Latest Morning Briefing Stories
Santorum: Romney Wrong Man For GOP On Health Care (Video and Transcript)
Health care, especially the individual mandate, was the focus of a tense and angry exchange in Thursday night’s last debate before the crucial GOP Florida primary. In answering a question from the audience, all four candidates
Majority Of Americans Think Ideology Will Affect High Court’s Ruling On Health Law
Six in 10 people think that the justices’ decision on the individual mandate will be based on their own ideological views rather than legal analysis.
Obama Makes Only Modest Mention Of Health Care In State Of Union
KHN’s Mary Agnes Carey talks with Jackie Judd about President Obama’s State of the Union speech. Obama talked little about health care, reflecting maybe the hard sell they’re having getting the public to buy into the health law’s benefits. Republicans talked about reforming Medicare in their response.
Obama On Health Insurance Reform: ‘I Won’t Go Back’ (State Of The Union Excerpts)
The president was brief but resolute on health reform in his State of the Union speech. In the GOP response, Gov. Mitch Daniels, R-Ind., said Medicare dollars should be devoted to “those who need them most.”
Debate: Dispute Over Gingrich’s Role In Medicare Part D
Video: Health care came up in a variety of ways in Monday’s debate in Tampa, sponsored by NBC, National Journal and the Tampa Bay Times. Mitt Romney accused Newt Gingrich of influence-peddling on Medicare and also defended the Massachusetts health care reform. Rick Santorum tried to distinguish himself from both men, claiming their support of the individual mandate in the past undermines their conservative credentials. And he defended his behavior during the 1995 controversy about Terri Schiavo, who was in the center of a right-to-die dispute.
Health Plans Launch Own Exchanges Ahead Of Public Versions
Several large insurers in Minnesota are launching private insurance exchanges to protect themselves against competition from the public exchanges when they go online in 2014.
The KHN Conversation: ‘Innovation’ Advisors On Achieving CMS’ Triple Aim
In advance of their first Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services meeting next week, four of the newly named innovation advisors talked with KHN’s Christian Torres.
Video: Romney Calls Health Law ‘Fourth Entitlement’
In Monday’s GOP presidential candidate debate in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, front-runner Mitt Romney described his approach to Medicare, which includes charging wealthier recipients more and including ‘premium supports.’ He also attacked the health law, the only candidate on the stage to discuss the law. Former Sen. Rick Santorum and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich both challenged Romney. The S.C. primary is on Saturday.
New Group To Set Priorities for Medical Effectiveness Research
Congress is betting more than $3 billion over the next decade that “comparative effectiveness” research can transform medical care by helping determine the best approach to a particular illness.
Unique in the nation for having public health insurance plans that are run by counties, California has public plans that stretch from San Francisco to the Mexican border and cover 2.5 million people.
United Against Health Law, Medicare Reforms Divide GOP Presidential Candidates
KHN’s Mary Agnes Carey and Marilyn Werber Serafini talk with Jackie Judd about Tuesday’s New Hampshire GOP primary. The GOP field is united in their opposition against Obama’s Health Law, but differences remain in how they would reform Medicare.
Advocate of health overhaul uses a comic-book style narrative to describe the federal law and its provisions.
National Health Spending Grew Slowly In 2010
But officials say that for the first time in years premiums for people in private insurance plans rose faster than what was spent on their care, according to KHN’s Marilyn Werber Serafini.
Building Health Reform’s Research Arm
KHN’s Shefali S. Kulkarni interviews Dr. Anne Beal, COO of the Patient Centered Outcomes Research Institute.
Romney, Santorum, Others Call For Medicare ‘Premium Support’ In New Hampshire GOP Debate
While health care issues did not take up much of Sunday morning’s debate, the candidates agreed that Medicare should be a Rep. Paul-Ryan-style “premium support” system and former Mass. Gov. Mitt Romney said that, in the future, he believes wealthy Medicare recipients should have to pay more for the program.
Kansas, Oklahoma Insurers Won’t Get A Break On Rebate Rule
Kansas and Oklahoma are the seventh and eighth states to get the thumbs down from the federal government on their requests to phase in new regulations that could result in health insurance rebates to consumers.
Congress’ Full 2012 Plate: The ‘Doc Fix,’ The Health Law And Automatic Cuts
KHN’s Mary Agnes Carey talks with Jackie Judd about what a divided Congress will face when it returns to Washington this month and begins dealing with fixing how Medicare pays doctors. A conference committee has until the end of February to fix the so-called “Sustainable Growth Rate” or doctors face a big pay cut.
Work Insurance Often Offers Coverage For Programs To Stop Smoking
Some companies are also penalizing employees who don’t give up cigarettes by hitting them with higher health insurance premiums.
A Health Insurance Plan President Gingrich Might Support
He’s done with mandates, but Newt Gingrich likes John Goodman’s idea for helping people who buy insurance and paying for care for those who don’t.
Senior Correspondent Mary Agnes Carey Discusses What 2012 Will Hold For Health Care
KHN reporters preview some of the big issues coming this year: KHN Senior Correspondent Mary Agnes Carey says she’ll be following Republican efforts to dismantle the health law.
