affected By The Health Law?
KHN’s “Insuring Your Health” columnist Michelle Andrews answers that question from a reader, noting that the Affordable Care Act does affect some retired members of the military over age 65.
AdvaMed’s Nexon: Expect More Health Cost Reduction Pressure
David Nexon, a top health care adviser to the late Sen. Ted Kennedy, says that no matter what the outcome is of the Supreme Court deliberations or the fall elections, tremendous pressure to reduce spending and cut the deficit will continue to push lawmakers to find ways to control health care costs.
Romney Outlines How He Would ‘Replace Obamacare’
Mitt Romney, who is expected to be the Republican nominee for president, doesn’t usually talk about health care in his campaign stump speeches. Tuesday, at Con-Air Industries in Orlando, Florida, he blasted the 2010 federal health law and outlined what he would do if elected president.
Medicare Drug Discounts At Risk If Court Strikes Health Law
The pharmaceutical industry agreed in the health debate to reduce brand-name drug costs by 50 percent for Medicare beneficiaries who reach the coverage gap known as the doughnut hole.
Kaiser Permanente’s Ross: There’s No Effective Substitute For The Mandate
Murray Ross, a vice president in the part of the company that sells health plans, says the law’s individual mandate is needed to attract healthier participants, which balances risks and costs.
