Latest KFF Health News Stories
Medicare data tell a different story about a public plan option.
Jubilant Democrats Move Ahead, But Still Face Many Obstacles on Reform
After weeks of painstaking talks, Democrats celebrated breakthroughs on health care overhaul on both sides of the Capitol. Yet many lawmakers and health care experts said that yesterday’s events marked only one step on the very bumpy road to a final deal that President Barack Obama might sign into law.
“Free-Rider” Penalty For Employers Draws Ire From Advocates, Yawns From Business
Unions and advocates for low-income workers are criticizing a possible Senate Finance Committee move to drop an employer mandate in favor of a “free-rider” penalty. The provision would require companies to pay for part of the subsidies for uninsured workers to buy health insurance on the proposed exchanges. Business lobbyists say it’s better than a straight mandate.
Health On The Hill – July 29, 2009
Jackie Judd talks with Eric Pianin, reporting from Capitol Hill, on today’s significant developments. A stalemate between Blue Dogs and House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Henry Waxman was broken, and in the Senate Finance Committee, a new CBO score was substantially less than what had been projected.
Baucus: New CBO Score ‘Good News’
Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus, D-Mont., said Wednesday that a preliminary Congressional Budget Office score of his panel’s draft health care overhaul package would cost under $900 billion over the next decade and provide health coverage to 95 percent of uninsured Americans.
Big Employers Could End Up Paying “Cadillac” Tax
To raise money to help pay for a health overhaul, Sen. John Kerry is proposing taxing insurance companies on expensive “Cadillac” policies. A new group of opponents is emerging: employers who “self-insure.” They say they shouldn’t have to pay taxes on the benefits they give their workers.
Health On The Hill – July 28, 2009
Mary Agnes Carey and Eric Pianin of Kaiser Health News provide an update on health overhaul negotiations on Capitol Hill.
Transcript: Health On The Hill – July 28, 2009
Mary Agnes Carey and Eric Pianin of Kaiser Health News provide an update on health overhaul negotiations on Capitol Hill.
Just Rewards? Healthy Workers Might Get Bigger Insurance Breaks
Consumer and patients’ groups criticize proposal that would let employers bestow bigger premium discounts on employees who embrace wellness programs.
Health on the Hill – July 27, 2009
In today’s Health On The Hill, Jackie Judd talks to Kaiser Health News’ Mary Agnes Carey about what will be a crucial week for health care legislation.
Health Commission Plan Wins Some, Angers Others
The problem with putting together a big proposal – like overhauling the nation’s entire health care system – with lots of moving parts and many different interests to please, is that every time you satisfy one important constituency, you upset another.
What Counts as a Sacrifice in Health Reform?
Do the Democratic plans in Congress ask for changes that qualify as a “sacrifice”?
Cost Squeeze Raises Concerns About Health Benefits Package
As efforts continue to trim the cost of health reform, some lawmakers and patient groups are worried that the resulting insurance benefits will be less generous and affordable than they had hoped. Fiscal conservatives counter that Congress needs to be realistic about what the country can afford.
Bipartisan Health Bill Still Gets No Respect
Two senators – Democrat Ron Wyden and Republican Bob Bennett say they have a health care solution, but are they too junior to get attention?
Lawmakers To Insurers: ‘Pony Up’ For Health Reform
As Senate Democrats scramble to finance an ambitious health care overhaul, they’re exploring ways to get extract money from the insurance industry, including taxing very costly policies. They’re also considering tacking a fee onto every new policy sold as a result of health reform or a flat tax on insurer profits.
Rahm Emanuel: Changes To Health System Take Time
Emanuel, the White House chief of staff, says “We will have a bill by the end of the year for the president to sign on health care that controls costs, expands coverage and provides choice.”
President Obama’s News Conference On Health Reform
Excerpts from President Obama’s news conference, held on July 22, 2009.
Poll Shows Growing Anxiety About Health Overhaul
Public support for an overhaul the U.S. health care system has slipped somewhat, according to a new poll. But a majority of Americans still believe that “it is more important than ever to take on health care reform now.”
The House Bill Costs Far More Than $1 Trillion
House Democratic leaders have been selling the health care bill — now reported out by two of the three House committees to which it had been referred — as costing “only” $1 trillion over a decade. But that’s not really the whole story.
Transcript: President Obama’s News Conference On Health Reform
Transcript of President Obama’s fifth news conference.
