Census: Number Of People Without Health Insurance Largely Unchanged In 2012
Kaiser Health News
States Balk At Terminating Medicaid Contracts Even When There’s Fraud Or Poor Patient Care
September 16, 2013 -- In Florida, a national managed care company’s former top executives were convicted in a scheme to rip off Medicaid. In Illinois, a state official concluded two Medicaid plans were providing “abysmal” care. In Ohio, a nonprofit paid millions to settle civil fraud allegations that it failed to screen special needs children and faked data.
Study: Decision Aids Show Promise In Reducing Medical Procedures
Reprinted with permission from Kaiser Health News
September 5th, 2012 – While policymakers debate complex changes to reduce health spending, promoting patients’ involvement in treatment decisions could have an immediate effect. A new Health Affairs report about decision aids — materials given to patients to help educate them about treatment options — shows they can help hold down costs by reducing demand for medical procedures.
Are Medicare's New Quality Incentives Large Enough To Change Hospital Behavior?
Sept. 4, 2012 – With Medicare poised next month to give bonuses and penalties to hospitals based on how they ranked in quality standards, a number of health policy experts are questioning whether the amounts of money at stake are large enough to make a difference.
Study: US tops France, Germany, UK in 'potentially preventable' deaths
This story was republished courtesy of Kaiser Health News.
Group Health Teams With Hospital System In Pacific Northwest
Republished with permission from Kaiser Health News
Insurance Spat Leads to Less Rx Coverage for Some
The health reform act will require coverage of all drugs beginning in 2014, but Washington's insurance commissioner and the state's largest insurance companies are facing off over a move to eliminate drug coverage entirely under one plan.
July 3, 2012 A fight between the Washington state insurance commissioner and the state’s largest seller of individual health insurance is spotlighting problems in that increasingly troubled market. The spat arose over insurers’ efforts to curb soaring premiums by restricting or eliminating prescription drug benefits.
Experts say they haven’t yet seen similar moves by insurers in other states to axe drug coverage from policies sold in the individual market. But some predict expensive drug benefits will offer an inviting target.
States Encounter Obstacles Moving Elderly and Disabled Into Community
May 24, 2012--A multi-billion dollar federal initiative to move low-income elderly and disabled people from long-term care facilities into the community has fallen far short of its goals, as many states have struggled to cobble together housing and other services.
Nonprofit Hospitals Faulted For Stinginess With Charity Care
Republished courtesy of Kaiser Health News
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