Latest KFF Health News Stories
Clock Starts Ticking Saturday For Medicare Enrollment
Medicare’s open enrollment season begins
Chasing The Stars, Insurers Improve Quality — And Revenue
Only a handful of Medicare Advantage plans win five stars for quality. But the bonuses attached to the federal rating system are reshaping the competitive landscape for insurers.
Super Committee Health Goals Need Sound Policy
If the super committee is to reach its goal of finding an estimated $1.2 trillion in savings over the next decade, this panel will have to think big and produce recommendations with real substance — especially in regard to the health care component.
Transcript: What Is The Super Committee Doing? Advocates Elbow Lawmakers On Cuts
Jackie Judd talks with KHN’s Mary Agnes Carey about the latest in talks around the “super committee’s” efforts to cut the deficit. Advocates and lawmakers are busy whispering what health programs should be shielded from cuts and which should be on the chopping block.
What Is The Super Committee Doing? Advocates Elbow Lawmakers On Cuts
Jackie Judd talks with KHN’s Mary Agnes Carey about the latest in talks around the super committee’s efforts to cut the deficit. Advocates and lawmakers are busy whispering what health programs should be shielded from cuts and which should be on the chopping block.
Perry And Other GOP Candidates Knock Romney On Mass. Health Reform, Blast Health Law
The Republican candidates for president spent their latest debate Tuesday night criticizing features of the health care law, including the IPAB. Newt Gingrich brought up “death panels” and Gov. Rick Perry faced questions about Medicaid in Texas.
Medicare Plans See Dollars In The Stars
Star ratings are bleeding into bottom lines, board rooms and corporate strategy as Medicare Advantage plans chase top scores.
Florida Readies Its Own Health Insurance Exchange
But it’s unlike the online marketplace required by the federal health law and draws only tepid support from health plans and insurance agents.
Advisory Panel Says Essential Health Benefits Package Must Be Affordable
The Department of Health and Human Services now must decide what benefits should be required in policies sold through insurance exchanges beginning in 2014.
Administration Scales Back Expansion Of Community Health Centers
Health centers fear they won’t be able to expand fast enough to meet the growing demand from the current uninsured and the influx of people to Medicaid in 2014.
The prospects for this voluntary long-term care insurance program appear increasingly complicated.
Transcript: Forecasting What ‘Essential Benefits’ Recommendations Influential Panel Will Make
Jackie Judd talks with KHN’s Julie Appleby about recommendations an Institute of Medicine panel will make to help the Department of Health and Human Services determine just what “essential benefits” insurers will have to cover in health law-mandated marketplaces.
Forecasting What ‘Essential Benefits’ Recommendations Influential Panel Will Make
Jackie Judd talks with KHN’s Julie Appleby about recommendations an Institute of Medicine panel will make to help the Department of Health and Human Services determine just what “essential benefits” insurers will have to cover in health law-mandated marketplaces.
Vermont Edges Toward Single Payer Health Care
The new system will move many state residents into a publicly financed insurance program and pay hospitals and doctors a set fee to care for patients.
Costs Of Employer Insurance Plans Surge in 2011
An annual survey has found that the average cost of a family health insurance plan rose 9 percent this year – triple the growth rate seen in 2010. KHN’s Julie Appleby filed this story.
Perry’s Medicaid Plan Secret: Dems Like It
Texas is quietly revamping the health safety net for the poor in a way some Dems can get behind.
Parents Fear Health Law Could Derail Autism Coverage
As federal officials draw up their list of requirements for essential health benefits under the overhaul, it’s not clear whether they will include treatment mandates passed by many states.
Religious Freedom, Individual Mandate And Anti-Injunction Act At Issue In D.C. Circuit
KHN’s Mary Agnes Carey and ABC News’ Ariane de Vogue discuss today’s oral arguments in the American Center for Law and Justice challenge to the health law.
GOP Candidates Push State Role In Health Care
Exchanges on health policy were limited in Thursday’s Republican presidential debate, but Texas Gov. Rick Perry and former Mass. Gov. Mitt Romney once again lashed out at each other on the issue and Rep. Michele Bachmann renewed her criticism of Perry’s efforts to get Texas children vaccinated against HPV.
Transcript: Analyzing The GOP Presidential Field’s Promise To Repeal The Health Law
Jackie Judd talks with PBS NewsHour’s David Chalian about the GOP presidential candidates’ health law repeal rhetoric, the varying level of nuance among their viewpoints and how each is attacking the President’s
