Latest KFF Health News Stories
Alternatives To Mandating Insurance? Maybe
Some experts are proposing alternatives to mandating that nearly all Americans purchase health insurance – a requirement in the health law – including offering discounts for early buyers and instituting eligibility periods to use subsidies.
Ignoring Health Law Is ‘Risky Posture’ For States: KHN Interview With Alan Weil
State health policy expert Alan Weil offers his take on how states are wrestling with the implementation of health reform
Federal Judge In Mississippi Throws Out Challenge To Health Overhaul
A federal judge in Mississippi dismissed a challenge to the health law Thursday, only days after another federal judge ruled the law was unconstitutional because of its insurance mandate.
Senate Debate On Health Care Law Repeal Falls Along Party Lines
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., introduced an amendment to an unrelated bill today that would repeal the health law. Senators from both sides took to the floor, with Republicans arguing that the country wants repeal and Democrats maintaining that the benefits of the law are popular and outweigh any flaws in the legislation. Watch excerpts from the debate.
States May Face Showdown With Feds Over Cutting Medicaid Rolls
Arizona has already asked for permission to trim back the program, and other states may follow as enhanced funding from Washington expires.
Insurers, Consumer Groups Tussle Over Appeals Rule
The new health law requires beefed-up appeals processes, but insurance companies and advocates are battling over exactly what that means.
Is Richard Foster Right About Health Care Costs?
In recent Capitol Hill testimony, Foster, the government’s chief Medicare actuary, raised doubts about the health law’s ability to hold down future health care costs. But there are reasons to question his assumptions.
Lobbyists Challenging Limits On Health Flexible Spending Accounts
Companies that administer or profit from flexible spending accounts are trying to change provisions in the new health law restricting the pre-tax funds used by millions of consumers.
Scholars, Politicians Debating Implications Of Health Lawsuit Decision
After a federal court declared the new health law unconstitutional, it’s still unclear how far the ruling reaches. The Obama administration says that it will continue to implement the law.
Health On The Hill Transcript: With State Fiscal Pressures Mounting, Medicaid Battle Looms
As state fiscal pressures mount, governors are asking Washington to allow them to reduce their Medicaid rolls, something that’s barred under the health care law. Democrats generally prefer to give the states more federal money to help with Medicaid costs, but House Republicans are unlikely to support that, citing deficit concerns.
Mediation Offers An Alternative To Malpractice Lawsuits
Patients seeking redress may find this option provides the same benefits as a court battle but quicker and with less emotional toll.
Analysis: What Does Judge Vinson’s Health Law Decision Mean?
Jackie Judd talks with legal analyst Stuart Taylor about the legal blow today to the new health care reform law. Federal Judge Roger Vinson, in Florida, declared the entire law void.
Text: Judge Vinson’s Decision On Health Law
Here’s text of federal Judge Roger Vinson’s decision declaring the individual mandate, and thus the whole health care law, unconstitutional.
Who Is A President To Turn To? HHS Or The Business Roundtable?
In health care speech, Obama ignores new HHS study on insurance costs and cites 2009 industry report instead.
Doctors Continued To Spend Big On Lobbying in 2010
The AMA was the biggest spender for lobbying operations among health care groups last year as it faced a backlash from members angry that the new health law didn’t reverse planned cuts in Medicare reimbursements.
Chart: Lobbying On Health Care Issues Falls In 2010
The passage of the federal health law last March brought an overall decrease in lobbying on health care from the massive effort during the heated congressional debate in 2009. Overall, 10 key health care players spent about $127 million on lobbying last year, down nearly 9 percent from 2009.
Analyzing Obama’s State Of The Union Speech: Health On The Hill
During his State of the Union Address, President Obama pledged to work with Republicans to change some elements of the health care law, such repealing a provision that the president said placed “an unnecessary bookkeeping burden” on small businesses. But the president made it clear he would not accept any major changes to the law. In the GOP response, House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan, R-Wisc., said his party would work to repeal the law and replace it with more “fiscally responsible, patient-centered reforms.”
President Obama On Health Law: ‘Let’s Fix What Needs Fixing And Move Forward’
In his State of the Union message, the president also said he’s “not willing … to go back to the days when insurance companies could deny someone coverage because of a pre-existing condition.”
Republican And Tea Party SOTU Response: ‘We Will Work To Replace’ Health Law
Rep. Paul Ryan delivered the official GOP response to the president’s State of the Union address and Rep. Michele Bachmann separately added remarks geared to tea party concerns. Both called for repeal of the health law.
Health Industry And Lawmakers Move Against Medicare Spending Board
The Independent Payment Advisory Board, a key cost-containment provision of the health law scheduled to be created this year, faces an uncertain future.
